================================ VOLUME 18 NUMBER 3 OCTOBER 1994 ================================ 1. Profiles: H. Kitano EXCERPTS: In 1993, he received the Computers and Thought Award from IJCAI for his accomplishments in speech-to-speech translation and massively parallel AI research. His scientific contribution spans broad range of AI research. In 1989, Kitano developed one of the first speech-to-speech translation system, a system which translates spoken Japanese into English producing vocal outputs. The system, Dm-Dialog system, was also the first system, so far the only one, which demonstrates the possibility of simultaneous interpretation by machines. Kitano, based on his experiences as a professional interpreter, proposed an almost concurrent parsing and generation model so that, in some occasions, translation can be generated even before the completion of an input sentence. The Dm-Dialog system employs massively parallel marker-passing to carry out computation, and based on memory-based translation approach. The impact of Kitano's work was not limited to natural language community, it was the first application of massive parallelism to AI for highly complex tasks. Kitano also challenged to expand horizon of high performance computing using the state-of-the-art semi-conductor technology. In 1992, he designed a special purpose wafer-scale integration (WSI), called WSI-MBR. It is dedicated device for memory-based reasoning (MBR). The architecture exploits the redundunt nature of MBR to overcome inevitable fabrication defects of WSI. With its special analog-digital hybrid design, the performance of a WSI-MBR on an eight-inch wafer is expected to be equivalent to 70 Tera-Flops in digital computers. It enables over 2 million parallelisms in one wafer. The low cost, small size, and high-performance of WSI-MBR have significant potential to re-shape the future of computing and industry. The success of these projects led him to promote a new field in AI---massively parallel artificial intelligence. He chaired a panel on this subject in IJCAI-91, held a tutorial in IJCAI-93, and recently edited a book Massively Parallel Artificial Intelligence. Kitano has a substantial contribution to case-based reasoning and corporate information system field, too. While at NEC Corporation, he leads the SQUAD project, which is a project to develop a large scale corporate-wide case-based system on the software quality control domain. In one of the largest knowledge engineering projects undertaken in the AI history, over 20,000 software engineers are involved in reporting cases throughout the company. Kitano serves as an associate editor in several of the major journals, such as Journal of Evolutionary Computation, and Applied AI, and is a member of the editorial board for Journal of AI Research, Journal of Theoretical and Experimental AI (JETAI), Artificial Life journal, and Informatica. ---------------------- 2. Evolution of Methods in Object Schema Z. Tari and X. Li, School of Information Systems, Queensland University of Technology, GPO Box 2324, Brisbane, Australia, zahirt@icis.qut.edu.au, xueli@fit.qut.edu.au pp. 257-275 Keywords: Object-oriented databases, schema evolution, methods, proof correctness Abstract: This paper deals with the problem of method restructuring in object-oriented databases. We propose a framework that allows a change of methods while maintaining database consistency. A set of minimal changing operations which affect all parts of methods is provided. The semantics of methods evolution relates to two levels of granularity of a schema. The first level concerns the evolution of methods in the context of class inheritance hierarchy, whereas the second level relates to behavioural evolution in which the chain of calling relationships between methods is considered. ---------------------- 3. Informational Being-of Anton P. Zeleznikar, Volariceva ulica 8, 61111 Ljubljana, Slovenia, a.p.zeleznikar@ijs.si pp. 277-298 Keywords: Axioms, being-of, functional composition and decomposition, function, includedness, informational, informational frame and gestalt, metaphysical gestalts, metaphysicalism, nested functional forms; serial, parallel, circular and metaphysical functionality Abstract: Informational being-of is another fundamental informational concept of functionality in comparison with the informational includedness. It has its formal-theoretical informational structure which is recursive, circular and spontaneous. Informational Being-of can be studied in many aspects from which we chose basic axioms concerning informational functionality, informational interpretations, and phenomena of serial, parallel, circular informational functionality. Some advanced problems of decomposition (destruction) and composition (construction) concerning informational functionality are treated. At the end, informational functionality of metaphysical cycles impacted by an exterior entity is studied and the so-called metaphysical gestalts concerning the informational being-of are introduced. Informational gestalts reveal several problems of informational formula structuring, functional interdependence and the like. ---------------------- 4. Causality and the Theory of Information Leon Birnbaum, Bloc B6, App. 26, str. Gutinului 6, RO--4650 Dej, Romania pp. 299--304 Keywords: action, causal chain, causality, cause-effect, event, informational chain, perturbation (constructive, dynamic, functional), state, system Abstract: This article deals with problems pertaining to the cause-effect phenomenalism, stressing the structure of the informationally transitional triad emitter-channel-receiver. In an informational-causal chain, perturbations (causes) and informations (effects) are considered. In the article presented notions can be a basis for a more exhaustive study of informational transitions basing on cause-effect philosophy. The graph presents an adequate starting-point for the further research of informational transition in the most complex manner. ---------------------- 5. Critical Analysis of Rough Sets Approach to Machine Learning Igor Kononenko and Samo Zorc, University of Ljubljana, Faculty of electrical engineering & computer science, Trzaska 25, SI-61001 Ljubljana, Slovenia, Phone: +386 61 1768390, Fax: $+$386 61 264990, igor.kononenko@ninurta.fer.uni-lj.si pp. 305-313 Keywords: Rough sets theory, critical analysis, machine learning Abstract: In this paper the rough set theory (RST) approach to machine learning is analysed and its drawbacks described. RST often uses complicated formalization of rather simple notions and sometimes invents new notions that make the RST papers hard to read and understand. Some authors from the RST community tend to ignore the huge amount of work done in machine learning. This may lead to reinventings and ad-hoc solutions. ---------------------- 6. On the Exploitation of Mechanical Advantage Near Robot Singularities Jon Kieffer, Engineering Department, The Faculties, Australian National University, Canberra ACT, 2601, Australia and Jadran Lenarcic, Jozef Stefan Institute, University of Ljubljana, Jamova 39, 61111, Ljubljana, Slovenia, jadran.lenarcic@ijs.si pp. 315-323 Keywords: robot, singular Abstract: Since the earliest days of robotics research when it was recognized that kinematic singularities physically hamper the free manipulation of objects in task space, there has been a popular consensus that singular configurations are unsuitable for practical use and should be avoided. At best they may be included with the expectation of gracefully-degraded performance in their vicinity. In this article we question the validity of such conclusions, citing examples that show how humans use singularity configurations of their limbs to gain mechanical advantage, and investigate the possibility of obtaining similar benefits in robotic systems. It is shown that minimization of joint torques in redundant systems leads to human-like behavior that favors singularities, but that stable implementation of such behavior requires a strategy which gives the robot more autonomy with respect to timing task execution. Application of such a strategy to a 2R robot performing static lifting is considered in detail. ---------------------- 7. Data Reorganization in Distributed Information Systems A. Mahmood, H. U. Khan and H. A. Fatmi, Dept. of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, King's College London, The Strand, London WC2R 2LS, U.K., a.mahmood@bay.cc.kcl.ac.uk pp. 325-336 Keywords: Databases, distributed data management, data reorganization, distributed systems, distributed information systems, file migration Abstract: Data reorganization in distributed databases due to non-stationary nature of file utilization pattern and network entities is a highly desirable event to improve system performance and to reduce communication costs. This paper considers a non-blocking approach to data reorganization and presents an algorithm which allows user transactions to run concurrently with the data reorganization activity. It presents an algorithm to identify the opportunities for parallelism in the reorganization process. It also addresses the efficiency of parallel and serial data reorganization techniques in blocking and non-blocking modes and reports some experimental results. ---------------------- 8. Evaluating the Manufacturing Simulator "Witness" on an Automated Manufacturing System Vlatka Hlupic and Ray J. Paul, Brunel University, Department of Computer Science, Uxbridge, Middlesex UB8 3PH, United Kingdom pp. 337-345 Keywords: Manufacturing system, simulation, simulation package, software evaluation Abstract: The application of the manufacturing simulator "WITNESS" to an automated manufacturing system is described. Some software tools for the simulation of manufacturing systems are reviewed, as well as the most important characteristics of the simulation package "WITNESS". The case study model is described together with problems experienced during modelling. This provides a critical analysis of the capabilities and shortcomings of the software. The conclusions outline the successes and failures of the simulator for modelling, and what lessons and further ideas were obtained from this study. ---------------------- 9. Compressed Transmission Mode: An Optimizing Decision Tool Tarek M. Sobh, Department of Computer Science, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, U.S.A., E-mail: sobh@cs.utah.edu and Tarek K. Alameldin, Computer Visualization Laboratory, Graduate School of Architecture, Texas A & M University, College Station, Texas, U.S.A., E-mail: tarek@viz.tamu.edu pp. 347-356 Keywords: Communication, compression, optimization, tools Abstract: In this paper we address the problem of host to host communication. In particular, we discuss the issue of efficient and adaptive transmission mechanisms over possible physical links. We develop a tool for making decisions regarding the flow of control sequences and data from and to a host. The issue of compression is discussed in details, a decision box and an optimizing tool for finding the appropriate thresholds for a decision are developed. Physical parameters like the data rate, bandwidth of the communication medium, distance between the hosts, baud rate, levels of discretization, signal to noise ratio and propagation speed of the signal are taken into consideration while developing our decision system. Theoretical analysis is performed to develop mathematical models for the optimization algorithm. Simulation models are also developed for testing both the optimization and the decision tool box. ---------------------- 10. Adaptive Bar Implementation and Ergonomics Matjaz Debevc, Rajko Svecko, Dali Donlagic, Faculty of Technical Sciences, Smetanova 17, 62000 Maribor, Slovenia, E-mail: debevc@uni-mb.si and Beth Meyer, AT&T Human Interface Technology Center, 500 Tech Parkway, N.W., Atlanta, GA 30313, USA, E-mail: Beth.Meyer@AtlantaGa.ncr.com pp. 357-366 Keywords: Adaptive user interfaces, intelligent user interfaces, human factors, icons design Abstract: Self-adjusting, adaptive user interfaces offer automatic customisation of the computer-based working environment by checking users' procedures and typical decisions, eventually offering them adaptations or enhancements designed to make their individual work patterns easier and more efficient. This means that the users don't need deeper understanding of the application environment or its procedures, since the adaptive user interface itself recommends solutions and possible adjustments. This article classifies user interfaces and their roles. Positive and negative aspects of adaptive user interfaces are also discussed. Using the adaptive bar as an example, we discuss the implementation and ergonomics of the adaptive bar, which represents the adaptive part of the interaction. During the working sessions, but without disturbing them, the user interface suggests the addition or removal of command icons and their resizing depending on the priority, which is based on the frequency of use. The article also offers a convenient solution to present the priority of icons.