Toward a higher level, output analysis interface

To match the greatly increasing power of scientific engineering workstations with the slowly changing capability of the simulation practitioner, the authors examine the possibilities for a high-level output analysis interface. The goal is an interface which considers a parametric family of models and accepts commands stated in terms of understanding model characteristics over this family and for making practical decisions with respect to it. The interfaces considered must exploit the unique features of the simulation environment: the fact that additional data are readily available and that these data can be immediately incorporated into the analysis and presented to the user. Thus, many of the classical considerations of statistics involving making optimum use of limited data become eclipsed by questions of what additional data are needed to make the necessary decisions and how to present the results as the data are being acquired so as to maximize the power of the combination of practitioner and machine