Human-Machine Interfaces With Language Competence

Timetable

1.5h lecture and 1.5h laboratory classes per week; preferably Tuesdays

Module aim (aims)

Human-machine communication has been a key theoretical and practical problem since the inception of computer science and remains a challenge for artificial intelligence.

The aim of the course is to introduce the student to the design and implementation of interfaces enabling the use of natural language in human-machine communication. Students learn the main theoretical concepts (lectures) and their application in engineering practice (laboratory classes followed by implementation).

Pre-requisites in terms of knowledge, skills and social competences (where relevant)

Basic familiarity with computer programming, basic knowledge of logic.

Syllabus

INTRODUCTION

Week 1. Presentation of the course objectives and methodological tips for students, getting acquainted with the background of students related to the topic of the lesson (questionnaire); historical outline, presentation of high-level interfaces applications

PART I – FORMAL LOGIC, NATURAL AND FORMAL LANGUAGES, REPRESENTATION OF KNOWLEDGE

Week 2. Natural language and formal languages. Description of formal and natural languages (Montague, Chomsky)

Week 3.  Predicate calculus and knowledge representation

Week 4. Principles of logic programming; PROLOG programming language

PART II -  INTER-AGENT COMMUNICATION

Week 5. Intelligent agent concept (Russell and Norvig)

Week 6. Human-human communication: concept and typology

Week 7. Human competence in the field of interpersonal and linguistic communication

Week 8. Speech act theory (Jakobson, Searle, Austin)

PART III. IT MODELING OF HUMAN LANGUAGE COMPETENCE (HLC)

Week 9. Theoretical approach to creating a model of human linguistic competence

Week 10. An empirical approach to creating a model of human linguistic competence; designing the IT research environment  - observation of communication behavior in natural and experimental conditions;

Week 11.  Machine understanding of human language; typology of systems of understanding man by machine

PART IV. DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION OF INTERFACES WITH LANGUAGE COMPETENCE

Week 12. Designing IT interfaces based on language understanding. Methodology. Implementation of mobile interfaces

Week 13. Case study: controlling devices with language understanding competence

Week 14.  Case study: Information exchange in the dialogue system between man and machine

Week 15. Challenging issues: multilmodal and multilgual interfaces

The weekly schedule corresponds to the teaching content presented in the lectures. This means that the content referred to in the description of "Week: X" should be provided no later than week X. This applies in particular to the theoretical elements discussed in practical classes (labs).

The practical classes (labs) will lead to the implementation of simple language interfaces with a deep text understanding of messages and commands in natural language (other than English), using an android mobile phone, Prolog and Python software. The interface is to handle the task of controlling the device or its virtual imitation / i.e. a simple system written by the student (such as shifting blocks, moving the Corsor on the board, etc.).

Reading list

Artificial Intelligence: A Modern Approach (4th Edition).
By Stuart Russell and Peter Norvig.
Pearson, 2020. ISBN 978-0134610993. http://aima.cs.berkeley.edu/