AutoBrief is an experimental system that automatically creates interactive presentations in coordinated text and information graphics. The current prototype is implemented in the domain of transportation scheduling to assist human transportation analysts using an incremental scheduling system (DITOPS). AutoBrief acts as an intelligent assistant providing high-level briefings about the DITOPS schedules. The briefings summmarize the schedules, analyze possible problems in them, and suggest ways to address the problems.

Navigational links in the presentation enable the analyst to request more detailed information. Also, implemented in the VISAGE environment, AutoBrief supports an information-centric approach. For example, the analyst can drag highlighted text or elements of a graphic from AutoBrief to other parts of the environment, e.g., to control DITOPS, to populate a user-created graphic for data exploration, or to create a personalized briefing.

The primary focus of the project is a domain-independent architecture for multimedia generation that employs elements of communicative planning, media allocation and coordination, and generation of both natural language and information graphics.