USCSH: An Active Intelligent Assistance System

Abstract

This paper describes the knowledge sources and methods of knowledge acquisition for USCSH (University of South Carolina SHell). USCSH is an active intelligent assistance system for Unix. The system operates in two modes, the active mode and the intelligent mode. In the active mode USCSH monitors the user's interactions with the system, and at appropriate times makes suggestions on how the user may better utilize the system to perform tasks. In the intelligent mode the system accepts questions in natural language and responds to them, taking into consideration the ability of the user and the context of the question.