World's Best Scientists 2026 revealed!

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Computer Science

D-Index
38
Citations
10927
World Ranking
9984
National Ranking
4205

Research.com Recognitions

  • 2009 - AAAI Robert S. Engelmore Memorial Lecture Award For seminal contributions to knowledge-based systems and explanation, groundbreaking research on virtual human technologies and their applications, and outstanding service to the artificial intelligence community.
  • 1992 - Fellow of the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI) For seminal contributions in the areas of knowledge-based machine explanation, and for extraordinary service to the Artificial Intelligence community.

Overview

William R. Swartout is affiliated with the University of Southern California in the United States. Their research is concentrated primarily in the field of Computer Science, with significant contributions to Artificial Intelligence, Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition, Museology, Social Psychology, and Communication.

The main topics of their work include Augmented Reality Applications, Museums and Cultural Heritage, Team Dynamics and Performance, Knowledge Management and Sharing, Intelligent Tutoring Systems and Adaptive Learning, Psychological and Educational Research Studies, and Innovative Teaching and Learning Methods.

Among the notable recent papers authored by Swartout are:

  • "Promoting interest, positive emotions, and knowledge using augmented reality in a museum setting" (2021), published in International Journal of Science Education Part B
  • "Feasibility and usability of MentorPal, a framework for rapid development of virtual mentors" (2020), published in Journal of Research on Technology in Education
  • "Designing scientifically-grounded paleoart for augmented reality at La Brea Tar Pits" (2022), published in Palaeontologia Electronica
  • "OpenTutor: Designing a Rapid-Authored Tutor that Learns as you Grade" (2021), published in Proceedings of the International Florida Artificial Intelligence Research Society Conference
  • "MentorStudio: Amplifying diverse voices through rapid, self-authorable virtual mentors" (2023), published in Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)

Frequent co-authors working alongside Swartout include Benjamin D. Nye, Gale M. Sinatra, Emily Lindsey, Kayla Carr, and Molly Porter.

Swartout's work has appeared in various specialized publication venues, such as:

  • Proceedings of the International Florida Artificial Intelligence Research Society Conference
  • Abstracts with programs - Geological Society of America
  • International Journal of Science Education Part B
  • Journal of Research on Technology in Education
  • Palaeontologia Electronica

Recognition for Swartout's contributions includes the AAAI Robert S. Engelmore Memorial Lecture Award in 2009 for work related to knowledge-based systems and virtual human technologies. They were also named a Fellow of the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence (AAAI) in 1992 for achievements in knowledge-based machine explanation and service to the AI community.

Best Publications

  • Enabling technology for knowledge sharing

    Robert Neches;Richard Fikes;Tim Finin;Tom Gruber

  • XPLAIN: a system for creating and explaining expert consulting programs

    William R. Swartout

  • On the inevitable intertwining of specification and implementation

    William Swartout;Robert Balzer

  • Toward virtual humans

    William Swartout;Jonathan Gratch;Randall W. Hill;Eduard Hovy

  • Toward the holodeck: integrating graphics, sound, character and story

    R. Hill;J. Gratch;W. L. Johnson;C. Kyriakakis

  • Toward a new generation of virtual humans for interactive experiences

    J. Rickel;S. Marsella;J. Gratch;R. Hill

  • A Reactive Approach to Explanation: Taking the User’s Feedback into Account

    Johanna D. Moore;William R. Swartout

  • Explanations in knowledge systems: design for explainable expert systems

    W. Swartout;C. Paris;J. Moore

  • Enhanced Maintenance and Explanation of Expert Systems Through Explicit Models of Their Development

    R. Neches;W.R. Swartout;J.D. Moore

  • Ada and grace: toward realistic and engaging virtual museum guides

    William Swartout;David Traum;Ron Artstein;Dan Noren

  • A reactive approach to explanation

    Johanna D. Moore;William R. Swartout

  • Guest Editors' Introduction: Ontologies

    William Swartout;Austin Tate

  • Explanation in second generation expert systems

    William R. Swartout;Johanna D. Moore

  • Building and (re)using an ontology of air campaign planning

    A. Valente;T. Russ;R. MacGregor;W. Swartout

  • Building Interactive Virtual Humans for Training Environments

    Patrick G. Kenny;Arno Hartholt;Jonathan Gratch;William Swartout

  • Virtual Humans in the Mission Rehearsal Exercise System

    Randall W. Hill;Jonathan Gratch;Stacy Marsella;Jeff Rickel

  • Teaching Negotiation Skills through Practice and Reflection with Virtual Humans

    Mark Core;David Traum;H. Chad Lane;William Swartout

  • Explaining and justifying expert consulting programs

    William R. Swartout

  • Natural Language Generation in Artificial Intelligence and Computational Linguistics

    Cecile L. Paris;William R. Swartout;William C. Mann

  • Rule-based expert systems: The mycin experiments of the stanford heuristic programming project: B.G. Buchanan and E.H. Shortliffe, (Addison-Wesley, Reading, MA, 1984); 702 pages, $40.50

    William R. Swartout

Frequent Co-Authors

David Traum
David Traum University of Southern California
Jonathan Gratch
Jonathan Gratch University of Southern California
Stacy Marsella
Stacy Marsella Northeastern University
Johanna D. Moore
Johanna D. Moore University of Edinburgh
Eduard Hovy
Eduard Hovy Carnegie Mellon University
Paul Debevec
Paul Debevec Google (United States)
Shrikanth S. Narayanan
Shrikanth S. Narayanan University of Southern California
Arthur C. Graesser
Arthur C. Graesser University of Memphis
Gale M. Sinatra
Gale M. Sinatra University of Southern California
Albert Rizzo
Albert Rizzo University of Southern California

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