CHARLIE: An AIML-based chatterbot which works as an interface among INES and humans

Abstract

INES (INtelligent Educational System) is a functionalprototype of an online learning platform, which combines three essential capabilities related to e-learning activities. These capabilities are those concerning to a LMS (Learning Management System), a LCMS (Learning Content Management System), and an ITS (Intelligent Tutoring System). To carry out all this functionalities, our system, as a whole, comprises a set of different tools and technologies, as follows: semantic managing users (administrators, teachers, students…) and contents tools, an intelligent chatterbot able to communicate with students in natural language, an intelligent agent based on BDI (Believes, Desires, Intentions) technology that acts as the brain of the system, an inference engine based on JESS (a rule engine for the Java platform) and ontologies (to modelate the user, his/her activities, and the learning contents) that contribute with the semantics of the system, etc. At the present paper we will focus on the chatterbot, CHARLIE (CHAtteR Learning Interface Entity), developed and used in the platform, which is an AIMLbased (Artificial Intelligence Markup Language) bot. We will specifically address its performance and its contribution to INES.

Survey on Chatbot Design Techniques in Speech Conversation Systems

“…Also new techniques, algorithms or extensions have been added to existing Chatbots in [10], [22], [24], [25], and [26] in order to improve their function or extend available software by adding chat interaction. For example, the Loebner Prized Chatbot ALICE (which won three times) was improved several times in later iterations, and Joan (Jabberwacky) was the updated form of George (Jabberwacky).…”

“…For example, AIML, which is the technique first used with the ALICE Chatbot, is used to build the Chatbots in [5], [10], and [26], while SQL (or RDB) is used in [24] and [25]. Both AIML and SQL are used in [22] and [23].…”

“…The objective is to answer students" questions or to test for an examination by asking questions and assessing the answers. In [26] the authors concentrates on an improvement to the Chatbot CHARLIE (CHAtteR Learning Interface Entity). The platform is an INtelligent Educational System (INES) with an AIML Chatbot incorporated inside.…”

Tecnologias Digitais na Educação: Pesquisas e Práticas Pedagógicas

“…Desenvolver um sistema tutor inteligente é uma tarefa difícil. Isso se deve tanto à complexidade da tecnologia necessária para representação do conhecimento, modelagem cognitiva, processamento qualitativo e processo de modelagem causal, quanto à dificuldade de elicitação e representação do conhecimento do domínio (MIKIC et al, 2009).…”

“…Elektra é uma agente educacional que tem como principal objetivo ser um instrumento de complementação no aprendizado de estudantes de cursos a distância (LEONHARDT, 2005). CHARLIE é um agente responsável por interagir com os estudantes e o sistema educacional inteligente, mostrando conteúdos dos cursos e perguntando sobre o material de aprendizagem (MIKIC et al, 2009). A ampla gama de agentes conversacionais desenvolvidos com a máquina de inferência, baseada no projeto ALICE, levaram à escolha desta para o projeto de um agente conversacional para aprimoramento das habilidades de resolução de problemas.…”