SimSum: an empirically founded simulation of summarizing

SimSum (Simulation of Summarizing) simulates 20 real-world working steps of expert summarizers. It presents an empirically founded cognitive model of summarizing and demonstrates that human summarization strategies can be simulated. The cognitive model operationalizes the discourse processing model developed by Kintsch and van Dijk (1983). Knowledge engineering followed the KADS approach, empirical modeling used methods of grounded theory development. The observed strategies of expert summarizers have given rise to cooperating object-oriented agents communicating through dedicated blackboards. Each agent is implemented as a CLOS object with an assigned actor at the multimedia user interface. The interface is realized with Macromedia Director. Communication between CLOS and Macromedia Director is mediated by Apple Events. According to first evaluation results in an educational environment, SimSum transmits summarization know-how effectively. It is, however, not designed as a tutorial system and serves active and curious users best. We are starting its expansion to summarizing in the WWW. The SimSum development was funded under grant F 916.00 by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research. The German Science Foundation supported the empirical investigation under grant En 186/1-3.