Information Retrieval List Digest 148 (January 26, 1993) URL = http://hegel.lib.ncsu.edu/stacks/serials/irld/irld-148 IRLIST Digest ISSN 1064-6965 January 26, 1993 Volume X, Number 7 Issue 148 ********************************************************** I. NOTICES A. Meeting Announcements/Calls for Papers 1. British Computer Society IR Group 1993 Annual Conference 2. AISB '93: Prospects for AI B. Publications 1. New Directory of EJournals and ENewsletters II. QUERIES B. Requests for Information 1. Algorithms for Retrieval Systems 2. Terxt Search and Retrieval Engines 3. Text Retrieval Software/VMS ********************************************************** I. NOTICES I.A.1. Fr: Dr Ruben Leon Re: British Computer Society Information Retrieval Group 1993 Annual Conference CALL FOR PAPERS BRITISH COMPUTER SOCIETY INFORMATION RETRIEVAL GROUP 1993 ANNUAL CONFERENCE The 1993 BCS IR Group Conference will take place on 29th and 30th March 1993 in the Sir William Duncan Building, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow. This latest in the series of highly successful annual conferences starts late morning on Monday 29th March and will finish in the afternoon of 30th March. The Conference will follow the established informal and convivial style of conference that BCS IR Group is known for. Papers are invited on any topic in the field of computerised information retrieval. For example, possible themes could include: Hypermedia Retrieval of images Distributed network systems Natural Language Processing Logic and information retrieval Information retrieval in library systems Parallel distributed models for information retrieval Legal aspects of computerised information retrieval Evaluation and testing of information retrieval systems Abstracts of papers should be submitted by 28th February to: Professor Charles Oppenheim BCS IR Programme Chair, Department of Information Science, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G1 1XH Email charles@dis.strath.ac.uk from whom further information about the conference can be obtained. Ruben Leon, Department of Information Science. University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland. Tel: +44 41 552 4400 ext 3595 / 3700 Fax +44 41 553 1393 email: ruben@dis.strath.ac.uk ********** I.A.2. Fr: aisb93-prog@computer-science.birmingham.ac.uk Re: AISB'93 Conference in AI and Cognitive Science CONFERENCE PROGRAMME and REGISTRATION INFORMATION A I S B' 9 3 PROSPECTS FOR ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE Cognitive Science Research Centre The University of Birmingham March 29th -- April 2nd 1993 CONTENTS 1. Message from the Programme Chair 2. Technical Programme 3. Workshops and Tutorials 4. Registration Form GENERAL ENQUIRIES AISB'93, School of Computer Science, The University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT, U.K. Email: aisb93-prog@cs.bham.ac.uk Phone: +44-(0)21-414-3711 Fax: +44-(0)21-414-4281 WORKSHOP and TUTORIAL ENQUIRIES Hyacinth S. Nwana, Computer Science Dept. Keele University, Newcastle, Staffs ST5 5BG, ENGLAND. JANET: nwanahs@uk.ac.keele.cs Other: nwanahs@cs.keele.ac.uk Phone: +44 (0)782 583413 Fax: +44 (0)782 713082 MESSAGE FROM THE PROGRAMME CHAIR: The biennial conferences of the Society for the Study of Artificial Intelligence and the Simulation of Behaviour are traditionally "single-track" scientific meetings aiming to bring together all areas of research in AI and computational cognitive science, and AISB'93 is no exception. With the end of the century close at hand, it seemed appropriate to choose a forward looking theme, so the five invited speakers, all distinguished researchers in their own sub-fields, have been asked to identify trends and project into the future, instead of simply surveying past achievements. Some but not all of the submitted papers also analyse prospects; the others report on work already done. The referees and the selection committee used as a major criterion for selection the requirement that papers should be of interest to a general AI audience. All of the papers have in common a commitment to a "design-based" approach to the study of intelligence, though some of them focus mainly on requirements, some mainly on designs and some on actual implementations, and of course there is wide variation not only regarding the sub-domains of AI (such as vision, learning, language, emotions) but also between the techniques used (such as symbolic reasoning, neural net models, genetic algorithms), and also between those who attempt to design intelligent agents using a top down analysis of human-like intelligence and those who work bottom up from primitive insect-like mechanisms. There is also international variety, with papers from several European countries and further afield. This variety of topics and approaches promises to make the conference particularly lively, with plenty of scope for controversy. We have therefore decided to allow a little more time than usual for each item in the programme, so that questions and discussions can add to the interest. There will also be poster presentations, where some work that could not be included in the formal proceedings can be presented, and it is expected that there will be book displays by major AI publishers and possibly some displays and demonstrations by vendors of AI software and systems. The conference will be preceded by a programme of seven tutorials and workshops for which separate registration is available. Integral Solutions Limited have agreed to present a prize of AI software, including Poplog, and a place on one of their training courses, for the paper voted "best presented" by the audience. For those involved in AI and Cognitive Science, the conference is a primary opportunity to meet, discuss and learn about current work. For those new to these fields, the conference is a chance to become acquainted with them in pleasant surroundings and to meet the people involved. For full-time students, large reductions in registration fees are offered. The location of the conference is one of the attractive halls of residence in a pleasant lakeside setting at one end of the campus of the University of Birmingham. This is not very far from the city centre, so a visit to one of the local attractions of the centre, such as the renowned Symphony Hall, will require a journey of only a few minutes by taxi or train. Single room accommodation has been booked, and the auditorium is in the same building as the bedrooms and dining room, so that the conference will provide excellent opportunities for informal mixing and discussions. The number of rooms available is limited, so early booking is recommended. We look forward to seeing you and hope you enjoy the conference. Aaron Sloman. TECHNICAL PROGRAMME: A number of recent developments in Connectionist Research have strong implications for the future of AI and the study of Cognition. Among the most important are developments in Learning, Representation, and Productivity (or Generalisation). The aim of the workshop would be to focus on how these developments may change the way we look at AI and the study of Cognition. SUGGESTED TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION ABSTRACTS INCLUDE: Connectionist representation, Generalisation and Transfer of Knowledge, Learning Machines and models of human development, Symbolic Learning versus Connectionist learning, Advantages of Connectionist/Symbolic hybrids, Modelling Cognitive Neuropsychology, Connectionist modelling of Creativity and music (or other arts). WORKSHOP ENTRANCE: Attendance at the workshop will be limited to 50 or 60 places, so please let us know as soon as possible if you are planning to attend, and to which of the following categories you belong. DISCUSSION PAPERS: Acceptance of discussion papers will be decided on the basis of extended abstracts (try to keep them under 500 words please) clearly specifying a 15 to 20 minute discussion topic for oral presentation. ORDINARY PARTICIPANTS: A limited number places will be available for participants who wish to sit in on the discussion but do not wish to present a paper. But please get in early with a short note saying what your purpose in attending is. PLEASE SEND SUBMISSIONS TO: Dr. Noel Sharkey Centre for Connection Science Dept. Computer Science University of Exeter Exeter EX4 4PT Devon U.K. Email: noel@uk.ac.exeter.dcs CORRESPONDENCE AND SUBMISSIONS: Tony Cohn, Division of AI, School of Computer Studies, University of Leeds, LEEDS, LS2 9JT, ENGLAND. UUCP: ...!ukc!leeds!agc JANET: agc@uk.ac.leeds.scs INTERNET: agc@scs.leeds.ac.uk BITNET: agc%uk.ac.leeds.scs@UKACRL PHONE: +44 (0)532 335482 FAX: +44 (0)532 335468 OTHER MEETINGS: LAGB CONFERENCE.: Shortly before AISB'93, the Linguistics Association of Great Britain (LAGB) will hold its Spring Meeting at the University of Birmingham from 22-24th March, 1993. For more information, contact Dr. William Edmondson: postal address as below; phone +44-(0)21-414-4773; email EDMONDSONWH@vax1.bham.ac.uk JCI CONFERENCE: The Joint Council Initiative in Cognitive Science and Human Computer Interaction will hold its Annual Meeting on Monday 29th March 1993 in the same buildings as AISB'93 (in parallel with the AISB'93 workshops and tutorials). The theme will be "Understanding and Supporting Acquisition of Cognitive Skills". For more information, contact Elizabeth Pollitzer, Department of Computing, Imperial College, 180, Queens Gate, London SW7 2BZ, U.K.; phone +44-(0)71-581-8024; email eep@doc.ic.ac.uk. REGISTRATION NOTES: Main Programme, Workshops and Tutorials Please contact the address below for complete conference and registration information. AISB'93 Registrations, School of Computer Science, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT, U.K. ********** I.B.1. Fr: Michael Strangelove <441495@acadvm1.uottawa.ca> Re: New Directory of Electronic Journals and Newsletters ATTN: I have a fast approaching press deadline so please do not delay in returning the desired information or your e-serial will not be mentioned in the forthcoming revision of the _Directory of Electronic Journals and Newsletters_. I am presently updating a comprehensive directory of electronic journals and newsletters. This directory is available in e-text for public dissemination throughout the networks (see below) and is available in hard copy from the Association of Research Libraries' Office of Scientific and Academic Publishing. Thus I am seeking the following information from journal and newsletter editors: (USE AS MUCH SPACE AS NECESSARY) NB - Please reply with all text left-justified (against the left hand margin), with no tabs. Title: ISSN #, if any, Description: Periodicity: To Subscribe: Submissions: Related List or newsgroup: Back Issues: Contact: Please send this information in the above format. Also, PLEASE SEND ME THE LATEST COPY OF YOUR JOURNAL or NEWSLETTER (but DO NOT subscribe me) this is extremely important. Michael Strangelove <441495@UOTTAWA> <441495@ACADVM1.UOTTAWA.CA> Religious Studies University of Ottawa The _Directory of Electronic Journals and Newsletters_ is now available from the Contex-L fileserver and consists of two files. These may be obtained by sending the commands (on a VM/CMS system): Tell Listserv at UOttawa Get EJournl1 Directry Tell Listserv at UOttawa Get EJournl2 Directry >From Internet the commands should be send as a mail message to Listserv@UOTTAWA or LISTSERV@ACADVM1.UOTTAWA.CA with the commands as the only lines in the body of mail message: GET EJOURNL1 DIRECTRY GET EJOURNL2 DIRECTRY Michael Strangelove Department of Religious Studies University of Ottawa BITNET: 441495@Uottawa Internet: 441495@Acadvm1.Uottawa.CA S-Mail: 177 Waller, Ottawa, Ontario, K1N 6N5 CANADA Voice: (613) 747-0642 FAX: (613) 564-6641 ********************************************************** II. QUERIES II.B.1. Fr: Jasmine Ocegueda Re: Text Search and Retrieval Engines We are working on a project that requires the incorporation of a text search and retrieval engine running on a Sparc. Two key requirements are the ability to update/modify text indices dynamically, and the second requirement is a callable interface to the text engine so that we can build applications on top of this engine. We have already investigated Fulcrum, and Verity, which are too pricey for our application. Any ideas on this subject are appreciated. Jasmine Oceguedas Phone: (408) 437-5304 Schlumberger Technologies Fax: (408) 452-1752 1601 Technology Drive, San Jose, CA 95110 Email: ocegueda@sj.ate.slb.com ********** II.B.2. Fr: John Kirriemuir Re: Algorithms for Retrieval Systems Hi. I have recently started a PhD in the exalted towers of the Department of Information Studies, University of Sheffield, England: The research deals with a database owned by a large communications company. This database is used to store business articles, company reports, industrial news items, etc. from a number of sources (e.g., various newspaper reports, CD Roms). Customers of the company access the database and retrieve records that match their interests. A problem arises in that customers often retrieve "clumps" of records that come from different sources, but originated from the same event (e.g., two companies merging). To a degree, these reports contain essentially the same material, and are therefore mostly irrelevant to the customer. The purpose of this project is to develop algorithms for the retrieval system that will: (i) Identify these "clumps" of full-text records. (ii) Determine the most useful record within each of these clumps, in terms of the amount of information in it. Does anyone out there know of related work, or articles / reports / thesi that may be of use in my work? Any information would be greatly appreciated. ================================================================= John Kirriemuir, Department of Information Studies, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, England. Phone: (0742) 825093 E-Mail: j.kirriemuir@sheffield.ac.uk Fax: (0742) 780300 ********** II.B.3. Fr: Don Samdahl Re: Text Retrieval Software/Vms I am looking for some text retrieval software that will work under VMS. We have a vax4000/300 which runs our library software (DRA). I would like to put some fulltext information on the system and have text search capabilities for our patrons. Does such software exist? Thanks in advance, Don Samdahl Internet: samdahldh@vax.vmi.edu Automation Librarian/Tech. Svcs. Head Phone: (703) 464-7573 Virginia Military Institute Fax: (703) 464-7279 Preston Library Lexington, VA 24450 ********************************************************** IRLIST Digest is distributed from the University of California, Division of Library Automation, 300 Lakeside Drive, Oakland, CA. 94612-3550. 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