Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Master of Science June 1998 May 20, 1998
Randall DavisProfessor of Electrical Engineering and
Computer Science
Professor of Management
Arthur C. SmithChairman, Departmental Committee on Graduate Students
Mark A. Foltz
B.S. Computer Science and
B.S. Electrical Engineering
Washington University in St. Louis
I thank Kimberle Koile, Will Neviett, and Holly Yanco of the Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Whitman Richards of the Media Laboratory, Rebecca Xiong of the Laboratory for Computer Science, and Ewan Branda of the School of Architecture and Planning for both material assistance and thoughtful and engaging discussion throughout.
I thank Jack Beausmans of Nissan Basic Research for excellent pointers into the literature on human wayfinding research.
I thank Michael Wellman, executive editor, and Steve Minton, managing editor, of the Journal of Artificial Intelligence Research, for assistance in making the JAIR Information Space available from the journal's Web site.
I thank Matthew Hempey, Michael J. Osofsky, Kirby James, Luca I. G. Toldo, and Michael L. Littman for helpful comments and suggestions regarding the usability of the JAIR Information Space.
Special recognition is deserved for the museum curators and exhibit developers, designers, editors, and other members of exhibit design teams who so freely volunteered their time and expertise, and without whom this thesis would not exist. I cannot possibly thank them enough. They include:
Edward Rodley, Exhibit Planner, Muesum of Science, Boston; Judy Rand, Editorial Consultant, Rand Associates; and Lynotoyos, all members of the design team for Leonardo at the Museum of Science.
Frank Rigg, Curator, and Jim Wagner, Assistant Curator, both with the John F. Kennedy Library and Museum.
Bryan Seiling, exhibit designer, of the Natural Museum of Natural History.
William Jacobs, exhibit designer, of the National Air and Space Museum.
Linda Melone, Museum Specialist for Public Services, of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum.
Thanks to Mike Wessler of the Artificial Intelligence Laboratory for creating the on-line subject catalog of Course VI which greatly facilitated the development of the Course VI information space.
The sponsorship of the National Defense Science and Engineering Graduate Fellowship Program and the National Science Foundation is greatly appreciated.
The original inspiration for this research and the direction that saw it to completion are due to my thesis supervisor, Randall Davis. His guidance and infectious enthusiasm, along with his ability to continually engage my intellect and motivate my spirit, were the driving forces behind this work.
Finally, and certainly not least, the invaluable support and encouragement of my friends and my family, Alan, Susan, Joshua, and Mildred, sustained me throughout this project.