Finding Out

Full reference:

Alan Dix (1998).
Finding Out - event discovery using status-event analysis
Formal Aspects of Human Computer InteractionFAHCI98, Sheffield, 5th&6th September 1998.
http://www.hcibook.com/alan/papers/fahci98/

You can see the full paper (PDF) or download a compressed postscript copy from http://www.alandix.com/docs/papers/fahci98.ps.Z (compressed postscript).

See also my research topics pages on status-event analysis and web architecture

Abstract

This paper uses status-event analysis to systematically decompose the process by which the knowledge and effects of events are propagated through a system. The analysis focuses on events - things that happen; status - things that are always there; and agents - affected by events and interacting with each other and status phenomena. Single interactions between these are characterised by the source of event knowledge, the initiator of interaction and the trigger for interaction. This generates a structured set of alternatives by which events are transmitted through chains of interaction. The application of this analysis to notification server design is briefly described.

Keywords: status-event analysis, delays, causality, CSCW, notification