| Abstract | We describe a plan-authoring system called PASSAT (Plan-Authoring System based on Sketches, Advice, and
Templates) that combines interactive tools for constructing
plans with a suite of automated and mixed-initiative
capabilities designed to complement human planning skills.
PASSAT is organized around a library of predefined
templates that encode task networks describing standard
operating procedures and previous cases. Users can select
from these templates to apply during plan development,
with the system providing various forms of automated
assistance. A mixed-initiative plan sketch facility helps
users refine outlines for plans to complete solutions, by
detecting problems and proposing possible fixes. An advice
capability enables user specification of high-level guidelines
for plans that the system helps to enforce. Finally, PASSAT
includes process facilitation mechanisms designed to help a
user track and manage outstanding planning tasks and
information requirements, as a means of improving the
efficiency and effectiveness of the planning process.
PASSAT is designed for applications for which a core of
planning knowledge can be captured in predefined action
models but where significant user control of the planning
process is required.
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