2011-12-21

On Proactivity And Situation Awareness In The Interactive Computing Research

By: Prof. Merik Meriste

Abstract: Interaction is a pervasive aspect of computing today. However a satisfactory foundational framework for interactive computation, like TM for algorithms, is still lacking. Our group’s interests are in the area of interactive systems for some years. We study foundations and implementation tools of situation aware proactive systems embedded in some environment.
We are convinced that the further research should focus on potential ways of designing, assembling, and analysis of computing systems based on autonomous, proactive components. In many applications it is important that the new theories and methods focus specifically support the verifiable satisfaction of situation awareness requirements imposed upon the computing systems.
This talk presents our approach in studies of proactivity and situation awareness. By proactivity we mean component’s ability to anticipate the evolution of its environment, to choose goal-directed activities for better satisfaction of the component’s goals, and in the case of a well-designed system to better satisfaction of the system’s goal. We will consider aims and directions of our on-going long-term research framework on proactivity and situation awareness of artefacts. Three simultaneously on-going and interacting threads are considered in this framework - proactive modelling, technology platforms and tools, and pilot applications and assessment methods. The emergent behaviour in proactive systems and their relationship to complex systems theory are of special interest.

Bio: A senior researcher at the Research Laboratory for Proactive Technologies, Tallinn University of Technology (TUT) and a professor of proactive system technologies at the University of Tartu (UT). He currently conducts research for modelling and simulation of situation-aware autonomous (proactive) agents and their networks (TUT) and applied research for agent technologies (UT). Focus of the research is on modelling network-enabled capabilities by means of networked situation aware autonomous agents. His group in UT has developed a novel approach of self-organising proactive maps applied in various situation aware decision support systems.
He obtained a M.Sc. degree in Applied Mathematics (1973) and a Doctoral Degree in Software Systems and Engineering (1984) from the University of Tartu. Has almost 40 years experience in software development, computer science and software systems research and teaching in Universities of Tartu, Helsinki, Turku and Kuopio and Tallinn University of Technology. He is member of NATO RTO task groups, Estonian representative in ESF COST ICT Domain Committee, Estonian expert member of the Fr7 ICT Committee.