Combination of a cognitive theory with the multi-attribute utility theory

Abstract. This paper presents how a novel combination of a cognitive theory with the Multi-Attribute Utility Theory (MAUT) can be incorporated in a Graphical User Interface (GUI) in order to provide adaptive and intelligent help to users. The GUI is called I-Mailer and is meant to help users achieve their goals and plans during their interaction with an e-mailing system. I-Mailer constantly observes the user and in case it suspects that s/he is involved in a problematic situation it provides spontaneous advice. In particular, I-Mailer suggests alternative commands that the user could have given instead of the problematic one that s/he gave. The reasoning about which alternative command could have been best is largely based on the combination of the cognitive theory and MAUT.