Richard S. Marcus2014-06-032014-06-031985ASIS Proceedings 1985http://hdl.handle.net/123456789/2236Investigations have continued in the development and testing of experimental expert systems, under the generic name CONIT. for assisting all classes of users 10 access and operate mutliple, heterogeneous online retrieval systems. New experiments have now been run in a more "open" and "realistic" environment — users operating an enhanced CONIT at times and places of their convenience (e.g.. their own offices) but with definite monetary constraints. These experiments indicated that, while previous results showing easy learning with some relevant retrieval still obtained, the time and cost pressures did have a negative impact on the effectiveness of the searching. Some of the improvements in the enhanced CONIT showed promise for increasing effectiveness and efficiency in lime/cost pressured environments. Major additional improvements were deemed possible and highly desirable in several areas including (1) a true integration of menu and command modes, and (2) a more directed, dynamic, and comprehensive capability for planning assistance and search evaluation — both before and after searches and contemplated search modifications were run. We have designed and partially implemented a modified CONIT intermediary system to evaluate these additional improvements. The new integrated command/menu interface leaches commands by dynamic example in response to menu selections while allowing users to give command or menu inputs at their own discretion without explicitly changing models.enArticle