title: Stochastic queueing-theory approach to human dynamics.
abstract: Recently, numerous studies have shown that human dynamics cannot be described accurately by exponential laws. For instance, Barabási [Nature (London) 435, 207 (2005)] demonstrates that waiting times of tasks to be performed by a human are more suitably modeled by power laws. He presumes that these power laws are caused by a priority selection mechanism among the tasks. Priority models are well-developed in queueing theory (e.g., for telecommunication applications), and this paper demonstrates the (quasi-)immediate applicability of such a stochastic priority model to human dynamics. By calculating generating functions and by studying them in their dominant singularity, we prove that nonexponential tails result naturally. Contrary to popular belief, however, these are not necessarily triggered by the priority selection mechanism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Telecommunications and Information Processing (EA07), Ghent University, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Joris
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Walraevens
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Demoor
authors.forename: Tom
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Maertens
authors.forename: Herwig
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bruneel
mesh_terms: D001519:Behavior; D003198:Computer Simulation; D006801:Humans; D015233:Models, Statistical; D013269:Stochastic Processes; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis