In this research, we use a formal method comparison approach to construct a reference method for game production. First, we analyze four game production methods by using a meta-modelling technique: three documented methods and one method obtained via a case study at a game production company. By developing a super method, containing all activities and concepts of four analyzed methods, we compa...

How can formal methods be applied to philosophical problems that involve informal concepts of ordinary language? Carnap answered this question by describing a methodology that he called “explication.” Strawson objected that explication changes the subject and does not address the original philosophical problem; this paper shows that Carnap’s response to that objection was inadequate and offers ...

In the past few years, a body of ideas based on political economy theory has been built up by North and Weingast, Olson, Przeworski, and Acemoglu and Robinson. One theme that emerges from this literature concerns the transition to democracy: why would dominant elites give up oligarchic power? This article addresses this question by considering a formal model of an authoritarian regime, and then...

T paper uses a formal model to study how evaluation costs affect competition for resources in strategic factor markets. It finds that relative scarcity may not always benefit resource sellers. Rather, when competition among resource investors passes a certain threshold intensity, miscoordination among investors increases to the point that sellers’ expected profits decline. This paper extends th...

We propose considering the problem of electronic cash i n the context of a network in which anonymous, untraceable commiinicatlon is assumed to be possible. We present a formal model for such a network, and define security criteria for an electronic cash system in such a setting. Finally, we show that there exists a remarkably simple electrortic cash system which meets the security criteria of ...

In this paper, we describe a formal semantic model that applies to many "classical" planning systems. This gives a unifying framework in which to study diverse planners, and motivates formal logics that can be used to study their properties. As an example of the model's util­ ity, we present a general truth criterion which tests for the necessary truth of a proposition at arbitrary points in th...

We introduce Millstream systems, a formal model consisting of modules and an interface, where the modules formalise different aspects of language, and the interface links these aspects with each other.

Abstract. We report on some of the development issues of a commercial “shrink-wrapped application”—DUST-EXPERTTM—that is of particular interest to the safety and software engineering community. Amongst other things, the following are reported on and discussed: the use of formal methods; advisory systems as safety related systems; safety integrity levels and the general construction of DUST-EXPE...

We present a formal model of argumentation based on situation calculus which captures both the logical and the procedural aspects of argumentation processes. The logic is used to determine what is accepted by each agent participating in the discussion and by the group as a whole, on the basis of the speech acts performed during argumentation. Argumentation protocols, also called rules of order,...