In many interactive decision making scenarios there is often no solution that satisfies all of the user's preferences. The decision process can be helped by providing explanations. Relaxations show sets of consistent preferences and, thus, indicate which preferences can be enforced, while exclusion sets show which preferences can be relaxed to obtain a solution. Many approaches have been proposed to generate relaxations of over-constrained sets of constraints. However, most focus on generating a single relaxation. In this paper we study a variety of heuristic methods for generating diverse sets of relaxations. We show that a heuristic based approach can generate diverse relaxations quickly enough to support user interaction. We also describe a prototype explanation visualisation tool that can help a user navigate over diverse sets of explanations.

A method of modeling the distributed source and drain resistance effects in MOS transistors is discussed. Simulations performed using this technique are validated by comparisons with purpose-built structures. The method is then used to examine a problem which arises with the use of a high-temperature interconnect in three-dimensional silicon-on-insulator technologies. The results show how the resistivity of the interconnect affects the performance of the substrate devices of this technology, and the benefits achievable through further development of the existing interconnect technologies are outlined. Finally, the procedure is used to examine the effect of reduced contact size on standard MOS devices, and results wh1ich give general guidelines to the extent of the effect are presented.>