Extending Tcl-Tk to provide a functional eye and hand for the Soar cognitive modelling architecture

It would extend the world that cognitive models can see if models could interact based on an interface language. We introduce a system designed to allow cognitive models to interact with any display written in Tcl/Tk, a common interface creation language. This approach can be viewed as extending cognitive architectures to include eyes and hands that exist in the world of Tcl/Tk. This system is most naturally used by Soar because Soar includes Tcl/Tk, but the eye/hand could be used by other architectures. We demonstrate an initial model that uses independently created on-screen phones. This model does the task itself and more accurately predicts a task time than GOMS. Findings from the implementation of Soar/Tcl-PM are used to explore current limitations of GOMS-type task analysis methodologies, possibilities for enhancing the communication between Soar and Tcl/Tk, and data gathering requirements for future cognitive modelling in this area.