Backward Messages Research Articles

Increased Privacy with Reduced Communication in Multi-Agent Planning

Multi-agent forward search (MAFS) is a state-of-the-art privacy-preserving planning algorithm. We describe a new variant of MAFS, called multi-agent forward-backward search (MAFBS) that uses both forward and backward messages to reduce the number of messages sent and obtain new privacy properties. While MAFS requires agents to send a state s produced by an action a to all agents that can apply any action in s, MAFBS sends such messages forward only to agents that have an action that requires one of the effects of a. To achieve completeness, it sends messages backward to agents that can supply a missing precondition. This more focused message passing scheme reduces states exchanged, and requires that agents be aware only of other agents that they directly interact with, leading to agent privacy.

Forward/Backward Contextual Frames Surrounding the Israeli-Palestinian Oslo I Accords

Using Zartman and Kremenyuk's (2005) framework of forward and backward oriented negotiation, this paper examines speeches and interviews made by Israeli and Palestinian leaders in the months preceding the Oslo I Accords. Three hypotheses and one research question were postulated. The first hypothesis, that the discourse will be significantly more forward - oriented was not confirmed. The second hypothesis, that Palestinians use significantly more backward - oriented rhetoric than Israelis was confirmed. The third hypothesis, expecting a positive relation between forward - looking messages and affiliation messages, as well as between backward - looking messages and power messages was strongly confirmed. The research question examined the frequency of the use of various types of forward and backward looking messages.

Approximate inference in hidden Markov models using iterative active state selection

The inferential task of computing the marginal posterior probability mass functions of state variables and pairs of consecutive state variables of a hidden Markov model is considered. This can be exactly and efficiently performed using a message passing scheme such as the Bahl-Cocke-Jelinek-Raviv (BCJR) algorithm. We present a novel iterative reduced complexity variation of the BCJR algorithm that uses reduced support approximations for the forward and backward messages, as in the M-BCJR algorithm. Forward/backward message computation is based on the concept of expectation propagation, which results in an algorithm similar to the M-BCJR algorithm with the active state selection criterion being changed from the filtered distribution of state variables to beliefs of state variables. By allowing possibly different supports for the forward and backward messages, we derive identical forward and backward recursions that can be iterated. Simulation results of application for trellis-based equalization of a wireless communication system confirm the improved performance over the M-BCJR algorithm.

A Test of the Effect of Reverse Speech on Priming

J. R. Vokey and J. D. Read (1985) indicated that listeners cannot consciously recognize backward messages but that some information can be obtained from reversed speech. If reverse speech has a powerful influence on language processing, as D. J. Oates (1991) has claimed, then one should be able to measure a reliable priming effect from reversed messages. Sixty undergraduate students listened to short messages presented either backward or forward. Immediately after listening to each message, they responded in a lexical decision task to a visually presented word that had either been present or had not been present in the preceding message. No priming effect was found for backward messages, although there was significant priming for forward messages. The results are not consistent with an effect of reverse speech on word processing.

Do backward messages unconsciously affect listeners? No.

Abstract Subjects listened to digitized statements that were played backward or in the usual forward manner. After listening to the statements, subjects were tested for recognition memory. All the statements were played backward on the test. Subjects who had heard backward statements showed reliable old - new discrimination but subjects who had heard forward statements did not. Then subjects rated the probable truth of statements that were typed in normal orientation. This time was the subjects who had heard the statements played forward who discriminated the old from the new statements by rating more of the old ones true. subjects who heard the statements backward did not. These results indicate that the forward meaning of backward statements does not leak through, even when the backward statements themselves are memorable. Those who are concerned about the possible influence of backward speech in rock music can rest more easily.Resume Les sujets ont ecoute des messages numerises, retransmis en sens inverse ou, selon le mode habituel, a l'endroit. Apres avoir ecoute les messages, les sujets ont ete soumis a un test de memoire de reconnaissance. Tous les messages ont ete retransmis en sens inverse lors du test. Les sujets qui avaient entendu les messages en sens inverse pouvaient discriminer assez bien les nouveaux messages des anciens, mais non pas les sujets a qui les messages avaient ete retransmis a l'endroit. Les sujets ont ensuite evalue la veracite probable des messages diffuses normalement. Cette fois - ci, les sujets ayant entendu les messages a l'endroit distinguaient les anciens messages des nouveaux, car ils ont juge vrais un plus grand nombre d'anciens messages, ce que n'ont pas fait les sujets a qui les messages avaient ete retransmis en sens inverse. Les resultats montrent que la signification des messages enregistres en sens inverse et retransmis a l'endroit ne « passe » pas, me@me lorsque les messages peuvent e@tre memorises. Ceux et celles qui craignent l'influence possible des paroles enregistrees en sens inverse dans la musique rock peuvent donc dormir sur leurs deux oreilles.Does the meaning of a message unconsciously influence listeners if the message is played backward? Some people believe that does. Christensen (1988, p. 2) describes an article from the Los Angeles Times (Sunday Supplement, May 9, 1982). Under the provocative title The Devil Made Me Do It, the article reported the claim by some religious groups that certain rock bands included satanic messages in their records. These messages be heard only when the records were played backwards, but ... the listener could subconsciously decipher the meaning of the messages when the record was played in the normal manner ... listeners would accept the satanic message uncritically and would act accordingly. implication is that if the message was heard in its usual form, listeners would be able to reflect its content, but that the expressed sentiment of the backward message could leak into the listener and influence behaviour on a later occasion. In 1990, we followed with interest the televised reports of the trial of the rock group, Judas Priest, which was accused on placing the backward message do it in a recording. allegation was that the message contributed to a case of teenage suicide. Although Judas Priest was absolved of criminal activity, the media coverage of the events conveyed the sense that the charge was plausible (see Loftus & Klinger, 1992).As we see it, there are two independent questions to be addressed. question of whether rock music includes backward messages has received most of the attention in the popular media. Vokey and Read (1985) give a lively account of their interactions with the media on this issue. We defer comments about this question until the discussion. Our focus is on the question: So what if there are backward messages? We echo Vokey and Read's (1985) point that is fallacious to assume that the presence of such messages implies that they have any effect. …

Effects of Subliminal Backward-Recorded Messages on Attitudes

This study was designed to measure the effects of subliminal backward messages on attitudes. It was hypothesized that subliminal backward-recorded messages would influence the attitudes of listeners. Three subliminal backward-recorded messages from a popular song were used. 82 undergraduates were randomly assigned to one of four conditions: a three-message group heard a tape containing the backward messages recorded three times in succession, a six-message group heard a tape with the same backward messages recorded six times in succession, two control groups heard nonbackward recorded music. No statistically significant differences were found between the groups on a posttape attitude questionnaire. The results are discussed in terms of unconscious processing and the tricomponent theory of attitudes and attitude change.

EFFECTS OF SUBLIMINAL BACKWARD-RECORDED MESSAGES ON ATTITUDES

This study was designed to measure the effects of subliminal backward messages on attitudes. It was hypothesized that subliminal backward-recorded messages would influence the attitudes of listeners. Three subliminal backward-recorded messages from a popular song were used. 82 undergraduates were randomly assigned to one of four conditions: a three-message group heard a tape containing the backward messages recorded three times in succession, a six-message group heard a tape with the same backward messages recorded six times in succession, two control groups heard nonbackward recorded music. No statistically significant differences were found between the groups on a posttape attitude questionnaire. The results are discussed in terms of unconscious processing and the tricomponent theory of attitudes and attitude change.

Backward messages in commercially available recordings

(1985). Backward messages in commercially available recordings. Popular Music and Society: Vol. 10, No. 1, pp. 2-13.