A Computational Model of Dialogue Initiative in Collaborative Discourse
Curry I. Guinn · 1993
This paper presents a model of dialogue initiative within a collaborative discourse. The importance of varying initiative between participants is validated both in theory and in experiments. For example, it was found that one initiative setting algorithm was up to 50% better than if initiative is random. Furthermore, a method for varying levels of initiative between participants is presented which relies on a relatively simple user model. 1. Motivation Two recently implemented voice dialogue systems utilize the principle that discourse is a by-product of cooperative problemsolving [1, 2]. The computer participant in both of these systems proceeds by attempting to prove or solve some goal, and when the system is blocked, it has the option of using dialogue to obtain the necessary information in order to continue its proof. This dialogue mechanism has been described as the missing axiom theory of discourse[3]. However, efficient collaboration requires efficient management of dialogue co...