Referring in a shared workspace

Effective cooperation of hurnans witb otber hurnans and with intelligent machines requires a language of words and gestures that is accurate and efficient in making reference to objects. In tbe present investigation, expressions and gestures tbat were used by subjects to direct partners' attentions to building blocks during a collaborative construction task were analyzed and classified into four main categories. In addition, the influence of mutual knowledge of tbe participants (either knowledge about tbe dialogue or about the domain of conversation) on the referential acts used was studied. The focus of attention, both within tbe dialogue and within tbe domain, plays an important role in the use of references. In particular, the effect of focus within tbe domain of conversation on the use of referentia! acts needs to he investigated further