[MyReserach] Introduction to experimental pragmatics

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I. Noveck & D. Sperber eds. Experimental Pragmatics, Palgrave): Introduction

How does our knowledge of language on the one hand, and of the context on the other permit us to understand what we are told, resolve ambiguities, grasp both explicit and implicit content, recognize the force of a speech act, appreciate metaphor and irony? These issues have been studied in two disciplines: pragmatics and psycholinguistics, with limited interactions between the two. Pragmatics is rooted in the philosophy of language and in linguistics and has spawned competing theories using as evidence a mixture of intuitions about interpretation and observations of behavior. Psycholinguistics has developed sophisticated experimental methods in the study of verbal communication, but has not used them to test systematic pragmatic theories. This volume lays down the bases for a new field, Experimental Pragmatics, that draws on pragmatics, psycholinguistics and also on the psychology of reasoning. Chapters in this volume either review pioneering work or present novel ways of articulating theories and experimental methods in the area. In this introduction we outline some core pragmatic issues and approaches and relate them to experimental work in psycholinguistics and in the psychology of reasoning. We then briefly present one by one the chapters of this collection.

[Weird] A good definition of geek activities

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Read in 43folders:

Man, nerds don't just use a computer for occasional work or to "look something up on 'The Interweb.'" They live on their laptop and take it anywhere they'd bring their wallet. They eat wireless like potato chips and crank out code for a living. They have an IM window and an IRC channel running all day. They're streaming conferences in and live-blogging conferences out.

[MyResearch] Notes from a meeting with Stefano

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stefano discusses why he was moving away from clarks' theory of grounding. In sum, he said that in the pragmatic are of psycholinguistics there are 2 school:- 'code' school: derived from cybernetics/shannon. Clark is part of that - 'inference' school: sperber, wilson, lakoff, grice...

The 'inference' school criticized the grounding theory since they state that a common ground is not necessary for communication (the rely on studies on communication between locutors of different culture/language). They state that: - common ground does not exist and it is not needed - communication is based on inferences

Communication according to them is: - X acts (according to his beliefs) - Y infers a meaning from this

This needs 2 levels: - the intention of emitter's communication must be obvious, there are special techniques human beings use to show the communication intent. this is how the commmunication can be opened - sending the content, which is understood by the receiver according to his knowledge (his 'library').

This school relates communication to action, that is why they are close to 'distributed cognition' theory (cognition is not only on people's mind, artifacts are important since people can infer meaning from them and rely on them for cognitive task like memory).

- read stuff about cognitive aspects of communication (sperber and wilson's book 'relevance...'), read overviews because we juste need the mechanism, - check what is done at 'institut jean nicod' - check francesco cara's work

There are three zones: - action theory (and its subset activity theory): nardi, engeström, suchman - distributed cognition (subset: situated cognition and spatial cognition): properties of objects and the way they express meaning: Hutchins and others. problem: lack of methodology (maybe we should chek theureau). This theory does not take communication into account. - relevance/inference theory: sperber, wilson, grice

Our concern will be to connect those 3 zones

We need to have strong ideas about: - action - communication - context - role of artifacts in the activity - role of artifacts in communication

-- References: 'Mutual Knowledge': collection of papers, argument betwenn Clark and Sperber. Moeschler and reboul 'la pragmatique aujourd'hui'

-- stefano's phd tricks: - read introductory books to get the general idea of a field, to have a 'map' of the big names, the communities... - write glossaries that can even incorporate different definitions for a single term (since we are into multidisciplinary fields, terms have several definitions) - write regular 'checkpoints' (like... evrey 6 months, to be sent to phd supervisor, friends, authors...) with: my current beliefs (and why I state that)/what I want to prove/where I am stuck (with the reason)

[Research] Cultural differences in the CSCW world

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This old paper (1994) entitled "CSCW: History and Focus" by Jonathan Grudin tackles the issue of CSCW research agenda and its history. it also shows the differences in emphasis in the US, Europe, Japan.

European contributions to CSCW are often driven by philosophy or social, economic or political theory. Some European contributions to CSCW are explicitly grounded in the writings of Wittgenstein, Heidegger, Elias, Marx, Vygotsky or others. (This does not characterize all European computer science or informatics, much of which is more formal.) The result may be a broad formulation of system requirements or an implementation of a platform to support a range of applications that in concert are to provide organizational support.

The distinct European CSCW also reflects cultural norms in European countries, such as greater national homogeneity, co-determination laws, stronger trade unions, and more extensive social welfare. At the risk of oversimplifying, greater cultural homogeneity can lead to the acceptance of a welfare state, which in turn can lead to a systems development focus on skill augmentation (in contrast to automation) that is justified on humanitarian but also economic grounds: Workers losing automated jobs must be indirectly supported anyway. The Scandinavian participatory or collaborative design approach reflects these priorities.

[MyResearch] Looking for a catchbob2 scenario

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In order to move forward from our catchbob environment, I need a more complex task, where there should be a mapping between a problem space and the space visited by the participants. A good example would be a cluedo-like task where people need to gather cues all around the campus (finding the weapons used for a crime). Here the mapping is simple: a cue found at a certain location...inference...this cue shows that a specific behavior has occured in this place...inference...However, Pierre argues that this is not semantically complex enough...

[MyResearch] Next Step for CatchBob

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We plan to export the PDA version of CatchBob on tablet PCs. The point is to get rid of the communication problem (at the moment the communication feature only consists in drawing strokes) by allowing users to draw and write directly on the screen. There should be two zones on the tablet PC display: - 1 column (1/3 of the screen) to allow people to write there. - The map (2/3 of the screen): people can also draw there

A 'Clean' button should also be added so that people can clear the screen.

This should be a 'broadcast mode': the drawings should be sent to the group.

To be discussed: - keep the size of the drawing or resize them (lower size) ? - a scroller?

[Prospective] Spinrad's syndicalism anarchism

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In the Social Future as seen by six SF Writers, I mentioned yesterday: as I stated earlier, I like the idea of syndicalist anarchism — 'anarchism that knows how to do business' — no national governments per se.”

Norman Spinrad too is skeptical of global control systems but sees a break-up of the old nationalisms: “Way back when, I sort of liked the idea of a world government. Then I heard Lenny Bruce say: 'If you want to imagine a world government, think of the whole world run by the phone company and nowhere else to go.' On the other hand, I think that the concept of absolute national sovereignty is on the way out and good riddance. The European Union is one model. My own, as in Greenhouse Summer, is some form of syndicalist anarchism — 'anarchism that knows how to do business' — no national governments per se.”

[Weird] A website for seat gurus

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Seatguru is a tough source of information about airline seating.

Welcome to SeatGuru.com, the source for airplane seat information. * Do you have a long flight coming up and want a quiet seat? * Could you really use some extra legroom? * Do you keep getting stuck in a seat that doesn't recline? * Have you paid extra for Business Class and want the best seat?

The site offers nice features like plane maps: <img

[LocativeMedia] pdpal: mapping personal relationship to space

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pdpal is "a mapping tool for recording personal experiences in public space". Yes, it is another location-based annotation tool that aims to be an "emotional gps". As usual, I am wondering if it is really used. The only successful program I know is Urban tapestries. There are so many tools like that these days... it this the locative media killer app? I dunno but I do think it can go much forward. The 'pokecon' thing described by Bruce Sterling in A good old-fashioned future seems a more promising target. Dodgeball is close to this, but is it really used by a large audience? Is the SMS the only cell phone killer app?

[LifeHack] How to avoid procrastination

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Via the life-hack blog 43 tfolders, a really good tutorial about how to avoid procrastination. Selected quotes:

1. identify all the stuff in your life that isn’t in the right place (close all open loops) 2. get rid of the stuff that isn’t yours or you don’t need right now 3. create a right place that you trust and that supports your working style and values 4. put your stuff in the right place, consistently 5. do your stuff in a way that honors your time, your energy, and the context of any given moment 6. iterate and refactor mercilessly (...) I really do want to look at how things like Quicksilver, iCal, BBEdit, NetNewsWire, and the almighty shell script can make this easier for all my Apple sisters and brothers

M Vance also gives good hints:

Outcomes & Actions 1. describe in a single sentence the intended successful outcome for the problem or situation 2. write down the very next physical action required to move the situation forward

SUMMARY 1. keep everything out of your head 2. decide actions and outcomes when things first emerge on your radar, instead of later 3. regularly review and update the complete inventory of open loops of your life and work

Pick up anything around you that you’re wondering what to do with, and apply a simple set of formulae:

• I don’t need or want it = trash • I still need to decide what this means to me = IN basket item • I might need to know this information = reference • I use it = equipment and supplies • I like to see it = decoration • When I could possibly move on it, I want to see the action as an option = next action reminder, reviewed when and where it could be done • I need to be reminded of this short-term outcome I’ve committed to = project list item, reviewed weekly • I need to have this when I focus on a project = support material • I might want to commit to this at any time in the future = Someday/maybe list item • I might want to commit to this on or after a specific time in the future = calendared or “tickled” item incubated for review on a specific future date • I want to achieve this “bigger” outcome = goals, objectives, visions that you review on some longer interval • It’s something someone else is doing that I care about = item on Waiting-For list, reviewed at least weekly • I need to consider it when I do certain recurring activities = item on a checklist

[Research] Picking up a siulation tool for social science

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SInce I am trying to figure out which kind of simulation tool I would use for my phd thesis (HCI guys!), I stumbled across this interesting report: An Evaluation of Seven Software Simulation Tools for Use in the Social Sciences by Julie Dugdale.

The aim of this article is to discuss which software simulation tool(s) would be useful for partners working on the COSI project. The goal is to find a tool which is well suited to simulating the various social mechanisms which are of interest to each of the COSI partners, and, which takes into account the various levels of expertise of using simulation software that exist amongst the COSI partners. Given these two points, the aim is then to suggest a choice of useful simulation tools.