Talking to UNIX in English

Abstract

UC is a natural language help facility which advises users in using the UNIX operating system. Users can query UC about how to do things, command names and formats, online definitions of UNIX or general operating systems terminology, and debugging problems in using commands. UC is comprised of the following components: a language analyzer and generator, a context and memory model, an experimental common-sense planner, highly extensible knowledge bases on both the UNIX domain and the English language, a goal analysis component, and a system for acquisition of new knowledge through instruction in English. The language interface of UC is based on a “phrasal analysis” approach which integrates semantic, grammatical and other types of information. In addition, it includes capabilities for ellipsis resolution and reference disambiguation.

Computer Understanding of Conventional Metaphoric Language

“…In order to make the problem of understanding metaphors more concrete, consider the implications of Examples 1 through 3 for a system like the UNIX Consultant (Wilensky, Arens, & Chin, 1984;Wilensky et al, 1988). UC is a natural language consultant system that provides naive computer users with advice on how to use the UNIX operating system.…”

Machine Biological Clock: Exploring the Time Dimension in an Organic-Based Operating System

“…By reviewing the literature, it is possible to find some references to a knowledge-based operating system. ( (Sansonnet, Castan, Percebois, Botella, & Perez, 1982), (Vilensky, Arens, & Chin, 1984), (Blair, Mariani, Nicol, & Shepherd, 1987), (Chikayama, Sato, & Miyazaki, 1988), (Moon, 1985), (Larner, 1990), (Ali & Karlsson, 1990), (Xie, Du, Chen, Zheng, & Sun, 1995), (Patki, Raghunathan, & Khurshid, 1997), (Jankowski & Skowron, 2007)). Other approaches involve the application of artificial intelligence techniques through kernel implants 6 to achieve better interfaces in traditional operating systems ( (Pasquale, 1987), (Chu, Delp, Jamieson, Siegel, & Whinston, 1989), (Zomaya, Clements, & Olariu, 1998); (Kandel, Zhng, & Henne, 1998); (Holyer & Pehlivan, 2000), (Lim & Cho, 2007)).…”

Semantic interpretation and ambiguity

“…The noun phrase vending machine now arrives, and we assume that it is recognized as a canned phrase representing a single concept (cf. [63][64][65]). The marker passer constructs a chain that, depending on the exact organization of the frames, might be (30):…”