Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Tutorials and Wizards

Our next topic is tutorials, wizards and how the apply to training.

The objective is to try to understand how the use of technology affects the way people learn, both in the academic environment (schools, universities) as well as in job training.

Throughout this unit we will be covering the following issues:
- Social and ethical issues
- Study and evaluate the social and ethical issues involved in the use of tutorials, training and wizards. These may include:
• the balance in responsibility between an individual and an organization for training
• the need for IT companies to consider global and cultural diversity when preparing training and tutorial software
• the requirement of organizations to provide training when implementing change.

Related technological concepts include:
• key terms—tutorial software, training software, wizards and assistants, help menu and help features,“Read Me” files
• using wizards, assistants and online assistants in the design and creation of a product, for example, desktop-published documents, slideshows, web sites.

Working in pairs, you will start creating your digital log of resources to help you achieve the learning objectives. Please remember that the focus of the subject is to acquire mastery of the topics outlined but, more importantly, to analyze ethical and social implications of these topics on individuals and society.

Specifically, your initial assignment involves:

1) Without exploring any web sites write one paragraph summarizing your current knowledge of the unit, including one sentence explanations of the sub topics listed if you know what they refer to.
2) Write a second paragraph with a preliminary analysis of the general social and ethical implications of the topics included within the unit.
3) Write at least five questions related to what else you expect to learn about the topics listed and their social and ethical implications.

You are expected to complete this assignment before the end of the lesson, and to submit it to itgs.sass@gmail.com

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Robotics / AI Test

1- How can a program simulate feelings? Explain in detail. (10 points)

2- The owner of car dealership wants to build an expert system that gives counsel to users who want to buy cars. This system would answer consumers’ question and provide them with advice as to what cars best suit their needs. Once consumers buy these cars, they will have to submit a review so as to improve the software’s ability to advise other customers. Explain how this expert system would be created, the roles of developers involved in the process, and how it would progressively increase its knowledge. (15 points)

3- Give at least three specific examples of situations in which robots would be used over humans. (10 points)

4- Explain in detail how a robot process outside information and responds accordingly, utilizing technical terms? (10 points)

5- Discuss, based on technical information, both of the following statements:
a. Robots will surpass human intelligence and they will eventually dominate the world.
b. Humans can become emotionally attached to robots.
(15 points)

6- What instrument is used to determine the effectiveness of a conversational robot and rate the AI engine behind them? How would you yourself know if you are talking to a human or a robot? (10 points)

Send the test to itgs.sass@gmail.com and please do not leave the room until you have checked that the test has arrived.

Thursday, August 18, 2011

AI /Expert Systems Recap

Today, we will recap what we have learned on Artificial Intelligence and Expert Systems. Working in pairs, the goal is to develop an open book assessment instrument (test) by using the Test Designer site.

The test must include a total of no less than eight multiple choice, short answer and essay questions, and cover the following keywords and topics:
- AI, Turing test, machine learning, natural language, pattern recognition, expert system, knowledge base, inference engine, heuristics, fuzzy logic, knowledge engineer.
- Roboethics, implications of the evolution of robots and their relations with humans.
- Development of AI engines, construction of a knowledge base.

The assignment consists of the questions themselves and the writing of model correct answers for all of the questions. You will be graded based on
- Coverage of all topics included.
- How well the questions lend themselves to an open book environment and stimulate analysis and learning of the above topics.

The tests, together with their answers, must be submitted to itgs.sass@gmail.com before the end of the lesson today.