Multimodal Information Exploration

Exploration is a fundamental aspect of learning. In computer-based systems, advanced interfaces to a rich information space can become a key element in this connection. Tools adaptable to different modes of exploring information and to the characteristics of different users are needed. In this paper, the integration of hypermedia and natural language dialogue are discussed and reference is made to AlFresco, a natural language-centered multimodal system developed at IRST. The discussion is mainly focussed on the role and the structure of the communicative context