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AIList Digest Volume 3 Issue 181
AIList Digest Tuesday, 3 Dec 1985 Volume 3 : Issue 181
Today's Topics:
Seminars - Truth Maintenance and Multiple Worlds in KEE (SU) &
Model and Temporal Proof System for Processes (CMU) &
Reasoning about Control in Vision (SRI) &
An Approach to Conscious Experience (UCB),
Conferences - Expert Systems and Their Applications &
Knowledge and Data &
Workshop on AI for Design Automation
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Date: Mon 2 Dec 85 08:54:31-PST
From: Anne Richardson <RICHARDSON@SU-SCORE.ARPA>
Subject: Seminar - Truth Maintenance and Multiple Worlds in KEE (SU)
DAY December 3, 1985
EVENT Computer Science Colloquium
PLACE Skilling Auditorium
TIME 4:15
TITLE "Truth Maintenance and Multiple Worlds in KEE"
PERSON Paul Morris, Robert Nado, Richard Fikes
FROM IntelliCorp
TRUTH, MAINTENANCE AND MULTIPLE WORLDS IN KEE
We describe the integration of an assumption-based truth maintenance
system (ATMS) into the frame-based representation facilities of the
KEE system, and the use of the ATMS to implement a multiple-world
context graph system for KEE. Integration into the frame system
involves associating with potential slot values ATMS nodes that are
used to determine in which worlds (contexts) the slot values are
believed. Built-in inferences provided by the frame system, such as
inheritance and the checking of value class and cardinality
constraints, are recorded, when needed, as explicit justifications in
the ATMS. In addition, the default reasoning capabilities of KEE have
been refined and extended to take advantage of the ATMS. Tradeoffs in
the integration between flexibility of use and run-time efficiency are
examined. We describe the multiple-world context graph system with
particular attention to an interpretation of the graph as a network of
actions. In this framework, the semantics of graph merges are
investigated and restrictions to ensure valid action sequences are
discussed.
------------------------------
Date: 2 December 1985 1654-EST
From: Theona Stefanis@A.CS.CMU.EDU
Subject: Seminar - Model and Temporal Proof System for Processes (CMU)
Date: Monday, 9 December
Place: 5409 WeH
Time: 3:30
PS SEMINAR
A model and temporal proof system for processes
Van Nguyen
IBM Thomas J. Watson Research Center
(joint work with Alan Demers, David Gries and Susan Owicki)
There exist several models of processes, e.g. those of
Brock-Ackerman, Hoare, Milner and Pratt. None of these models handles
both synchronous and asynchronous communication in a single framework.
In addition, their modeling of temporal properties
(e.g. liveness properties) is generally unsatisfactory.
The models that seem most promising, due to their
simplicity and ability to hide information, are those based on traces.
A trace is a finite sequence of communication events, which can be
thought of as an abstraction of a process state in which all irrelevant
internal details are hidden.
A number of proof systems for processes have also been proposed. The
Hoare-like proof systems, e.g. those of Chen-Hoare, Levin-Gries and
Misra-Chandy, are simple but lack expressive power and cannot
deal with temporal properties. Temporal proof systems, e.g. those of
Manna-Pnueli and Barringer-Kuiper-Pnueli, are expressive but more
complicated.
We present a model for processes that is based on the notion of
behavior (a generalization of trace). The model can handle either
synchronous or asynchronous communication, and can describe temporal
properties. We also describe a sound and complete temporal proof system
that is based on the model. Due to the modularity of the model, the
proof system is compositional. Both the model and proof system are
simple. Thus we show that temporal proof systems can be made
------------------------------
Date: Tue 3 Dec 85 11:44:55-PST
From: LANSKY@SRI-AI.ARPA
Subject: Seminar - Reasoning about Control in Vision (SRI)
REASONING ABOUT CONTROL IN A HIGH-LEVEL COMPUTER VISION SYSTEM
Leonard Wesley
SRI International, AI Center
11:00 AM, MONDAY, December 9
SRI International, Building E, Room EJ228 (new conference room)
If you built an expert system, how would you expect it to decide what to
do next in complex situations? Typically there are several alternative
actions it might take to reach some goal. In some cases, the best alternative
is clear or the choices do not warrant extensive analysis. At times the
consequences of pursuing some action justify expending the effort to obtain
the necessary information to analyze the pros and cons of choosing a
particular alternative.
Most would agree that the information that is needed to reach any decision is,
to some degree, uncertain, imprecise, and occasionally inaccurate (called
"evidential" information). Clearly knowledge about the certainty, precision,
and accuracy of information can be used to improve a system's
ability to reason about (i.e., control) its actions. In this talk, we shall
describe how this might be accomplished by an expert system in the domain
of high-level computer vision. We shall explain why we view Shafer's theory
of belief functions as being better suited than some other models as a
theoretical foundation for representing evidential information and reasoning
about control. Results from a large number of image interpretation
experiments will be presented to demonstrate how a system's performance can be
improved when Shafer's theory is soundly exploited. Finally, we shall briefly
describe how our approach to control might be extended to an evidential-based
framework for planning under uncertainty.
------------------------------
Date: Mon, 2 Dec 85 09:43:33 PST
From: admin%cogsci@BERKELEY.EDU (Cognitive Science Program)
Subject: Seminar - An Approach to Conscious Experience (UCB)
BERKELEY COGNITIVE SCIENCE PROGRAM
Fall 1985
Cognitive Science Seminar - IDS 237A
Tuesday, December 3, 11:00 - 12:30
240 Bechtel Engineering Center
Discussion: 12:30 - 1:30 in 200 Building T-4
``An Approach to Conscious Experience''
Bernard J. Baars
Langley Porter Neuropsychiatric Institute, U.C.S.F.
Conscious experience has been widely viewed as a confusing
and ill-defined issue, and most psychologists have avoided it
until quite recently. However, there are straightforward ways
to specify reliable empirical constraints on the problem, sim-
ply by contrasting comparable pairs of events, one of which is
conscious and the other not. For example, we are typically
unconscious of highly predictable stimuli, though there is
strong evidence that such stimuli continue to be represented in
the nervous system. We are unconscious of automatized actions,
of the unattended stream in a selective attention paradigm, of
conceptual presuppositions, of the unconscious meaning of per-
ceptual and linguistic ambiguities, of lexical access, syntac-
tic rule-application, etc. In all these cases the unconscious
information continues to be represented and processed. Any
complete theory of conscious experience is bounded by, and must
ultimately account for, the entire set of such contrasts.
The empirical constraints converge on a model of the ner-
vous system as a distributed collection of specialists---
automatic, unconscious, and very efficient. Consciousness is
associated in this system with a "global workspace"---a memory
whose contents are broadcast to all the specialists. Special-
ists can complete or cooperate for access to the global
workspace, and those that succeed can recruit and control other
specialists in pursuit of their goals. Over the past seven
years this Global Workspace approach has been extended to a
number of puzzling issues, including action control and the
neurophysiological basis of consciousness.
------------------------------
Date: Saturday, 30 November 1985 21:06:58 EST
From: Duvvuru.Sriram@cive.ri.cmu.edu
Subject: Conference - Expert Systems and Their Applications
SIXTH INTERNATIONAL WORKSHOP ON
EXPERT SYSTEMS & THEIR APPLICATIONS
INTRODUCTION
Following the success of the 5th International Workshop in Expert
Systems and their Applications at the prestigious 14th century fortess
Palace of the Popes in Avigon (France), the Agence de l'Informatique
has scheduled the 6th Workshop for April 28-30, 1986.
Papers are solicited which describe expert systems actually applied in
industry, currently under assessment by users, or currently
commercially available.
INSTRUCTION TO AUTHORS
Five copies of submitted papers (not exceeding 20 pages in 8 x 11"
camera-ready format) should reach the Workshop Chairman before January
15, 1986. Papers may be written either in English or French.
Simultaneous translation will be provided at the conference.
Submitted papers should include a page with:
- title of the paper
- author's name
- author's address
- phone number and extension
- telex number
- a 10 line abstract
- a list of key words
All papers will be refereed by an international program committee;
notification of acceptance will be given by March 4, 1986. A best
paper award will be presented at the conference.
OTHER ACTIVITIES
Tutorials and panel discussions are planned. Send suggestions for
topics to Workshop Chairman at the address indicated.
INFORMATION
For further information contact:
Jean-Claude Rault
Workshop Chairman
Agence de l'Informatique
Tour Fiat - Cedex 16
92084 Paris - La Defence
France
Tel. (331) 47 96 43 14
------------------------------
Date: Sat, 30 Nov 85 19:05:15 EST
From: "John F. Sowa" <sowa.yktvmv%ibm-sj.csnet@CSNET-RELAY.ARPA>
Subject: Conference - Knowledge and Data
IFIP
INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION FOR INFORMATION PROCESSING
ANNOUNCEMENT
TC2 WORKING CONFERENCE organized by Working Group 2.6
Knowledge and Data (DS-2)
November 3-7, 1986 in Albufeira (Algarve), Portugal
Scope: Questions of meaning are more important for the design
of a knowledge base than methods of encoding data in bits and bytes.
As database designers add more semantic information to their systems,
their conceptual schemata begin to look like AI systems of
knowledge representation. In recognizing this convergence on issues of
semantics, IFIP Working Group 2.6 is organizing a working conference
on Knowledge and Data. It will address the issues and problems
of knowledge representation from an interdisciplinary point of view.
Topics:
Design of a conceptual schema
Knowledge and data modeling
Database semantics
Natural language semantics
Expert database systems
Logic, databases, and AI
Methods of knowledge engineering
Tools and aids for knowledge acquisition
Invited speakers:
Herve Gallaire, Germany
Robert Meersman, Belgium
J. Alan Robinson, USA
Roger Schank, USA
Dana Scott, USA
An IFIP working conference is oriented towards detailed discussion of
the topics presented. Participation is by invitation, with optional
contribution of a paper that is refereed by the program committee.
Anyone who is interested in participating should send an abstract
of current research or a prospective paper to either of the
program cochairmen. Abstracts are due March 14, 1986. Complete
papers are due May 16, 1986. Papers presented at the conference
will be published in book form by North Holland Publishing Co.
General Chairman: Amilcar Sernadas, Portugal
Program cochairmen:
John F. Sowa Robert Meersman
IBM Systems Research Institute L.U.C. -- Dept. WNIF
500 Columbus Avenue Universitaire Campus
Thornwood, NY 10594 B-3610 Diepenbeek
U.S.A. Belgium
CSNET: sowa.yktvmt@ibm
------------------------------
Date: Tue, 26 Nov 85 15:58:44 est
From: Scott C McKay <scm%gitpyr%gatech.csnet@CSNET-RELAY.ARPA>
Subject: Conference - Workshop on AI for Design Automation
FIRST AFWAL* RESEARCH WORKSHOP
TO
DEVELOP AND AUTOMATE A SCIENCE OF DESIGN
FOR
MILITARY WEAPONS SYSTEMS
VIA
APPLIED ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
Georgia Tech Research Institute
Atlanta, Georgia
March 24-26, 1986
The premise of this workshop is that appropriate research can
create a new, invented Science of Design to support CAE/CAD in a
CAE/CAD/CAM Military Weapons System Foundry. A Foundry is required
for rapid design and production of complex weapons systems demanded by
changing military mission requirements. CAE/CAD is viewed as a domain
of Applied AI called Design Automation (DA), and Design Science is
considered a subdiscipline of Design Automation. DA is viewed as a
totally generic discipline whose domain is both weapons systems and
their embedded electronics, including multiplatform systems. The
discipline of DA incorporates requirements engineering, weapons system
and subsystem configuration, the design of mission-specific system and
subsystem functions, signal and data processing algorithm design,
software engineering (including firmware), multiprocessor and
processor design, and structural, mechanical, thermal, electrical,
electromagnetic, and electronics (including analog) engineering.
For this workshop the domain of DA will be limited to military
embedded electronics systems (including multiplatform systems). Within
this domain the workshop is generic, in that it includes all the
preceding DA disciplines from requirements engineering to electronics
engineering.
The workshop's purpose is to prepare approximately five detailed
near-term project plans for initial vectoring of DA-relevant research
towards Weapons System Foundry objectives. One project plan will
detail development of a DA Testbed. Additional special interest
project plans may also be prepared.
All workshop attendance expenses are the responsibility of
attendees, and include a nominal registration fee for lunches and
refreshments. Only US citizens will be allowed to attend the
workshop. There is no a priori restriction on attendees' technical
background or employer. An attendance limit of 40 participants may
cause rejection of some attendance applications; however, all
applicants will be provided copies of the draft workshop report for
review.
An Attendance Application Package is available on request. It
contains a white paper defining AFWAL objectives for long term DA
technology development, a detailed workshop description, and a
questionnaire to establish individual applicant's DA-relevant
qualifications and interests.
To request an Attendance Application Package please contact:
Mr Harold Noffke
AFWAL/AARM-3
WPAFB OH 45433-6543
Tel: (513) 255-3655/5097/6071
*AFWAL stands for Air Force Wright Aeronautical Laboratories.
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End of AIList Digest
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