@techreport{R-86-42, TITLE = {A System for Studying Human-Computer Dialogues in Natural Language}, AUTHOR = {Nils Dahlb{\"a}ck and Arne J{\"o}nsson }, YEAR = {1986}, NUMBER = {R-86-42}, INSTITUTION = ida, ADDRESS = idaaddr, ABSTRACTURL = {/publications/cgi-bin/tr-fetch.pl?r-86-42+abstr}, ABSTRACT = {The aim of the LINLIN-project, is to develop a robust and general purpose Natural Language interface for Swedish. As one part of the project, basic issues related to the construction of natural language interfaces are studied. We believe that a natural language dialogue between a computer and a human user by means of a natural language interface will in important respects differ from human dialogues, spoken as well as written. To some extent these differences are known now, but there is also a need for empirical studies aiming at uncovering the similarities and differences between these types of dialogues.In this paper we first discuss some aspects on human dialogues versus human-computer dialogues. Thereafter we describe one such research method, namely the simulation of a powerful natural language interface. There are, however, some problems when conducting an experiment using such a simulated natural language equipment. These include the need to control the variation of the responses from the "system" as well as the need to achieve a reasonable response time and appropriate response quality. We have developed a system for making the simulation more effective. In the second part of the paper we describe this system and give some preliminary results obtained by using this method. Planned experimental investigations are also discussed.}, IDANR = {LiTH-IDA-R-86-42}