Multimedia Information Presentation for Decision Support Systems

 Decision support systems (DSS) are interactive computer-based information systems that are designed to help human decision makers utilize data and models in order to identify, structure, and solve semi-structured or unstructured problems and make choices among alternatives. Most decision support systems are developed to support an individual decision maker. Group decision support systems, however, are used by a number of decision makers to arrive at a common decision. Some DSS, e.g. executive information systems, can be termed shared decision support systems in that many decision makers can use the same information system to support individual or discrete decisions.

Intelligent decision support systems extend the notion of decision support by adding techniques originating from Artificial Intelligence such as knowledge bases, neural networks, genetic algorithms, and learning. They offer approaches for assisting decision making where information is incomplete or uncertain and where decisions must be made using human judgement and preferences.

Multimedia technology is emerging as a key element for the adequate presentation of the complex information managed by a DSS since the ultimative goal is to provide the human decision maker with the relevant information on the basis of available underlying data. Enhancing DSS with multimedia components allows more effective and appealing presentations through the combination of different representation formats (e.g., text, various kinds of graphics, and animations) so that the strength of one medium will overcome the weakness of another. In particular, the capabilities for three-dimensional graphics and animation offered by Virtual Reality (VR) tools may increase the effectiveness of visualizations by mapping high-volume, multidimensional data into meaningful presentations and by enabling interaction with these displays.

Selected References:

  

• M. Hatcher: Introduction to Multimedia Supported Group/Organizational Decision Systems. In: Decision Support Systems 15(3), pp. 179-180, 1995.
• S. F. Roth, W. E. Hefley: Intelligent Multimedia Presentation Systems: Research and Principles. In: M. T. Maybury (ed.), Intelligent Multimedia Interfaces. Menlo Park, CA: AAAI Press, pp. 13-58, 1993.
• G. Sing, S. K. Feiner, D. Thalmann: Special Section: Virtual Reality Software and Technology--Introduction. In: Communications of the ACM 39(5), pp. 35-36, 1996.
• E. Turban: Decision Support Systems and Expert Systems. 4th edition, Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice-Hall, 1995.