Reasoning for Information: Seeking and Planning Dialogues provides a logic-based reasoning component for spoken language dialogue systems. This component, called Problem Assistant is responsible for processing constraints on a possible solution obtained from various sources, namely user and the system's domain-specific information. The authors also present findings on the implementation of a dialogue management interface to the Problem Assistant. The dialogue system supports simple mixed-initiative planning interactions in the TRAINS domain, which is still a relatively complex domain involving a number of logical constraints and relations forming the basis for the collaborative problem-solving behavior that drives the dialogue.

Reasoning for Information: Seeking and Planning Dialogues provides a logic-based reasoning component for spoken language dialogue systems. This component, called Problem Assistant is responsible for processing constraints on a possible solution obtained from various sources, namely user and the system's domain-specific information. The authors also present findings on the implementation of a dialogue management interface to the Problem Assistant. The dialogue system supports simple mixed-initiative planning interactions in the TRAINS domain, which is still a relatively complex domain involving a number of logical constraints and relations forming the basis for the collaborative problem-solving behavior that drives the dialogue.

The ongoing migration of computing and information access from stationary environments to mobile computing devices for eventual use in mobile environments, such as Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), tablet PCs, next generation mobile phones, and in-car driver assistance systems, poses critical challenges for natural human-computer interaction. Spoken dialogue is a key factor in ensuring natural and user-friendly interaction with such devices which are meant not only for computer specialists, but also for everyday users.

Speech supports hands-free and eyes-free operation, and becomes a key alternative interaction mode in mobile environments, e.g. in cars where driver distraction by manually operated devices may be a significant problem. On the other hand, the use of mobile devices in public places, may make the possibility of using alternative modalities possibly in combination with speech, such as graphics output and gesture input, preferable due to e.g. privacy issues. Researchersa (TM) interest is progressively turning to the integration of speech with other modalities such as gesture input and graphics output, partly to accommodate more efficient interaction and partly to accommodate different user preferences.

This book:

combines overview chapters of key areas in spoken multimodal dialogue (systems and components, architectures, and evaluation) with chapters focussed on particular applications or problems in the field.

focusses on the influence of the environment when building and evaluating an application.

Audience:

Computer scientists, engineers, and others who work in the area of spoken multimodal dialogue systems in academia and in theindustry.

Graduate students and Ph.D. students specialising in spoken multimodal dialogue systems in general, or focusing on issues in these systems in mobile environments in particular

The ongoing migration of computing and information access from stationary environments to mobile computing devices for eventual use in mobile environments, such as Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs), tablet PCs, next generation mobile phones, and in-car driver assistance systems, poses critical challenges for natural human-computer interaction. Spoken dialogue is a key factor in ensuring natural and user-friendly interaction with such devices which are meant not only for computer specialists, but also for everyday users.

Speech supports hands-free and eyes-free operation, and becomes a key alternative interaction mode in mobile environments, e.g. in cars where driver distraction by manually operated devices may be a significant problem. On the other hand, the use of mobile devices in public places, may make the possibility of using alternative modalities possibly in combination with speech, such as graphics output and gesture input, preferable due to e.g. privacy issues. Researchers' interest is progressively turning to the integration of speech with other modalities such as gesture input and graphics output, partly to accommodate more efficient interaction and partly to accommodate different user preferences.

This book:
-combines overview chapters of key areas in spoken multimodal dialogue (systems and components, architectures, and evaluation) with chapters focussed on particular applications or problems in the field;
-focuses on the influence of the environment when building and evaluating an application.

Audience: Computer scientists, engineers, and others who work in the area of spoken multimodal dialogue systems in academia and in the industry;
graduatestudents and Ph.D. students specialising in spoken multimodal dialogue systems in general, or focusing on issues in these systems in mobile environments in particular.

The supplementary protection certificate (SPC) prolongs the term of patents for pharmaceutical products for a maximum of five additional years. The SPC's legal bases are two European SPC Regulations and the SPC is based upon European or national patents. SPCs protect some of the most valuable products in the pharmaceutical industry where each day of additional protection may be worth millions of Euros. Despite the economic relevance SPCs have obtained in recent years, there exists only limited detailed literature on the subject. German jurisprudence on SPCs is of special importance, as this has often been the basis for decisions of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) and the German market is one of the leading markets for pharmaceuticals and thus for SPCs. This book is addressed to patent attorneys - in particular in-house and external - working for pharmaceutical companies, and attorneys-at-law specialising in patent law, especially in Europe but essentially worldwide.

The exciting and versatile range of activities performed by construction engineers is rarely fully appreciated by the public. Yet as well as being a key industry for the economy, construction is also important for society: Modern life without buildings and infrastructure would be simply inconceivable. With that in mind, this publication presents the engineering profession (and by extension the entire industry) as it really is: Fascinating, creative, diverse and innovative. Engineers and their innovations are presented in the context of their social, economic and political influences. The book combines an historical perspective with a focus on contemporary projects.