Learning Syntax and Semantics of Descriptions of Shapes from Web-users in the Smart-Bees Project

Speaker: Sergio Guadarrama, Ph.D.,Fundamentals of Soft-Computing Unit
European Centre for Soft Computing
Mieres, SPAINAbstract: Smart-Bees is a project to study how machines can learn and communicate in human-like ways, from a Computing with Words (CW), Actions and Perceptions (CW-AP) perspective. Due to initial stage of development of CW and its complexity, setting up good experiments that can guide the research is crucial; so, following Wittgenstein's ideas about Meaning and Language ("The meaning of a word is its use in Language" and "Language games") we have developed a web-based application for automatically creating natural language-based descriptions of shapes. Smart-Bees is a multi-agent, multi-user system in which multiple smart-bees (agents or synthetic characters) are able to interact and communicate within themselves and with humans; and, where each smart-bee can learn concepts, words and also some sort of syntax and semantics, building a model that is grounded in perceptions and actions. The system learns from the descriptions provided by humans and then uses computational intelligence based methods and fuzzy algorithms to produce its own descriptions. To collect human descriptions of shapes and to test the results of Smart-Bees we have set up an interactive website, which will be described.Bio: Sergio Guadarrama received a PhD degree (Artificial Intelligence) in 2007, from the Technical University of Madrid. During 2003-2004, he spent one year at the University of California, Berkeley, where he collaborated with Prof. Lotfi Zadeh. He has published eight papers in international journals, seven book chapters and more than 20 papers in peer-reviewed conferences. He has participated in the organization of several international conferences, organized special sessions, and has also participated in several research projects funded by European Union, Spanish Government, Madrid Regional Government and Castilla la Mancha Regional Goverment. In recognition of his work, he has received: the "Best Doctoral Dissertation Award" in Computer Science by the Technical University of Madrid, and the "Juan de la Cierva" Grant, as one the top ten most promising young researchers in Computer Science by the Spanish Department of Science and Innovation.

 His main research focus is in Computing with Words, Actions and Perceptions (CW-AP), in which he is currently developing the project "Smart-Bees: Learning Language in Semi-Supervised Environments". Since November 2007, he is a "Juan de la Cierva" Researcher in the Fundamentals of Soft-Computing Unit at the European Center for Soft-Computing.Hosted by Professor Jerry Mendel

Location: Hughes Aircraft Electrical Engineering Center (EEB) - 248

Audiences: Everyone Is Invited

Contact: Talyia Veal