Reasoning About Users' Actions in a Graphical User Interface

This article is about a graphical user interface (GUI) that provides intelligent help to users. The GUI is called IFM (Intelligent File Manipulator). IFM monitors users while they work; if a user has made a mistake with respect to his or her hypothesized intentions, then IFM intervenes automatically and offers advice. IFM has two underlying reasoning mechanisms: One is based on an adaptation of a cognitive theory called human plausible reasoning and the other one performs goal recognition based on the effects of users' commands. The requirement analysis of the system has been based on an empirical study that was conducted involving real users of a standard file manipulation program like the Windows Explorer; this analysis revealed a need for intelligent help. Finally, IFM has been evaluated in comparison with a standard file manipulation GUI and in comparison with human experts acting as consultants. The results of the evaluation showed that IFM can produce successfully advice that is helpful to users.