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Subject: Jan 21 McKeown Constraints on Text Generation
Message-ID: <2905@watdcsu.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 12-Jan-87 11:10:00 EST
Article-I.D.: watdcsu.2905
Posted: Mon Jan 12 11:10:00 1987
Date-Received: Wed, 14-Jan-87 02:07:23 EST
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Organization: U of Waterloo, Ontario
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                           Constraints on Text Generation



          by

          Kathleen McKeown

          from

          Department of Computer Science
          Columbia University
          New York, N.Y.



          Abstract

          In order for a system to generate text, it must be able to deter-
          mine what information to communicate, when to say what, and which
          words and syntactic constructions best express  its  intent.   In
          this  talk, I will show how information about the current user of
          the system, discourse strategies, and focus of attention  can  be
          used  as  constraints on these decisions.  This work will be dis-
          cussed within the context of two different applications:  1)  the
          generation  of  explanations as part of an expert system that ad-
          vises students on course selection and 2) the generation of  spa-
          tial descriptions as part of a question-answering system contain-
          ing information about physical objects.


          DATE:     Wednesday, January 21, 1987

          TIME:     3:30 p.m.

          PLACE:    MC 5158

          Everyone is welcome.  Refreshments served.