# Means of Question-Answer Interaction for Collaborative Development Activity

Authors: Petr Sosnin
Journal: Advances in Human-Computer Interaction
 (2009)

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## Abstract

The key problem of successful developing of the software intensive system (SIS) is adequate conceptual interactions of stakeholders at the early stages of designing. Nowadays the success of development is extremely low. It can be increased with using artificial intelligence (AI) means including models of reasoning supported by the human-computer interaction in collaborative development activity. In this paper, a number of question-answer means for modeling reasoning are suggested. Such kind of means is defined and implemented in order to get effects of integrating the collective reasoning for their positive influence on the intellectual activity of designers. Question-answer means are arranged as a specialized processor opening the possibility to question-answer programming of the tasks on the conceptual stage of designing. Suggested and investigated means can be used for solving any complicated task.


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## Body

## 1. Introduction

Nowadays the most problematic area of
computer applications is “development of software intensive systems”, within
the frame  of which the collaborative works  of developers and other stakeholders
are being fulfilled in corporate networks. “A software intensive system is a
system where software represents a significant segment in any of the following
points: system functionality, system cost, system development risk, development
time. Examples
are numerous: an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) in a modern car, processing engine
for digital or mobile TV” [1].The significant number of SIS developments (about 65 percent)
either is being stopped, or is exceeding planned time and/or finance, or reach the
end in the poorer version [2]. Investigation results of the
successfulness problem (which are regularly published by Standish Group [3])
are presented in Figure 1. These results show that developers have not received
very important means for successful developing of the SIS.Figure 1
Statistics of successfulness of the
developing the SIS.The usage of collaborative development
environments (CDEs) is estimated as a promising way for increasing the level of
a success in the named subject area. Such type of environments was defined by
Booch and Brown in [4] where the place and role of communication means for the
collaborative work were underlined and generally specified. Details of CDEs and
their current state are presented in [4] and the most  part of details is
connected with communicative interactions of stakeholders in real time solving
the tasks which are common for them.It is possible to use a set of typical
specifications of the CDE as a template for comparing the different
technologies for the development of the SIS and for finding the ways for their
evolving. In our opinion, one of such ways is “a real-time integrating the
intellectual resources” which can help the developers in solving the complicated
tasks. The intellectual potential of any developer is limited and developer
often needs the help for the work with appointed tasks from useful intellectual
sources. The base of such help is the reasoning of colleagues.This article concerns the
problem solving and decision making of the complicated tasks the work with
which is being fulfilled in the CDE-system supporting the question-answer
modeling of collective reasoning. The CDE-system is implemented as processor in
corporate network which gives the possibility for question-answer programming
of human-computer interaction with design objects and the design process.


## 2. Integration of Intellectual Activities

Many different kinds of complexity measures of tasks
are used in the system engineering. For example, one can measure the complexity
of the task by the number of subordinated tasks.This version of measure is adequate for the
development of the SIS where developers must solve a very big number of typical
tasks. Over five hundred different typical tasks subordinated to the main
project task can be used by developers only on the conceptual stage of
developing the SIS with the help of the rational unified process [5]. Including
such tasks into the design process decreases the complexity of the main project
task Z*; but the low degree of a success in designing the SIS shows that
similar project tasks can be insufficient for design with the warranted success.
The useful means for solving the design tasks and coordinating such processes
are needed.When the
designer meets a difficult task he needs to remember that possibilities of
human intelligence are limited and the additional intellectual support can help
him. So there are bases to agree that in a complex situation for designers
they need instrumental means which can give them a real-time access to all
appropriate intellectual resources (and
not only to intellectual capabilities of colleagues) of the corporate network.This allows affirming that the integration
of intellectual resources is needed for working with some complex design tasks.
It is reasonable to choose useful means for the integration from a set of
relevant AI means and include them into the instrument of designing the SIS.
First of all the relevance must be estimated in the context of intellectual
capabilities such as “consciousness” and “understanding” used for controlling
the consciousness process.When we choose or build relevant AI means we
need to remember that the basic form of consciousness work revealing is the
reasoning and the dialogue (the “question-answer” process in the brain
structure) is a nature of the reasoning.One way for modeling collective (collaborative) “consciousness”
is to create the question-answer model (QA-model) of collaborative reasoning which
is reflecting the consciousness process. However, for feedback the joint QA-model in
any of its current state must be open for the interactive “visual pressure” on
the brain of any member of a collective “consciousness” if it is useful for
solving tasks (Figure2).Figure 2
Scheme of question-answer base for interaction.The scheme in Figure2
shows that collective reasoning R(t) of the subject group G({Sbk})
in the frame of task Z transforms to the
QA-model accessible to any member Sbk of the group through operations under
reasoning, its QA-model and questions {Q(t)} and answers {A(t)} as elements of
this model. In such interaction the individual consciousness will be combined
with the interactive “visual pressure” of the QA-model of collaborative
reasoning (collaborative “consciousness”). The QA-model of the collective
consciousness can be used not only for the interaction with the individual
consciousness but also for creating the model of the collective understanding which
must be useful for checking the intellectual activity.It is necessary to notice that in
creation of QA-models and their usage the specific understanding of a question
will be used in this article. The essence of the question-answer activity is
determined by a so-called “question”. The “question” is a natural-artificial
phenomenon appearing in attempts by a person to apply the own experience. In
concrete active situation the “question” appears as a mismatch between the
experience, which is necessary for the reaction and the existing experience of
the person.Determining “questions” as natural
phenomena of a certain type it is necessary to specificity how such phenomena
are found out, identified and described (coded). Any representation of the
“question” in concrete language is its language model which fulfils required
functions within the framework of reasoning. Language forms of reasoning (texts and speech), used
by a person (or a team) during activity are capable to serve as information
sources for constructions of sign models of “questions”. The “questions” leave
obvious and implicit “traces” in texts and speech and such “traces” can help to
discover questions and define their attributes.It is useful to find the “question” as
a natural-artificial phenomenon appearing in specific conditions, to identify,
to code and to use it according to its functionality. Any “question” as a
definite mismatch in experience will activate the process as a result of which
the definite “answer” will be constructed. The “answers” to “questions” develop
an experience and can enrich the semantics of used language.In accordance with understanding the “question” and “answer” the names “question” and “answer”
will be used in what follows when speaking about phenomenon. Such names without quotes will be used in accordance with the context.


## 3. Related Works

The problem of rational
reasoning in the development process of the SIS is well known in this subject
area. This problem has been investigated for more
than 10 years in the Software Engineering Institute (SEI) of Carnegie Mellon University
[6]. However, the question-answer approach is
not used and the problem of “a real-time integration of intellectual efforts”
is not indicated in interests of the SEI to the schemes of reasoning and their
formalizing.Artificial intelligence means are not used for supporting reasoning of
developers in such well-known technology as Rational Unified Process (RUP) and
in other similar technologies, for example, in Microsoft Solution Framework and
Eclipse.It is very interesting because there are many types of reasoning which are
investigated and modeled in AI. For example, the Programs of the European Conferences
on AI (ECAI) include about 20 topics connected with modeling reasoning
(analogical reasoning, case-based reasoning, common-sense reasoning, reasoning about actions, etc.).We have the answer to the question “Why AI means is not used in technologies for developing the SIS?”Adequate AI means which can increase the successfulness of designing the
SIS are absent till now because problem-solving and decision-making based on
the real-time integration of intellectual resources are investigated in AI only partially (different kinds of models for
reasoning which are useful in definite classes of design situations, first of
all case-based reasoning models).We are convinced that investigation
of question-answer reasoning is a perspective way for finding the AI means
which can give the positive results helping to solve complicated tasks and not
only in designing the SIS [7].In the number of relative
works using “questions and answers” (or QA), for example, we can mention reasoning in the “inquiry cycle” [8] for working with
requirements, “inquiry wheel” [9] for
scientific decisions and “inquiry map” [10] for education. Similar ideas are
used in the special question-answer system which supports development of the
SIS [11]. The typical schemes of reasoning for the SIS development
are presented in [6], while in [12] reasoning is presented on seven levels of its
application together with the used knowledge, and in [13] model-based reasoning is
presented as useful means for software engineering.However, in all publications referred to above, the issue [14]  and the special report [15] the task of real
time integration of the intellectual resources in processes of problem-solving and
decision-making is not mentioned.


## 4. Question-Answer Models

In developing the SIS for each task of any degree of complexity the
concrete developer is appointed for decision. Developer colleagues are entered
to the solving process in that case when the intellectual help is required for
the developer. Externally the general intellectual activity of the developer
and its colleagues is observed in the form of their reasoning which can be
registered by the useful way.We suggest using the QA-model (mentioned before) for simulating
collaborative reasoning in any state of the decision process for operative
including such kind of models into the intellectual activity of the developer
appointed to the task. The QA-model which reflects collaborative reasoning in
the frame of the definite taskZ(t) we will name as the QA-model of this task
(or shortly QA(Z(t))). The QA-model of the task is a model of collaborative
reasoning (and integrated consciousness) in the real time process of solving
the task.The QA-model is a systematized representation of reasoning used during
the solution of the taskZ(t) and kept in the special QA-database. Any QA-model
is a set of interactive objects such as “question”, “answer” and “task” with
the certain attributes and operations.Therefore specifications of the QA-models will be presented from the
interactive system viewpoint or another words as specifications of a
specialized software intensive systemSISQA. Such position gives the
possibility to use the experience of the SIS to the SISQA first of all the experience of the
architectural description. We defined and investigated the QA-model of the task
which is architecturally presented in Figure 3.Figure 3
Architectural description of QA-model.Question-answer models, as well as any other models,
are created “for extraction of useful answers to the questions enclosed in the
model”. Any QA-model is adjusted to solving the corresponding task. In general
case the QA-model must support the useful answering process for solving the
main task of conceptual designing the SIS. Therefore the typical structure and content of the
QA-model were being chosen and defined for general case of the task the role of
which fulfills the set of typical RUP-tasks used by designers on the conceptual
stage of the RUP-application. Such decision is being explained that the RUP is the richest source of typical tasks the
utility of which is being confirmed by practice. Conceptual means of the RUP
help to build and express the conceptual solution of any task in development of
the SIS.The typical QA-model is used as a
template and as a complex of means for creating the example of the QA-model for
any task in designing the SIS. The typical QA-model (or in other words the
specializedSISQA) is constructed as the CDE-system which supports the collective work with
tasks in the frames of following architectural views.The logical-linguistic view presents QA(Z(t)) within frames of logic and linguistics of questions and answers. The
visual representation of the view (Figure 4) includes a system of QA-protocols
corresponding to the task tree of Z(t). Each QA-protocol is a tree of questions and
answers (QA-tree) which presents the reasoning used in the decision process of
the corresponding task. Any question or answer in any QA-protocol is a result
of translating the definite volume of natural reasoning about “question” or
“answer”.  In general case any task Z can
include subordinate tasks.Figure 4
System of QA-protocols.The logical part of the view describes the hierarchical tree of
questions and answers. Each “question” or “answer” is being modeled as an interactive
object with the unique name and rich visual presentation. The QA-tree as a
whole consists of the main QA-tree (corresponding to the taskZ(t)) and a set
of subordinated QA-trees for subordinated tasks.The linguistic part of the view includes a system of texts presented as
the informational content of questions and answers. The text of each unit of
the view is a result of the QA-formalization which is applied to the definite
volume of reasoning at the natural language. The technique of formalization is
presented below in Section7. Such result can be interpreted and implemented as
a translation of reasoning from the natural language to the QA-language.Dynamics of the view reflects the history of reasoning registered by step-by-step
as the history of each unit of the view. Therefore the logical-linguistic view
was named as the “QA-protocol”.The QA protocol as a base of the logical-linguistic
view has a number of useful interpretations such as(1)
it reflects the
definite volume of the design process as a data of “the research experiment”
representing “the primary measuring information” about design process and about
the used control facilities;(2)
the content of the
protocol reflects a real reasoning, which can be investigated to increase the
knowledge about a “phenomenon of reasoning and questions”;(3)
each of registered
questions or answers admits its interpretation as an event which is essential
for reasoning and design process, that allows understanding the protocol as “a
network of events” ordered in time;(4)
the protocol is a
data structure (QA-structure) with its practically useful set of operations.
Such interpretation of the QA structure corresponds to the experience of
Computer Science in the area of data structuring for adequate presentation of
reasoning.The
task view opens the model QA(Z(t)) as an interactive task tree (Figure 5)  including the
interactive model of Z(t) with models of
all subordinated tasks. “The task” is a type of  “the question” and, therefore, it
is subordinated to the used understanding of “questions”. However, the interactive
object which presents the task in SISQA is opened for the interaction
through the special set of commands one of which is “To open task as its QA-model”. In general case the task
tree is a tree of all project tasks combined in the task Z* of designing the
SIS. The task is a based unit for structuring the process of designing and for
question-answer modeling (QA-modeling). In such process a problem-oriented and
service types of tasks are differentiated. As shown in Figure 5  the service
project tasks can be used for solving the problem-oriented tasks.Figure 5
Fragment of the task tree forZ=Z.K: K-index name, symbol “0” indicates service tasks,
other names indicate the problem-oriented tasks.The example of the visual integration
for thetask view and the logic-linguistic view is shown as the
real screenshot in Figure 6  where any label of the task or the question or the
answer can be used for the interactive access to the other parts of the chosen
interactive object. The example also visualizes the structure of the
QA-protocol connected with the chosen task in the task tree. Here is shown that
the picture can be attached to any unit of the task tree and the QA-protocol.Figure 6
Relation
between logic-linguistic view and task view.The ontological view indicates all concepts used in QA(Z(t)). It is acceptable as an
interactive list of concepts with references to the project ontology which is
being constructed and used during the life cycle of the SIS. The inclusion of
the ontological view into the QA-model helps to the developer to express and to
check the definite volume of the own understanding on the level of used
notions. The special subsystem is included to the SISQA  for
supporting the creation and usage of the “ontology of the project” in real
time.The theory view presents the system of QA-protocols as a theory of the content-evolutionary
type. It is being accessible after transforming of the current state of
QA-protocols to the text form (DOC or HTML). The theory view is constructed from systematically combined text units
in the step by step process of collaborative designing. It helps the designer
to “transfer” operatively from the QA-structure of reasoning to its textual
form reflecting the evolution of reasoning from the causal point of view.The intelligence-organizing view gives an interactive access to the organizational structure of designers
and other stakeholders involved in the solution process of Z(t). It can help to
find interactive answers not only about any person involved to the solution process
but about the person contribution to the project also.The communicative view opens all communicative relations used between solvers of the task
Z(t). A special set of service tasks (special e-mail, meeting, brainstorming,
estimation, etc.) is opened (in the QA-processor) for including the necessary
communication into the solution processThe experience view presents a list of all models of experience used in the solution of
the task and units of experience which have been built during this process. The
special open library of experience units (models) is included in the CDE-system
used for the development of the SIS.The motive-aimview registers and
demonstrates visually a semantic net of motives and aims with task specifications the implementing of which supports motives and aims. It implements the principle according to which for each motive or aim it is
necessary to indicate how it is
materialized in the life cycle of the SIS.The event view is an interactive net for the access to “questions” and “answers” each of which is presented (with the help of the needed attributes and their visualizing) as event in
the designing.The activity view registers “questions” and “answers” of any types as objects of activity.  This view has two versions one of which is a
Gant diagram and the second is a PERT-diagram.The problem-oriented view is presented as a number of interactive semantic schemes describing
the important aspects of the task solving.
Each scheme is visualized as the useful (for designing) graphic picture.
The special graphic processor is included to the SISQA for
supporting the creation and usage of the “block and line” diagrams.The diagramming view demonstrates a set of the normative diagrams (UML-diagrams or others
“block and line” diagrams) each of which presents the declarative or procedural
aspect of the task solving.  Each of the
diagram is built with  the help of the QA-model for the corresponding service
task subordinated to Z(t).The documenting view opens the process and results of the solving task through the normative set of
documents for the used technology.The normative view presents an interactive list of standards and frameworks used during the task
solving.The training view combines all QA-means of the named views, which are useful for the training
purposes. Such possibility helps newcomers of the stakeholder group or
designers to study the project units.Representation of the QA-model and interaction with it as with the
specialized automated systemSISQA based on a set of presented
architectural views requires answering the question about systematization of all
views. The following interconnected components are used for such aim:(i)
declarative-visual integration,
within the frame of which all artifacts of the QA-model are presented and
interactively visualized;(ii)
procedural integration as the
technique system for QA-modeling.Declarative-visual integration is responsible for coding, structuring,
ordering, storage, and delivery by inquiries of those artifacts which are parts
of the QA-model. The function of the integration of such type we will assign
to the question-answer database of the SIS project. Such solution allows saving
all QA-models at the file-server accessible for any workplace of the corporate
network. It opens the possibility
to include in architecture of theSISQA two styles—repository and
client-server styles. Visualization of artifacts is another problem for the decision of which
it is rational to use architectural style Model-View-Controller (MVC)
widespread in practice of the development of the SIS [16]. Architectural style
MVC is the style oriented specially on the human-computer interaction.Procedural
integration is being implemented in the form of a question-answer programming
in according to which creation of any QA-model and interaction with it are
fulfilled as a special type of programming in an instrumental environment of a
processor type. Such type of programming will be presented in what follows.


## 5. Question-Answer Means

The QA-model of the taskZ(t) with its system of views are defined as the
problem-oriented base of the software intensive system SISQA designated for supporting the design of the SIS. In the general case the task
Z(t) is a task Z*(t) solving of which is conceptual designing the SIS.
Therefore the SISQA must be built as a complex of QA-means
designated for conceptual designing any SIS.The system of QA-means named as QA-processor Working In
Question-Answers (WIQA) has been implemented in several versions. Developments of two
last versions were based on architectural views of the QA-model and usage of
repository, MVC, client-server and interpreter architectural styles. Moreover
in developing the versions have been used object-oriented, component-oriented
and service-oriented architectural paradigms. One of the last versions named as
NetWIQA has been programmed on Delphi 6.0 and
the second version (named as WIQA.Net) has been created on C# at the platform
of Microsoft.NET 2.0.The
system WIQA.Net has been developed for its usage as the kernel of the product
line each unit of which is an application based on this kernel. The product
line includes applications “conceptual design”, “system of documenting”,
“decision-making system,” and “training system” adjusted for their usage in the corporate
network. The NetWIQA was used as a reach source of assets for developing the
kernel [17]. Server possibilities of
WIQA.Net are opened for thin clients in the corporate network and for
Web-clients via the Web-shell programmed with using means of ASP.NET.The component structure of WIQA.Net is
implemented as the open system of plug-ins supported by the implementation of
all architectural views of the QA-model. It is generally (without means
reflected and supported web access to the QA-means) presented in Figure7.Figure 7
Component structure
of the WIQA.Net.All components are allocated on following
tiers:(1)The database
tier is implemented with use of the technology ADO.NET. It is used as a
repository of all data.(2)The server
plug-ins tier encapsulates all function for interaction with the database.
A number of plug-ins in this tier is specialized. The tier is formed
dynamically during starting the server with using the technology of a dynamic
reflection of types which is supported by a platform.NET. Interfaces of the tier
(server plug-ins) contain the functions intended for direct adding, updating
and removing of data. These functions are called only by a client tier (client
plug-ins).(3)The server tier is implemented using the technology.NET remouting,
that allows addressing the server from the remote client workplace. When any
client workplace is starting the server carries out registration of the client,
giving out to the client a unique key which is used for checking the access
rights to various functions of system. The server registers also starting of any component of a client plug-ins
tier. The server is conducting also logging the most important events of system
(i.e.,  formation of magazine of events).(4)The connector
tier (an intermediate tier). The usage of the technology .NET Remouting demands
the certainty for all functions of the remote object for access to it. The
connector hides the implementation of the server from the client. Therefore the interface
of the server is being stored in the connector.(5)The client tier is an application with which begins the work of
the user on the client workplace. This tier is responsible for the program encapsulation of the work with the
client plug-ins tier and also for encapsulation of the remote interaction with
a server. In the case of an allocation of the server and the client on one computer,
through a configuration file it is possible to disconnect the usage of the
technology .NET remouting. It will raise the speed of the work of the program. The client is also
responsible for the reception of the name and the password of the user.(6)The client
plug-ins tier consists of two parts. One part supports the active
interaction with the user and other part is adjusted on the processing of the
certain events in the system.The first part gives the access for the user to
the functionalities of the implemented architectural views. Each plug-in of
this tier contains a unique key which gives the possibility to distinguish
plug-ins of the tier for controlling the access of the user to the appointed
plug-ins only. The QA-plug-in of this tier provides the access to commands for
the work with the logic-linguistic view (with QA-protocols). Each plug-in of
this part of the tier supports the interaction with objects of the
corresponding architectural view. The second part of the tier supports the
automatic work with a definite set of events during QA-modeling. It is provided
by the units programmed as agents.(7)The tier
of continuous developing is activated as a real-time access for the
developer of additional plug-in (or agent) from the client workplace to the
.Net 2.0 means in context of the current state of the QA-processor. Such additional units
are shown in Figure 7 by chain lines.Only QA-plug-ins for the work with QA-protocols have names in Figure7. Other
plug-ins for the work with other interactive units of QA-models are presented
as classes of plug-ins. System of means included to the WIQA.Net supports the
(collaborative) solution of any task in conceptual designing the SIS. Such
possibility is stipulated by the potential of the QA-model which is defined on the base of analogy with
the RUP tasks. It is necessary to notice that WIQA.Net can be qualified not
only as CDE-system for conceptual designing the SIS but also as a processor for
the creation (and execution) of
QA-programs for complicated tasks.Web-access in WIQA.Net is arranged as the one-page site (asp.net) with
dynamic additional loading the data,
executed on the technology AJAX.
At initial loading the user registers the URL address of a resource on which
site is placed. It is unique GET-request at work with the system. The further
reception and sending of data is carried out by means of asynchronous
POST-requests which are carried out by methods of a client part of libraries
Microsoft ASP.NET AJAX extensions and Ext JavaScript.In Figure8 one
of the screenshots of the
Web-shell is presented. This version
of the shell (named
as EduWIQA) is the
Web-shell of WIQA.Net adjusted to the
educational problem.Figure 8
Web-view
of visualization for QA-model.The screenshot demonstrates the current state of the visualization for a
number of answer-units chosen for interaction from the QA-model. These units
are located on the screen by user and change each other in front according to
the chosen tempo. In
the QA-processor there are several versions for the dynamic allocation of visualized units on the
monitor screen.


## 6. Question-Answer Modeling

Question-answer models, as well as any other
models, are created “for extraction of answers to the questions enclosed in the
model”. Moreover, the model is a very important form of representation of
questions, answers on which are generated during interaction with the model.The essence of QA-modeling is an interaction of
stakeholders with artifacts included to the QA-model in their current state.
For such interaction the developer can use the special set of commands
(QA-commands), their sequences and a set of plug-ins combining with
QA-commands. Such work is similar to programming (QA-programming) on the base
of means of the special processor (QA-processor) the role of which fulfils theSISQA.In order to get the definite positive effect
from the concrete QA-model of the definite task the developer will need to
program the definite volume of the developer interaction with this model and
execute the created QA-program.There is a number of expected positive effects
for each of which the QA-program (or a set of alternative QA-programs) must be rationally
built. It has given the possibility to create a library of typical QA-programs
accessible to the developer in real time.The main subset of positive effects of
QA-modeling is connected with real time integrating of intellectual resources
and this subset includes:(i)
controlling and testing the reasoning of the developer with the help
of “integrated reasoning” and “integrated understanding” included into the
QA-models;(ii)
correcting the understanding of
designer with the help of comparing it
with “integrated understanding”;(iii)
combining the models of collective
experience with individual experience for increasing the intellectual potential
of the designer on the definite working place;(iv)
including individual experience of
the developer in accordance with the request on the other working places in the
corporate network.Any developer can get any programmed positive
effect with the help of QA-modeling as “answer” on question actually or
potentially included in the QA-model (Figure9).Figure 9
QA-model as a source of answers.As it is shown in this scheme
any view is the source of answers accessible for the developer as results of the
developer interactions with the QA-model. At the same time the
potentialof the QA-model is not limited by the questions planned at defining
and creating the QA-model. Another source of useful effects of QA-modeling is an additional combinatorial “visual pressure” of
questions and answers which is caused by influence on brain processes of their
contact with componentsof QA-models. There are different forms for building answers with the help of QA-modeling, not only
linguistic forms. But in any case the specificity of QA-modeling is defined by the inclusion of additional
interacting with “question-answer objects” into dynamics of the integrated
consciousness and understanding (into natural intellectual activity).The developer achieves the
positive interaction in the work with problem-oriented tasks and service tasks
(including a subset of technological tasks) which are being defined and solved
in the designing process with the help of QA-modeling.All problem-oriented tasksZP={ZrP}
are derived from the analysis of the subject area of the SIS, from requirements
to the SIS and from the design process. Any task ZrP is a
question qualified by stakeholders as a task-question answer to which can be
found only through the decision process.Any service taskZmC has its typical QA-model which is extracted from the special library. Such
pattern (QA-procedure) helps to build the model QA(ZC) for the
definite conceptual artifact. Service tasks are defined and implemented for
creating documents and visual diagrams, for supporting the typical schemes of
communicating and training.The work with questions,
answers and other conceptual artifacts is executed with the help of
technological tasksZT={ZnT} solving each of
which uses a scenario form. The solving of the definite technological task is
an executing of the corresponding technique programmed for the definite
application of the QA-processor.The
main application of the QA-processor is a “Conceptual designing” the process of
which is based on workflows “Interactions with Experience” [7]. Each workflow
is implemented with the help of definite technological tasks. Nowadays about 70
technological tasks have been developed. They are accessible to designers
through the special shell of a client workstation. Technological tasks are used
for the conceptual decision of all problem-oriented tasks ZP and
other service tasks ZC. Relations between tasks ZT, ZP and ZC are schematically shown in Figure 10.Figure 10
Relations between tasks.It is possible for developers to work at two lines of
activity. The line 1 is a line of strict executing of QA-method of designing
with the help of the technological tasks only. The line 2 is a line of actions
on the base of QA-commands and plug-ins of the QA-processor. The developer can
switch between lines if it can give more effective result.


## 7. Question-Answer Programming

The
potential opportunity to create useful samples of interactive objects such types as “problem”, “question” and “answer”
and existence of means (QA-processor) for their combination and linkage has led
to the decision to implement the creation of such objects, their assembling and
using in the form of programming.For such decision there are sufficient
bases which include the following arguments:(1)
the named objects
are implemented in the QA-processor as a set of specialized types of data with
corresponding operations, and all these means support the QA-coding of
reasoning used for the problem-solving;(2)
the decision of the
taskZ presented as a system S({Mi})  of
conceptual models {Mi}, which has been
built on the basis of the necessary reasoning R(Z), is one
of the conceptual solving the task Z;(3)
QA-coding of
reasoningR(Z), aimed at construction of QA-model of task Z, leads to QA-codes
QA(R(Z)) which can be transformed to
the system of models S(M) and such work
is supported in the QA-processor (diagramming
and documenting views).The decision of taskZ
materialized in the form of QA(R(Z)), is open for its useful application in the
environment of the QA-processor, including reuses.All of named arguments allow qualifying the
construction QA(R(Z)) as the program, as the QA-program. The introduction of such type of programming
allows separating the creation of QA-models from their usage in QA-modeling.Interpretation of QA(R(Z)) like
program can be extended naturally in the case of the task which has subtasks. In this case the corresponding
QA-program should be built for each subtask and its QA-code should be opened
for the call from the main task Z and its subtasks, including the recursive
calls.Such possibilities (typical for
traditional programming) are supported by the QA-processor. Moreover, the
QA-processor supports the work with the library of QA-programs.Introduction of a special kind of
programming leads to questions about the formal definition of language for
QA-programming, transformations of QA-programs and their execution.Answering such questions it is
necessary to take into account that QA-programs of tasks are classified as
specific kinds of programs not only because of specificity of types of data but
the execution of each of them is possible also in any state of its creating.The
QA-processor supports the work with QA-programs  written on the QA-language with
grammar  which uses the following BNF-rules:〈QA-program〉::=〈Heading〉〈QA-code〉||〈QA-program〉〈Heading〉〈QA-code〉.〈Heading〉〉::=〈Name〉〈Statementofaproblem〉.〈QA-code〉::=〈QA-group〉|〈QA-code〉〈QA-group〉.〈QA-group〉::=〈Question〉|〈Answer〉||〈QA-group〉〈Question〉|〈QA-group〉〈Answer〉.〈Question〉::=〈Problem〉|〈Task〉|〈Inquiry〉.〈Question〉::=〈Text〉|〈Interactiveobject〉.〈Task〉::=〈Subtask〉|〈Task〉〈Subtask〉.〈Answer〉::=〈Project〉|〈Decision〉|〈Idea〉|〈Hypothesis〉|〈TheanswertoInquiry〉||〈Specification〉|〈Motive〉|〈Purpose〉.〈Answer〉::=〈Text〉|〈Interactiveobject〉.〈Object〉::=〈“Project”〉|〈“Task”〉||〈“Answer”〉|〈“QA-group”〉|〈Functionfromobject〉.〈“Task”〉::=〈QA-model〉.It is necessary to notice, that the grammar
description can be used as the definition of the QA-program.
A
number of versions is used for execution of QA-programs each of which is being
fulfilled as one of the following forms of QA-modeling:(1)
the real-time
interaction of the person solving the taskZ (or similar inquiries of any other
persons) with any fragment of the QA-program in any state of its readiness;(2)
the interaction with
the program QA(R(Z)) controlled by a technique chosen from the library of
techniques where each of them is materialized in the form of the QA-program;(3)
the human-computer
execution of the technique chosen from the library mentioned above.In
any version of interaction its acts are caused by activity context which is
subordinated to the basic purpose—to solve the taskZ. For achievement of
such purpose the subject solving the task interacts with its QA-model allowing
him to use (in construction of the decision) combination with objects of the types “task”, “question” and “answer”,
selecting suitable objects and connecting them in “the conceptual decision of the
task Z”.The
addressee of effects of interaction with the QA-program is the person
interpreting its codes and using results of interpretation in the following
basic purposes:(i)
to understand the object (on the monitor screen) with which
the person interacts and to use the
effect of understanding;(ii)
to use the result of interaction
in the communicative purposes for promoting the decision of the task to the
final result;(iii)
to analyze object of interaction;(iv)
to use effects of interaction for estimation;(v)
to promote “forward” the decision
of taskZ, first of all due to decision-making.The QA-processor is
implemented so, that its interfaces promote the real time work to the named
purposes. So, for example, the subsystem of dynamic visualization of
question-answer units is included to the QA-processor in order to support the
process of understanding. The set of visualized units is being selected by
inquiry of the user. There is
a special subsystem in QA-processor which supports the preliminary preparation
of the visualizing information from the QA-database. Any prepared block of
questions and answers can be visualized in suitable tempo by
switching special windows on the screen or using effects of the 25th card. Such version of interaction performs also the
role of the interactive “visual pressure”
of the QA-model on the intellectual activity of the designer.Let's
present one more technique of the support which is included in the QA-processor
for promoting the creation the QA-program (and promoting the decision of taskZ
also).The
essence of the technique consists in extraction the potential set of questions
{{Qk}} from the current state of program QA(R(Z(t)))  for the
subsequent creation of answers {{Ak}}. Step by step the technique
promotes the creation of program QA(R(Z(t)))
from the initial state of the
program QA(R(Z(t0)))  to the final result.This
technique has been developed for the solution of tasks in conceptual designing
the SIS but it can be applied to the decision of any (complex) task.The
execution of the technique begins with an initial state of the program QA(R(Z(t0)))  for which the generalized statement of task Z has been
formulated with the usage of the sample consisting of three clauses. The first
clause reflects the main purpose of the task. It opens the access to the questioner about
structure and content of the typical Use-Case diagram [16]
which should be adjusted to the specificity of the task. The second
clause defines the dynamic behavior corresponding to the Use-Case diagram for
the task. It provides construction of the basic diagram of business-objects of
UML. The third clause defines technology of implementation of a system under
design. Information of this block is applied in conceptual design as context
information.Analysis of textT0 of the
general statement of a task and its translation to PROLOG-like language are used
for extraction of questions. More detail it is based on step by step
registering of questions and answers in QA-program (the visual presentation of
which is QA-protocol) in accordance with following  points of the technique.(1)
The set of questions{Qi} is extracted from the text T0  and coded by adequate texts T(Qi) for each Qi.(2)
Actions of the item
(1) are executed for each textT(Qi), therefore the set of questions {Qij} and
their codes {T(Qij)}  is being formed also. Actions  of item
(2) are being used to control the correctness of question codes.(3)
The subset of questions{Qk}
which will be used for the next step of stepwise refinement, is being chosen
from the united set {Qi}∪{Qij}.
Other questions of the set {Qi}∪{Qij} are
being recorded for their usage in the subsequent steps of QA-programming.(4)
Set of answers{Ak} and their
codes {T(Ak)} is being formed and registered in the current state of
the QA-program.(5)
Each textT(Ak) is being processed as the text T0.(6)
The cycle (1)–(5)   is
being repeated until the solution process comes to the end.In working with
QA-programs, it is
necessary to discriminate their declarative parts (question-answer
blocks), the procedural components
(techniques of interaction with blocks, each of which is visualized in a
question-answer form) and interpretation (execution of QA-programs).Interpretation is used
in two versions, one of which operates the interaction with the model during
the solution of tasks, and another provides dynamic visualization of
question-answer blocks for their influence on the intellectual activity of the
designer. Dynamic visualization of question-answer blocks by inquiry of the
designer is the base form of the developer real-time access to the integrated
intellectual resources.It is possible to use two versions of QA-programming. The first version
is similar to event-driven programming when the state of the QA-model is
interpreted as the description of the situation used for the next steps of
designing. If any question or answer of the QA-model is under constructing then
such unit is the object of the potential work. Analyzing
the state of the QA-model (more truly “event
view” of the model), we can choose its more priority question or answer for continuing or finishing the work with such interactive object (“activity view” of the QA-model).In any state of any
question or answer the developer can activate the useful interaction with the chosen
object using accessible QA-commands, plug-ins or techniques. Such actions are
similar to the work of the QA-processor as “an interpreter”.The second version is used for
simulating the technique steps in the QA-form where “questions” are used for coding
steps of the technique and “answers” are used for
registering facts of executing steps of the technique. Any step of the
technique as a definite volume of the work is being presented as “question” for
which is needed to build “the answer”.The QA-processor
suggests to the designer many different types of the QA-commands, plug-ins and
techniques used in designing with the help of QA-modeling. Any designer has
the possibility for using a set of normative QA-techniques
for designing, decision-making, communicating, documenting and training.A set of especially
important actions (operations, commands, plug-ins mechanisms, techniques) of
the QA processor includes:(1)
for questions:
detection of obvious questions (on their indicators), predication (through
translation on Prolog-like language), identification (on patterns), concrete
definition (for types), assignment of meanings to attributes (as to the
phenomenon of event type), argumentation of question;(2)
for answers:
creation, assignment of a type, change of a type, registration of a condition,
editing of the contents, assignment of meanings to attributes (as to the
phenomenon of event type), argumentation;(3)
for QA groups:
transformation to the node, expansion into the QA-structure, transformation to
the event net, visualization of a network, analysis of a condition, choice of a
direction of development, scrolling of dynamics (on inquiries);(4)
for texts: creation,
transformation, grammar analysis, semantic analysis, transformation to the
semantic graph, supporting of a phenomenon of attention.Any program and QA-program also is a
model of the programmed task. The introduction of QA-programming allows separating
the creation of QA-models from their usage. The relation between QA-model and
QA-program is presented in Figure11. Any
QA-model of the corresponding task Zi is being created and existed as an
interactive complex combining the chosen artifacts of appropriate views. The needed
views are included to the model of Zi in accordance with the task type.Figure 11
Form of
existing of the programmed task.The role of the initial
state of the QA-program fulfils the typical QA-procedure if it is existed. The
execution of the QA-program performs in the form of QA-modeling.


## 8. Question-Answer Designing

First of all QA-modeling is used for solving the
design tasks. Moreover this kind of modeling helps to build the conceptual
solution for any task during the design process of the SIS. We suggest rational
method of conceptual solution for the system of design tasks being executed in
the corporate network.In the most general case the application of the
method begins with the first step of question-answer modeling the initial
statement (Figure12) of a development task Z*(t0). In special cases
of the method application the initial statement of a task is included in a task
tree of the design technology with which it will be fulfilled.Figure 12
Scheme of method.The essence of the method consists in the
following.(1)
The system of tasks of
conceptual designing is being formed and solved according to the method of
stepwise refinement.(2)
The initial state of
the stepwise refinement is being defined with the system of normative tasks of
“life cycle the SIS” which is included the main project taskZ*. The basic
version of normative tasks corresponds to standard ISO/IEC 12207.(3)
Implementation of the method begins
with the formulation of the main task statement in the form, allowing start
constructing of the  prime conceptual models.(4)
Detailed
elaboration in the system of tasks join not only the project tasks connected
with specificity the SIS but also service tasks, each of which is aimed at
creation of the corresponding conceptual diagram or document. The strategy of
the collective work with project and service tasks is presented in Figure13.(5)
For each service task
its question-answer model is created on the base of the definite
question-answer pattern from the special library.(6)
During conceptual solution of
any task, included in the task tree of the SIS project, additional tasks can be
discovered and included into the system of tasks.(7)
General conceptual solution
integrates all conceptual decision of all task included in a task tree of the
project.(8)
Conceptual solution is
estimated as the completed solution if its state is enough for the successful
work at the subsequent development stages of the SIS. The degree of sufficiency
is obviously and implicitly checked. Useful changes are added to the more
adequate conceptual representation of the SIS.Figure 13
Task’s tree of the development process (strategy of a collective activity).As a forementioned, above general conceptual decision integrates all conceptual
decision of all tasks included in a task tree of the project. So, conceptual
solution of the project tasks is defined as the system of conceptual diagrams
with their descriptions on the notion languages the content of which are
sufficient for successful programming of the solution of the task. Which
conceptual diagrams are included into the solution depends on the technology
used for developing the SIS.Potentials of QA-means are sufficient for
conceptual designing the SIS. The success and quality of the QA-designing
essentially depend on that which complex of technological tasks and service tasks is combined in the technology
used by designers.All tasks of named types are open for their
QA-programming. For creating the technology, it is necessary to choose the appropriate
conceptual artifacts and techniques for transforming them (with the help of
editing only) to the QA-forms and loading such forms in the library of the
QA-templates. After that designers can activate the execution of the method for QA-designing.In Algorithm1, the fragment  of the QA-program for one of the service tasks is
presented. This is a task helps the designer to create the Use-Case diagram.
The fragment reflects the initial state of the program where answers expound to the designer their meaning.
These answers are
necessary to fill by the definite
content.Algorithm 1:Fragment of QA-program for creation of
Use-Case.
Q2. Actors?A2. The external persons and systems
cooperating with the system being designed.2.1 Primary Actors?A2.1. Persons and systems who and which will initiate
interaction, will use
functions of system for thedecision of the task and will receive
valuable result (useful effect) from this interaction.Q2.2. Interested persons?A2.2. Persons and systems, whose interests consider,
protect and satisfy
in system being designed.Q2.3. External events initiating any processes in
the system being designed.Q2.4. Assistants?A2.4. Persons who are used by the
system.Q2.5. Why the given actor cooperates with the
system?A2.5. Under own initiative or how the
intermediary, the representative of another.Q3. Precedents—variants of use of the system by actors?Q3.1. What task is solved by the actor with help of the system?A3.1. The name of the
first precedent.Q3.2. What is the higher system
for which the system is being designed?Q3.3. Participants (besides the Primary
Actor—the initiator)?Q3.3.1. Interested persons, whose interests
are mentioned with the given precedent?Q3.3.2. The assistants participating in realization of precedent?Q3.4. Frequency rate of association between
the actor
and precedent?Q3.4.1. How many “copies” of the actor (concrete subjects) can
(simultaneously) take part in realizationof precedent (the concrete
script)?Q3.4.2. How many copies of precedent can
(simultaneously) be realized by one actor (the concrete subject)?The method has received the name “question-answer
method for conceptual decision of the project tasks”. In the name of this
method the attribute “conceptual” indicates that base actions of the decision
process are “conceptual actions” of stakeholders, first of all question-answer
reasoning used in the design work.  Such
conceptual actions are needed to build an adequate conceptual representation of
the SIS.The application of the method supposes that any its
technique can be interrupted in any time. The special subsystem for controlling
the interruptions of techniques is included in the QA-processor.


## 9. Question-Answer Decision-Making

QA-programming of the technological tasks and
service tasks will be demonstrated on the examples of
decision-making (DM).There are many different types of the DM methods. Choosing methods
suitable for designing the SIS we need to take into account the specificity of such kind of activity. Therefore for certainty we are being limited below the interactive decision-making, decision-making in group, decision-making by
experts, and also analysis models of situation and alternatives. In all these
methods the human-computer interaction is important (as in conceptual designing
also).In order to use the possibilities of the
QA-processor the typical task must be defined for each DM method suitable for
designing the SIS. Moreover, each typical task must
be presented as the corresponding technique of the DM coded in the form of the
QA-program.QA-programming of the chosen DM tasks showed that decision-making by the
technique of expert system has specificity in implementing and executing. At
first we present the general version of QA-programming and then QA-programming
for the expert DM task. For example, the QA-code of the technique for the
Plus-Minus-Interesting analysis (or PMI-analysis) [18]  is presented in Algorithm 2.Algorithm 2:QA-model of the technique.
Question-Answer
Template File“The
scheme of PMI management”Q1. Specifying a problem of decision-making?Q2. Creating a subtask of decision-making (PMI)?Q3. Creating a subtask of documenting of decision-making?Q4. Loading a pattern of method PMI?Q5. Identifying of problems and the purposes in a pattern?Q6. Forming the list and an estimation of pluses?Q7. Forming the list and an estimation of minuses?Q8. Forming the
list and an estimation of interests?Q9. Loading of the module of gathering and calculationof estimations?Q10. Calculation of the general estimation?Q11.
Analyzing result and decision-making?Q12. Creation documentsThe answers in the template are absent till its using. After loading this
template in the task tree it will receive the status of “the QA-model” for the
new subordinated PMI task and for each question of this model the answer will
be opened. When the point of technique of the PMI task has been executed the symbol
“*” is added to the answers for questions which have been fulfilled as points
of technique.Usage of value “*” in answers gives the
possibility for breaking the technique in any position and returning to the
next point of the technique in suitable time. Moreover it gives the possibility
for tracing the way of executing the technique with any executable structure.Definite documents are
used in the DM tasks and in presented PMI task also. For working with documents
the QA-processor allows using the special class of service tasks. Each task of
such class also uses the QA-template and the corresponding QA-model. Such possibility
is reflected in Figure3 as “Documenting
view.”For the PMI task its base
document has the table structure (see Table1).Table 1
Table
structure for PMI technique.
PositiveNegativeInterestingPlusValueMinusValueInterestValueThe
document table structure is being transformed to the corresponding QA-protocol
the potential fragment of which is presented in Algorithm3.Algorithm 3:Fragment of
the estimation results.
QJ.1.
What is the first plus from the decision?AJ.1. Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.QJ.1.1. What importance of the first plus (+1 till +10)?AJ.1.1.    +6.QJ.2. What is the second plus from the decision?AJ.2. Yyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy.QJ.2.1. What importance of the second plus?AJ.2.1.  +8.QK.1.
What is the first minus of decision (−1 till −10)?AK.1.  −5.Externally simple structure of the two QA-models hides the rich
possibilities of their (useful for designing) transforming, processing, and
visualizing which are caused by the system of their architectural views. Moreover
the PMI task and the corresponding task of its documenting are included into
the task tree of designing the SIS and all tasks of this tree have similar
QA-models and are controlled by unified rules.Different kinds of relations between tasks are used in the task tree of
designing the SIS. Relations being possible for the DM tasks are presented in
Figure14  where tasks of the definite type are marked by labels.Figure 14
Fragment of the task tree reflecting the relations between tasks
for decision making.In accordance with circumstances the developer can open for solving:(i)
the DM taskZiDM subordinated to
the project task ZP;(ii)
the task of documentingZjD subordinated to the DM task ZiDM;(iii)
the communication taskZmK subordinated to the DM task ZkDM;(iv)
the task of
documentingZqD subordinated
other task of documenting ZpD;(v)
the communication taskZrK subordinated to the task of documenting ZpDM.Let us notice
that communicative tasks in the WIQA.Net support “communicative view” by the specialized e-mail, meeting, estimation
and argumentation forms of the interaction between its users. In the ES its
communicative tasks are used for supporting the substantiation and estimation
functions.The developer can include to the any point of the task tree any task of any
type if it is necessary for him. The necessity of decision-making can be
requested in any time of designing the SIS. If so, the appropriate method of
decision-making as a special task will be loaded in the task tree of designing
the SIS.If it is be useful for the developer he can include to the needed point of
the task tree the suitable communication task supported by the QA-processor
(special e-mail, the task of collective estimating, the task of argumentation
or the brainstorming task). Estimations into the DM tasks are fulfilled with
the help of the communication tasks. For all tasks of communication the
QA-templates are created and loaded in the common library of QA-templates. A
set of communication tasks supports “communicative
view” of the QA-model.Presented approach to QA-programming the PMI technique was used for
QA-programming a set of decision-making techniques which includes force-field
analysis, paired-comparison analysis, impact analysis, GRID analysis, and SWOT
analysis. All typical QA-programs of named techniques are combined and included
to the special section of the library with QA-templates. All QA-models of the
corresponding documents are included to this library also. For working with the
DM tasks in the frame of designing the SIS the special plug-in of the
QA-processor was developed.


## 10.  Expert Decision-Making

Into the complex of QA-means for decision-making the “expert system” (ES)
is included. Such system is implemented on the base of the plug-ins of the QA-processor
for supporting “experience view” of
any QA-model.“The knowledge base” of the ES gives the possibility to keep
precedents of two types - declarative and procedural precedents each of which
includes production rule combined with the QA-model of this rule. The fact of storage together with precedent of its
QA-model opens additional (to known) means for checking the adequacy of precedent and specification of its
version for using the precedent
in a situation of a choice. Such QA-model can be interpreted as a DM task
positive solution of which confirms the relevance of the corresponding
precedent. Moreover, a set of keys can be appointed to the result of solving the
DM task for potential working with precedents composing other
precedents.For this purpose with
any potential precedent  (entering into a number of precedents selected on a set
of keys of for situation of choice for the taskZE), it is necessary
to connect subordinated task of choice ZiE. Process of
the decision of task ZiE consists in
confirmation or not for answers Am on questions Qm  of its model QA (ZiE).  After positive confirmation of
all answers the normative key for this precedent is being added to the set of
keys of the expert task ZE.In scheme presented in Figure15 the inclusion of the subordinated tasks connected with
the analysis of relevance of precedents, is reflected.Figure 15
The work with keys of choice.For working with the expert DM tasks in the WIQA.net following sequence of
action can be used.(1)
The statement of the
project task (e.g., taskZE  in Figure 15) is
transformed to the list of keys for accessing the knowledge base.(2)
The list of keys is
used for interacting with the expert system and forming the list of potentially
relevant precedents.(3)
The expert DM task
(e.g., taskZnE) is created for each potentially
relevant precedent and this task is loaded in the task tree.(4)
If the taskZnE  has a compound type its subordinated task are loaded in the task tree
also.The work with the uploaded task starts with subordinated tasks (if they are defined). If the solution of the
subordinated task (e.g., taskZmE) confirms
relevancy then keys of this task (answer A1) are included to the common list of
keys. Changing the list of keys
is a cause for the next access to the knowledge base. The process of the expert
decision-making is being finished when all loaded DM tasks are solved.The general rules of working with the expert DM task after its loading
to the task tree of designing the SIS is fulfilled as working with the others
tasks in this tree. The expert DM task can be interrupted in any time with
returning to the solution process in suitable time. The useful service or
technological task (any the DM task even) can be subordinated to the expert DM
task.One of traditional components of decision-making with the help of the expert systems is estimation of reliability in the form of answers on questions about attributes used for a
choice of precedents, and about each of precedents as a whole. One of approaches
to estimations of reliability is the estimation by expert or the estimation by
a group of experts. For the estimation, accessible through “communicative view” of QA-models, it is
enough to include the next task of estimation to the chosen “point” of a task
tree.Another questions
which must be solved within the frame of expert systems, is the question about a substantiation of accepted decisions. To the main task for generating
the substantiations it is possible to include a subtask of argumentation the
typical version of which is included to the set of service tasks.Adaptation of the
expert DM-task to its decision in theSISQA leads to “problem-oriented view” of the QA-model
presented in Figure 16. This “block and
line” view is chosen specially, so that it is corresponded to the typical
scheme of the Expert System.Figure 16
Immersing the ES toSISQA.In Figure16  the structure of the ES is presented against background of the
QA-model to emphasize functional character of immersing the ES to the SISQA.  Factually all functions of the ES are being
programmed (are being QA-programmed) with using means of the processor
WIQA.Net.The fact of uniform
programming and reprogramming the base functions of the ES is the sufficient
basis to recognize the version of theSISQA adapted to the expert
DM-tasks as a new kind of expert systems.Moreover, each of the functions of the ES is being activated in accordance with
the plan (or situationally) with using the uniform interface of the QA-model.
In other words, through the interface of the QA-model the user can get access
to any component of the ES shown in Figure16, including the interface of the ES.
It can be understood that the interface is
distributed within structure of the ES.The high level of QA-programming the taskZE is beingimplemented
as its describing through subordinated tasks till the required depth. One group
of subordinated tasks includes service tasks which support the decision-making
process. Other subordinated tasks {ZiE}  are similar to
the task ZE because they reflect the work with subordinated
precedents. The typical set of such subordinated tasks include “documenting
task”, “adjusting task”, “confirmation task”, “communicative task” and “reacting task”.Adjusting tasks support the
searching, testing and adopting the appropriate precedents. QA-programs of
adjusting tasks reflect the logical part of “activity reflexes”. Executions of
such QA-programs help to adjust the chosen precedents to their using for decision-making the task
ofZE-type.QA-programming of the confirmation task and reacting task will be
demonstrated for the ES which helps the user in the work with the disrepair of the computer. In the developed ES its knowledge
base includes the following precedent “If (system is not being uploaded) and (there is a sound signal about disrepair)
and (the form of sound signal is ****) then (processor is broken)”.For confirmation the user must
confirm the set of questions presented in Algorithm4.Algorithm 4:QA-program of confirmation.
Z10.
Precedent 10.Q1.
System is not uploading?A1.
Yes.Q2.
Is a sound signal about disrepair?A2.
Yes.Q3.
Sound signal corresponds to the *****?A3.
Yes.Q4.
What is a reason of the disrepair?R4. Processor is broken.In the knowledge base there are
twelve subordinated precedents which correspond to the confirmation. One of the
potential reactions for the confirmed condition (reacting task) is presented as
QA-program in Algorithm5.Algorithm 5:QA-program
of reaction.
Z10.1.
Precedent 46Q1.
What is a reason of the disrepair?A1.
The skew of the adapter plateQ2.
How it can be repaired?A2. At the switched off
computer take out the adapterfrom the slot and then insert adapter in the
slot.Described means were used for solving the task of “expert monitoring of
vessel surrounding” also. The general scheme of the developed system is
presented in Figure17.Figure 17
System for expert monitoring.Each vessel in the task is
presented as an agent. All agents live in the common subject area which is materialized in QA-base as
the working area of the ES. States of the working area reflects dynamically the
movement of vessels which must be subordinated to normative rules described in
a guide [19] and coded in the knowledge base (experience view).Any agent predicts the own
trajectory and location on the definite time ahead. Such information from agents is used for
building the predictable state of the working area. This state is accessible to
the user of the ES and to agents. Any state is checked in the frame of “the
collision avoidance rules”. Each action of any agent is registered in its
QA-protocol which is interpreted as a QA-program of the specialized type
(similar “black box”).In the described ES the cartography subsystem and means of the agent
representation have been included additionally to the base means of WIQA.Net. The
radar station and its imitator are
used as base sources of
cartography data about the vessel surrounding.


## 11. Conclusion

This paper presents the system
of means for question-answer interaction in collaborative development activity.
The content of such activity is connected with conceptual designing the SIS the
successfulness of which is extremely low. In order to increase it the AI means
can be used and first of all means for using the integration of intellectual
resources for solving the complex tasks must be experienced.For such aim the system of QA-means similar to the CDE-system is suggested.
This system (named WIQA) is investigated and implemented as the QA-processor in
a number of versions. The QA-processor supports creating the QA-programs for
the system of design tasks and their useful investigation as special kind of
conceptual models.The QA-programming is a technique of
conceptual solving the task. This
technique helps the designer to build the decision of tasks from the units of such types
as “question” and “answer with the help of actions with the experience and/or
their models. The QA-programming gives the possibility to program the
human-computer interaction in real time with task being solved. Step by step
the designer or their group creates new “points” of interaction on the
visualized model of the task promoting the solution of the task to the final result.The QA-program of any task is its conceptual decision representing the combination
of “questions” and “answers” which are created and/or selected (and are adapted
if necessary) in acts of interaction with accessible experience and/or
accessible models of experience according
to the specificity of the task.The QA-model of the task is a conceptual model the functions of which are being performed by the QA-program in
its useful investigation in forms of QA-modeling.The method of
conceptual decision is developed for QA-programming the main task of the
conceptual design. Means of the method are organized as a set of workflows
called “interaction with experience”. Such means can be open for stakeholders
in Internet through the defended Web-access.Methods
and means offered, investigated and implemented by the author open some new
possibilities for real time
integrating the intellectual activities of designers. The number of positive effects
also includes: effective monitoring of a QA-process; analysis of opportunities
of parallel coordination of work in the design team (with the purpose of
distribution of work between designers); demonstration (at a suitable speed) of
solution events (at the certain time interval of automated design);
demonstration of the current condition of automated design (at the certain time);
training the typical decisions (CAD samples) and developing design skills; as well as
personification of events for subsequent definition of authorship and
contribution of members of the design team.Proposed means
have confirmed the practical usefulness in development of a number of the SIS,
including “automated system for planning of cargo transportation”, “expert monitoring of vessel
surrounding,” and “automated
system for management of distance education”.



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*Source: 619405-2009-03-30.xml*