Three is a Small Grant for Exploratory Research (SGER) effort. The research is a contribution to the theory of non-linear simulation, to the theory of adaptive human interfaces and intelligent interface agents, and to the theory of human-computer interaction. Episodic transitions occur during human-computer interaction and in systems in related fields including biolog, the physical sciences and the behavioral sciences. For examples, the transition from one focus of attenstion to antoher is an episodic transition between homeostatic states of selkective attention. These "phase transition" behaviors may be triggered by a variety of events such as completion of a cognitive subtask or by external interrupts. The present research is to develop tests for the hypothesis that critical phase transitions are governed by a conservation law called the lae of "conservation of affordance.." Affordances are expressions of system needs which are dynamically created and annihilated through the perturbation and subsequent restoration of homeostatic conditions. Affordances constitute the linking of behaviors of various parts of the system that normally operate at different time scales in order to achieve behavioral goals. Affordance is modeled mathematically by two oppowsing sources in a non-conservative energy flow on embedded Hamiltonian manifolds. This mathematical formulation provides an explicit theoretical basis for dynamic engines in use on the domain of human-comupter interaction and elsewhere. In particular it provides a portable computational modules that support the conservation law. A set of simulations will be developed useing this mechanism whcih can support modeling of higher order functions such as perceptual simulation issues. An important anticipated result is that the correct use of these mechanisms will make possible sensory encodiung and data fusion for artigificial syustems to permit the capture and understanding of rare and novel events. The interface and modularity ussues have conseqwuences for interoperabbility, software capitalization adn the flexibily sharing of research results between groups of investigaotors.
