Norman H. White

A Field Evaluation of Natural Language for Data Retrieval

Although a large number of natural language database interfaces have been developed, there have been few empirical studies of their practical usefulness. This paper presents the design and results of a field evaluation of a natural language system-NLS-used for data retrieval.

The identification and satisfaction of consumer analysis‐driven information needs of marketers on the WWW

Investigates the information needs of marketers on the WWW for consumer analysis purposes, and examines how these can be met. Begins by briefly highlighting the attractiveness of the Web as a medium for communication. Next, summarizes the bases for consumer analysis and segmentation in the context of the traditional marketing communication media. Based on this framework, examines consumer analysis needs in the context of the WWW medium and proposes analysis variables relevant to this medium. Finally, discusses how the information needs for consumer analysis may be met from the different information sources available to a marketer, including the Web logfiles which are generated as a result of tracking the interactions of visitors accessing information from a company’s Web site.

Natural language for database queries: a laboratory study

Are natural language systems for database queries meeting their goals, and are these goals appropriate? The recently completed Advanced Language Project at New York University combined a field experiment with two laboratory studies to examine these issues by comparing performance between subjects using the formal database language SQL and subjects using the prototype natural language system, USL. This article describes the design and results of the larger laboratory experiment. The results presented offer some promise for the usability of natural language under certain conditions.

The impact of the World Wide Web on idea generation

One apparent benefit Web use provides individuals is the opportunity to seek and find vast amounts of information on virtually any subject. By having more information available, it is reasonable to believe that a user would be able to generate more ideas than he/she would without Web support. Given that the Web is being used more frequently for information and research purposes, an experiment was performed to determine whether Web use can enhance idea generation performance. Preliminary results indicate that while Web use does not harm idea generation performance, it does not help. But, users perceive the Web to be significantly helpful. It is hoped the findings from this project will enhance Web use and development for information and idea gathering.

Coupling field studies with laboratory experiments for the evaluation of computer languages

Most evaluations of computer languages have used laboratory experiments as the basis of their research design [ll. While much has been learned from these studies, they all suffer from a number of defects including unrealistic subject populations, a narrow focus, a lack of strength of the independent variables and artificiality of the experimental situation. In order to overcome these limitations in research design, the Advanced Language Project (ALP) at NYU combined laboratory experiments with a field study, in a coordinated manner, to investigate the practicality of using natural language for data base access.

Languages for Decision Support Systems

The accelerating complexity and size of modern private and public institutions and their increasing dependence on environmental factors such as multinational trade, world politics, and government regulations point to a need for computer-based decision support systems (DSSs). Several surveys(12,16) have indicated an increase in the use of such models especially in applications such as pro forma financial statement projection and budgeting. These systems can vary widely in both scope and objectives (see Table 1, which is based on Ref. 15). On the one hand a number of comprehensive corporate planning systems have been developed that attempt to model the firm’s complete production process in time and across geographic locations. Examples are the Potlatch Corporation(4) and Xerox(21) models. Such systems may contain 50 or 60 submodels and thousands of lines of code. At the other extreme are the currently popular microcomputer-based “accounting spread sheet” packages that are used in small financial and budgeting applications.

Requirements for Developing Natural Language Query Applications

The use of a “natural language” (for example, English) for direct interaction with databases, promises to broaden the market and the scope of computer utilization.(9,16,20,24) Technical feasibility has been demonstrated by the large number of experimental systems and the commercial availability of at least one such system. Yet there are many who voice concern as to the usability of natural languages for database querying by emphasizing the inherent dangers from its ambiguity.(17)

SIMULATING THE BEHAVIORAL IMPLICATIONS OF A NATIONAL COMPUTER RESEARCH NETWORK

Publisher Summary A national computer network has often been considered as a means of sharing the diverse computing resources available at the many academic computer centers in the nation. Although such a network is technically feasible, there are many economic, organizational, and political ramifications that are difficult to predict. These unknowns present a strong inhibiting factor to potential network participants at different institutions. A simulation of the possible connection of a number of academic and research computer centers can shed light on many of the imponderables of computer resource sharing. A realistic simulation model must reflect particular site behavioral and financial constraints in addition to purely technical considerations. Indeed, it is quite likely that financial, behavioral, and political considerations may completely dominate technical considerations.

Workshop session: Design, implementation and management of large simulation projects

The management requirements and characteristics of large simulation projects will be explored during this session. Note that, as simulation technology matures, there is an increasing demand for the development of useful products within specified time and resource constraints - a requirement not unique to simulation. A great deal of recent attention, for example, has been devoted to the management of business data processing programming projects. Both classical methods for project management like PERT and CPM, and the newer methods such as chief programmer team organization and top down design, have been extremely useful in this area. Unfortunately, simulation studies differ in many ways from the business data processing applications that have been described. As an example, it is not clear that a management approach suitable for the development of an accounts receivable system is best for the design and implementation of a large simulation model. Using the techniques now recognized as useful for other types of programming projects as a starting point, approaches and guidelines for managing large simulation projects will be discussed in this workshop.

Management of a large computer network simulation project

As simulation technology matures, there is an increasing demand for the development of useful products within specified time and cost constraints. Hence, simulation studies must be managed and measured by the same criteria as other large projects. The project described in this paper, a behavioral study of a possible national computer network, requires the implementation of a large and complex simulation model. In order to manage better the many individuals and diverse groups contributing to the overall effort, many of the new advances in project management, software design, and programming technology have been adopted. The results of this effort tend to support the economies and efficiencies in programming, as well as improvements in reliability, usually claimed by advocates of these techniques. More significantly, these approaches make it possible to keep all participants active in overall project progress. They have also permitted a work segmentation that takes advantage of the variety of personnel available to the project.