No subject

October 19-20, 1993

[This Workshop was previously scheduled for April 1993]

Program Committee: Michael Arbib (Organizer), George Bekey, Damian Lyons, 
Paul Rosenbloom, and Ron Sun

To design complex technological systems, we need a multilevel methodology 
which combines a coarse-grain analysis of cooperative or distributed 
computation (we shall refer to the computing agents at this level as 
"schemas") with a fine-grain model of flexible, adaptive computation (for 
which neural networks provide a powerful general paradigm).  Schemas provide 
a language for distributed artificial intelligence and perceptual robotics 
which is "in the style of the brain", but at a relatively high level of 
abstraction relative to neural networks.  We seek (both at the level of 
schema asemblages, and in terms of "modular" neural networks) a distributed 
model of computation, supporting many concurrent activities for recognition 
of objects, and the planning and control of different activities.  The use, 
representation, and recall of knowledge is mediated through the activity of 
a network of interacting computing agents which between them provide 
processes for going from a particular situation and a particular structure of 
goals and tasks to a suitable course of action.  This action may involve 
passing of messages, changes of state, instantiation to add new schema 
instances to the network, deinstantiation to remove instances, and may involve 
self-modification and self-organization. Schemas provide a form of knowledge 
representation which differs from frames and scripts by being of a finer 
granularity.  Schema theory is generative: schemas may well be linkedwwww to 
others to provide yet more comprehensive schemas, whereas frames tend to 
"build in" from the overall framework.  The analysis of interacting computing 
agents (the schema instances) is intermediate between the overall 
specification of some behavior and the neural networks that subserve it.   
The Workshop will focus on different facets of this multi-level methodology.  
While the emphasis will be on technological systems, papers will also be 
accepted on biological and cognitive systems.


Submission of Papers

A list of sample topics for contributions is as follows, where a hybrid 
approach means one in which the abstract schema level is integrated with 
neural or other lower level models:

Schema Theory as a description language for neural networks

Modular neural networks

Alternative paradigms for modeling symbolic and subsymbolic knowledge

Hierarchical and distributed representations: adaptation and coding

Linking DAI to Neural Networks to Hybrid Architecture

Formal Theories of Schemas

Hybrid approaches to integrating planning & reaction

Hybrid approaches to learning 

Hybrid approaches to commonsense reasoning by integrating neural networks 
and rule-based reasoning (using schemas for the integration)

Programming Languages for Schemas and Neural Networks

Schema Theory Applied in Cognitive Psychology, Linguistics, and Neuroscience

Prospective contributors should send a five-page extended abstract, including 
figures with informative captions and full references - a hard copy, either 
by regular mail or fax - by August 15, 1993  to Michael Arbib, Center for 
Neural Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, 
CA 90089-2520, USA [Tel: (213) 740-9220, Fax: (213) 746-2863, 
arbib at pollux.usc.edu].   Please include your full address, including fax and 
email, on the paper. 

In accepting papers submitted in response to this Call for Papers, preference 
will be given to papers which present practical examples of, theory of, and/or 
methodology for the design and analysis of complex systems in which the 
overall specification or analysis is conducted in terms of a network of 
interacting schemas, and where some but not necessarily all of the schemas 
are implemented in neural networks.  Papers which present a single neural 
network for pattern recognition ("perceptual schema") or pattern generation 
("motor schema") will not be accepted.  It is the development of a 
methodology to analyze the interaction of multiple functional units that 
constitutes the distinctive thrust of this Workshop.

Notification of acceptance or rejection will be sent by email no later than 
September 1, 1993.  There are currently no plans to issue a formal 
proceedings of full papers, but (revised versions) of accepted abstracts 
received prior to October 1, 1993 will be collected with the full text of the 
Tutorial in a CNE Technical Report which will be made available to registrants 
at the start of the meeting.


A number of papers have already been accepted for the Workshop.  These 
include the following:

Arbib: Schemas and Neural Networks: A Tutorial Introduction to Integrating 
Symbolic and Subsymbolic Approaches to Cooperative Computation

Arkin: Reactive Schema-based Robotic Systems: Principles and Practice

Heenskerk and Keijzer: A Real-time Neural Implementation of a Schema Driven 
Toy-Car

Leow and Miikkulainen, Representing and Learning Visual Schemas in Neural 
Networks for Scene Analysis

Lyons  & Hendriks: Describing and analysing robot behavior with schema theory

Murphy, Lyons & Hendriks: Visually Guided Multi-Fingered Robot Hand Grasping 
as Defined by Schemas and a Reactive System

Sun: Neural Schemas and Connectionist Logic:  A Synthesis of the Symbolic 
and the Subsymbolic

Weitzenfeld: Hierarchy, Composition, Heterogeneity, and Multi-granularity 
in Concurrent Object-Oriented Programming for Schemas and Neural Networks

Wilson & Hendler: Neural Network Software Modules

Bonus Event: The CNE Research Review: Monday, October 18, 1993

The CNE Review will present a day-long sampling of CNE research, with talks 
by faculty, and students, as well as demos of hardware and software.  Special 
attention will be paid to talks on, and demos in, our new Autonomous Robotics 
Lab and Neuro-Optical Computing Lab.  Fully paid registrants of the Workshop 
are entitled to attend the CNE Review at no extra charge.


Registration

The registration fee of $150 ($40 for qualified students who include a 
"certificate of student status" from their advisor) includes a copy of the 
abstracts, coffee breaks, and a dinner to be held on the evening of October 
18th.

Those wishing to register should send a check payable to "Center for Neural 
Engineering, USC" for $150 ($40 for students and CNE members) together 
with the following information to Paulina Tagle, Center for Neural 
Engineering, University of Southern California, University Park, Los Angeles, 
CA 90089-2520, USA.



---------------------------------------------------
SCHEMAS AND NEURAL NETWORKS
Center for Neural Engineering, USC
October 19-20, 1992
NAME:  ___________________________________________ 
ADDRESS: _________________________________________ 
PHONE NO.: _______________ 
FAX:___________________ 
EMAIL: ___________________________________________
I intend to submit a paper: YES  [   ]      NO   [   ]

I wish to be registered for the CNE Research 
Review: YES  [   ]      NO   [   ]


Accommodation

Attendees may register at the hotel of their choice, but the closest hotel to 
USC is the University Hilton, 3540 South Figueroa Street, Los Angeles, CA 
90007, Phone:  (213) 748-4141, Reservation: (800) 872-1104, 
Fax: (213) 7480043.  A single room costs $70/night while a double room costs 
$75/night.  Workshop participants must specify that they are "Schemas and 
Neural Networks Workshop" attendees to avail of the above rates.   
Information on student accommodation may be obtained from the Student Chair, 
Jean-Marc Fellous, fellous at pollux.usc.edu.