COMPUTER AIDED RESOLUTION OF HUMAN SOCIAL CONFLICT

Jonathan Hendler – April 16, 2003 - © 2003 – hendler@ccs.neu.eduNortheastern University, College of Computer and Information Science

COMPUTER AIDED RESOLUTION OF HUMAN SOCIAL CONFLICT

Jonathan Hendler © 2003

CONFLICT WILL ALWAYS EXIST.

COMPUTER AIDED RESOLUTION OF HUMAN SOCIAL CONFLICT

Why does human conflict need to be resolved peacefully?

• Large scale conflicts are increasingly costly; morally, economically, and environmentally.

• Smaller interpersonal conflicts that are manageable escalate into unmanageable global conflicts.

Jonathan Hendler © 2003

COMPUTER AIDED RESOLUTION OF HUMAN SOCIAL CONFLICT

Why use computers?

• To facilitate communication.

• To manage large amounts of information.

• To model the complexity of social roles.

Jonathan Hendler © 2003

COMPUTER AIDED RESOLUTION OF HUMAN SOCIAL CONFLICT

A simple goal.

Gain insight into millions of human attempts to resolve conflict.

Jonathan Hendler © 2003

• People: Human experts debate and attempt to resolve within a software framework.

• Computers: Database of debates annotated with a semantic markup.

COMPUTER AIDED RESOLUTION OF HUMAN SOCIAL CONFLICT

To achieve the goal.Use 2 basic components:

Jonathan Hendler © 2003

COMPUTER AIDED RESOLUTION OF HUMAN SOCIAL CONFLICT

Honest differences are often a healthy sign of progress.Mahatma Gandhi

Why this topic?

• For the challenge.

• To leave a legacy that benefits society.

Jonathan Hendler © 2003

COMPUTER AIDED RESOLUTION OF HUMAN SOCIAL CONFLICT

How will success be measured?

• Will people use it?

• Will sufficient data be collected?

• Will the models work in reality?

• Will this research lead to new research?

Jonathan Hendler © 2003

COMPUTER AIDED RESOLUTION OF HUMAN SOCIAL CONFLICT

Technical Foundation

• Game theory.

• Semantic Markup Languages.

• Social Network Analysis.

• Multi Agent Systems

Jonathan Hendler © 2003

COMPUTER AIDED RESOLUTION OF HUMAN SOCIAL CONFLICT

Technical Foundation: Game Theory

Jonathan Hendler © 2003

Game theory is a large set of Mathematical tools to model situations, decisions and consequences .

For the software it can provide a rational framework for dialogue and potentially a tool for modeling and resolution.

COMPUTER AIDED RESOLUTION OF HUMAN SOCIAL CONFLICT

Technical Foundation: Game Theory

A process has been developed by Steven Brams and Alan Taylor called the “Adjusted Winner” algorithm; an attempt to arbitrate conflict to a fair resolution.

For Example:

1. 2 people, Jane and Jeff are fighting over the ownership of a house and a car.

2. Jane and Jeff make a list of the items they are fighting over and are given, say, 100 points, which they must distribute on the list according to which item(s) they want to “win”.

3. Both want the house. Jeff puts 80 house, 20 car; Jane writes 75 house, 25 car. Jeff wins the house and Jane the car.

4. Each party’s points for winning items are added up; Jeff has 80 points and Jane only 25; it is considered “unfair” since there is a 55 point difference in winnings.

5. An algorithm is used to re-distribute the points to find an equilibrium; Jeff may need to give ½ of the 55 points to Jane. So Jeff must give 27.5/80 or 34% of the value of the house to Jane to make things fair.

Jonathan Hendler © 2003

COMPUTER AIDED RESOLUTION OF HUMAN SOCIAL CONFLICT

Technical Foundation: Semantics Markup

Jonathan Hendler © 2003

Markup languages provide meta-data; a context for modeling abstractions and higher order logics.

There are many initiatives beyond relational databasesto contextualize and represent knowledge.

COMPUTER AIDED RESOLUTION OF HUMAN SOCIAL CONFLICT

Technical Foundation: Semantics Markup

Jonathan Hendler © 2003

DAML (Darpa Agent MarkupLanguage)

sandro horse sebastiansandro horse sebastiaenhorse rdf:type daml:UniquePropertysandro likes sebastian ---------- sebastian daml:equivalentTo sebastiaen sandro likes sebastiaen

From: http://www.w3.org/2002/Talks/0910-rdf-reification/slide3-3.html

COMPUTER AIDED RESOLUTION OF HUMAN SOCIAL CONFLICT

Technical Foundation:(Social) Network Analysis

A map of relationships between people or other objects over time. Models complex

systems (human organizations, the internet, ecological systems)

Jonathan Hendler © 2003

COMPUTER AIDED RESOLUTION OF HUMAN SOCIAL CONFLICT

Technical Foundation: (Social) Network Analysis

Source: www.orgnet.com

Source: www.theyrule.net

terrorist networks

corporate networksJonathan Hendler © 2003

COMPUTER AIDED RESOLUTION OF HUMAN SOCIAL CONFLICT

Technical Foundation: (Social) Network Analysis

Source: http://www.visualthesaurus.com/index.jsp

Source: http://smg.media.mit.edu/projects/SocialNetworkFragments/implementation/layout//

words news groupsJonathan Hendler © 2003

COMPUTER AIDED RESOLUTION OF HUMAN SOCIAL CONFLICT

Technical Foundation: Multi Agent Systems

Algorithms for conflict resolving in networks of cooperating intelligent agents (MAS,

DAI) is well researched.

Jonathan Hendler © 2003

COMPUTER AIDED RESOLUTION OF HUMAN SOCIAL CONFLICT

Technical Foundation: Multi Agent Systems

From unified conflict models in sociology

Jonathan Hendler © 2003

Tessier, Heinz-Jürgen Müller, H. Fiorino, L. Chaudron “Agents’ Conflicts: New Issues” Conflicting Agents: Conflict Management in Multi-Agent Systems, Kluwer Academic Publishers; Norwell Mass, 2001

In Petri nets

http://wwwbrauer.in.tum.de/gruppen/theorie/KIT/dekker1.html

COMPUTER AIDED RESOLUTION OF HUMAN SOCIAL CONFLICT

Technology integration.

Jonathan Hendler © 2003

Open Questions

Does the ability to model conflict mean the ability to control conflict?

Will your life be any better (simpler, richer)?

COMPUTER AIDED RESOLUTION OF HUMAN SOCIAL CONFLICT

Jonathan Hendler © 2003

COMPUTER AIDED RESOLUTION OF HUMAN SOCIAL CONFLICT

The Mission

Improve the scientific basis for resolving conflict peacefully.

Jonathan Hendler © 2003

Contact: hendler@ccs.neu.edu