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AIList Digest Volume 5 Issue 243
AIList Digest Saturday, 24 Oct 1987 Volume 5 : Issue 243
Today's Topics:
Query - Connection Machine Architecture &
Neural Info Process Conference &
Multiexpert/Multiagent Researches & Prolog for Course,
Education - Common Lisp Textbooks & Prolog,
Application - AI and Design Automation/Design Assistance & Cash Flow,
Neuromorphic Systems - Byte Sources & Cybernetics
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: 21 Oct 87 19:16:18 GMT
From: Mark Attisha <local!attisha@RELAY.CS.NET>
Subject: Info on Connection Machine Wanted
We are wondering if anyone can provide us with information specific to the
Connection Machine. We have found that Hillis' book to be lacking in such
areas as hardware description and network communications. In particular,
we are interested in obtaining a description of processing element to router
communication, host to processing element communication, chip control unit
to processing element communication, the role of shared memory, a description
of the buses between chips and between processing elements, and so forth.
Thanks in advance.
Please send information to the: Mark Attisha
Department of Computing & Information Science
Queen's University
Kingston, Ontario K7L 3N6
Canada
e-mail attisha@qucis.bitnet
------------------------------
Date: 23 Oct 87 01:49:55 GMT
From: deneb.ucdavis.edu!g451252772ea@ucdavis.ucdavis.edu
(0040;0000001585;0;327;142;)
Subject: Neural Info Process conf. at Denver 11/8-12
Having just been informed I have funds to attend this, it would
be gratifying to learn if it's still open (moving to Denver changed the
crowd capacity to infinity, yes?)
I'm also interested if anyone has ideas on lodgings less expensive
than the Sheraton ... or travel inexpensively from near the Bay Area to
Denver (Davis is closest to Sacramento physically, but to SF otherwise...)
--thanks!
Ron Goldthwaite / UC Davis, Psychology and Animal Behavior
'Economics is a branch of ethics, pretending to be a science;
ethology is a science, pretending relevance to ethics.'
(apologies if the signature appears 2x)
------------------------------
Date: 23 Oct 87 18:14:28 GMT
From: leey@russell.STANFORD.EDU (Chin Lee)
Reply-to: leey@russell.stanford.edu (Yi-Chin Lee)
Subject: Need pointers to multi expert -- multi agent researches
Is there anyone out there on the net can provide me with bibliographical
pointers to researches related to multi expert -- multi agent planning
and knowledge representation?
Thanks.
------------------------------
Date: 22 Oct 87 23:50:08 GMT
From: ucsdhub!hp-sdd!ncr-sd!ncrcae!hubcap!steve@sdcsvax.ucsd.edu
("Steve" Stevenson)
Subject: Suggestions for Course
I have to teach an AI course for folks with little or no
background. I'd like to use prolog, but want to have them
learn it as much on their own as possible. Any suggestions
for texts?
At this time, I think I would like to concentrate on theorem
proving with perhaps some non-traditional stuff (fuzzy?) included.
Any suggestions here?
--
Steve (really "D. E.") Stevenson steve@hubcap.clemson.edu
Department of Computer Science, (803)656-5880.mabell
Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634-1906
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 22 Oct 87 10:50:40 EDT
From: Chris Riesbeck <riesbeck-chris@YALE.ARPA>
Subject: AI Programming Book
Date: 19 Oct 87 10:54:01 edt
From: Walter Hamscher <hamscher@ht.ai.mit.edu>
Subject: Introductory books on Lisp
Charniak, Riesbeck, McDermott "Artificial Intelligence
Programming" Lawrence Erlbaum (1980). What every AI programmer
should know, though unfortunately the lisp dialect is getting a
bit dated.
The Second Edition is now available, in Common Lisp, substantially
revised, with old bugs and typos replaced by sparkling new ones.
Artificial Intelligence Programming, Second Edition (1987)
Charniak, Riesbeck, McDermott, and Meehan
Lawrence Erlbaum Assoc, Inc.
365 Broadway, Hillsdale, NJ 07642
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 22 Oct 87 08:21:00 PDT
From: Marie Bienkowski <bienk@spam.istc.sri.com>
Subject: Common Lisp Textbooks
Date: Fri, 16 Oct 87 11:03:46 PDT
From: glasgow@marlin.nosc.mil (Michael G. Glasgow)
I am new to AIList and AI programming and want to learn Lisp.
I have been looking through Steele's book, Common Lisp", and
have discovered that this is more of a reference manual than a
beginners guide. What I am wondering is if anyone can give me
the names of some good introductory Lisp books to get me started.
As several people mentioned in response to this query, there are
several good texts on Common Lisp. What surprises me is that no one
mentioned Deborah Tatar's book. First, let me say that I relied on
Winston and then Wilensky when teaching LISP, both are good books.
(with Wilensky's being better). But when I tried to learn Common Lisp
from Steele, then found it was impossible, I discovered Tatar's
excellent book. It's published by Digital Press, and is entitled "A
Programmer's Guide to Common Lisp." While I have not used her book
for teaching, I think the examples are good enough to warrant its use.
And it is the perfect companion to Steele (in fact, Steele, wrote
the foreward for it). It may be more difficult to get than, say,
Wilensky's, but I think it is worth it. (If you go for nice-looking
covers, on the other hand, get Wilensky's. It's great-looking!)
Marie Bienkowski
bienk@istc.sri.com
------------------------------
Date: 23 Oct 87 16:25:20 GMT
From: oltz@tcgould.tn.cornell.edu (Michael Oltz)
Reply-to: oltz@tcgould.tn.cornell.edu (Michael Oltz)
Subject: Re: Introductory books on Lisp
In article <8710191454.AA26556@ht.ai.mit.edu> hamscher@HT.AI.MIT.EDU
(Walter Hamscher) writes:
> Charniak, Riesbeck, McDermott "Artificial Intelligence
> Programming" Lawrence Erlbaum (1980). What every AI programmer
> should know, though unfortunately the lisp dialect is getting a
> bit dated.
At a talk McDermott gave at Cornell in September, it was announced that
the 2nd edition of this book would be coming out soon.
--
Mike Oltz oltz@tcgould.tn.cornell.UUCP (607)255-8312
Cornell Computer Services
215 Computing and Communications Center
Ithaca NY 14853
------------------------------
Date: 23 Oct 87 14:15:52 GMT
From: ucsdhub!hp-sdd!ncr-sd!ncrlnk!ncrcam!morley@sdcsvax.ucsd.edu
(/usr/acct/morley)
Subject: Re: Suggestions for Course
In article <587@hubcap.UUCP>, steve@hubcap.UUCP ("Steve" Stevenson) writes:
> I have to teach an AI course for folks with little or no
> background. I'd like to use prolog, but want to have them
> learn it as much on their own as possible. Any suggestions
> for texts?
How about Turbo Prolog? Some will argue that it is not "true" Prolog, but
it is very close to the real thing. The manual is in tutorial form, and is
easy to learn and use. Also, Borland International offers a discount to
students. The price is very reasonable.
> --
> Steve (really "D. E.") Stevenson steve@hubcap.clemson.edu
> Department of Computer Science, (803)656-5880.mabell
> Clemson University, Clemson, SC 29634-1906
------------------------------
Date: 23 Oct 87 19:13:51 GMT
From: bbn!gatech!hubcap!grimlok@husc6.harvard.edu (Mike Percy)
Subject: Re: Suggestions for Course
in article <321@ncrcam.Cambridge.NCR.COM>, morley@ncrcam.Cambridge.NCR.COM
(/usr/acct/morley) says:
> Xref: hubcap comp.lang.prolog:345 comp.ai:820
>
> In article <587@hubcap.UUCP>, steve@hubcap.UUCP ("Steve" Stevenson) writes:
>> I have to teach an AI course for folks with little or no
>> background. I'd like to use prolog, but want to have them
>> learn it as much on their own as possible. Any suggestions
>> for texts?
>
> How about Turbo Prolog? Some will argue that it is not "true" Prolog, but
> it is very close to the real thing. The manual is in tutorial form, and is
> easy to learn and use. Also, Borland International offers a discount to
> students. The price is very reasonable.
>
True about TProlog, it is almost Prolog, but not quite. In fact, at some
places it is downright divergent and unusable. But for the environment
Dr. Stevenson is in, nearly every one of his students has used at least
Turbo Pascal and possibly TurboC. They are familiar with the Borland
systems, and can concentrate on their programs rather than than their
compiler and how to use it. Also, the speed of testing is nice, the
debugging trace is helpful, and Clemson has plenty of PCs. In these
days, when the VAX machines are quickly becoming overloaded, any PC
implementation will be a plus.
So Dr. Stevenson, here is my vote for TProlog, with the proviso that you
declare to the poor students that TProlog is a mere shadow of the true
power of the language.
Mike Percy
Clemson University
------------------------------
Date: 22 Oct 87 17:14:00 EDT
From: "ETD1::WILSONJ" <wilsonj%etd1.decnet@afwal-aaa.arpa>
Reply-to: "ETD1::WILSONJ" <wilsonj%etd1.decnet@afwal-aaa.arpa>
Subject: AI & Design Automation, Design Assistance
I'm beginning a study on Applications of AI in Design Automation and Design
Assistance. My interests range from IC CAD (my area of expertise) to the design
of mechanical, aerodynamic, and propulsion systems; and beyond. I need to
explore today's design issues, where does AI fit in, what are the most critical
design needs. I'd greatly appreciate brief replys on who's doing what in AI &
Design, and issues that you believe should be persued, i.e. the most promising
of advances in design, where is research lacking, etc.
I presently work in an AI prototyping facility whose function is to rapidly
transition state of the art AI technology into Air Force weapon systems; and
serve as a showcase for state of the art AI applications research and the latest
AI hardware and software innovations.
My research will help direct training and technical efforts at a newly
established AI Applications Center at the Miami Valley Research Institute
(MVRI) in Dayton, OH. Aeronautical Systems Division/Air Force Systems Command
at Wright Patterson AFB, OH awarded a $10 million contract to MVRI last week.
MVRI is a consortium of the University of Dayton, Wright State University,
Central State University, and Sinclair Community College. Teknowledge Federal
Systems Division and the Ohio State University Laboratory for Artificial
Intelligence Research (LAIR) will serve as subcontractors.
Thank You, :-)
James B. Wilson
ARPANET: wilsonj%etd1.decnet@<afwal-aaa.arpa>
US Mail: AFWAL/AAI
Bldg 22, Area B
WPAFB, OH 45433
Phone: (513) 255-1491
------------------------------
Date: Thu, 22 Oct 87 11:01:28 EDT
From: Brady@UDEL.EDU
Subject: Lopez query
To respond to Javier Lopez' query:
1. a couple of years ago AI Magazine had an article specifically
on this subject. The author likened the flow of cash through
a company to the flow of water into, through, and out of a system
of pipes and valves. The discussion reminded me of systems
that model electrical circuitry.
2. Most intermediate accounting and finance texts treat the
cash flow concept well. Usually, the most vexatious
problem in predicting cash inflows is estimating revenues, so
a good market analysis text may also help.
3. IEEE Expert recently devoted an issue to financial applications.
There may be something there about your topic.
------------------------------
Date: Thu 22 Oct 87 13:58:44-PDT
From: Matt Heffron <BEC.HEFFRON@ECLA.USC.EDU>
Subject: Re: neuro files
For general Info:
The sources to programs from Byte magazine are available from the BYTEnet
bulletin board system: (617)861-9764 (set modem at: 8-1-N or 7-1-E; 300
or 1200 baud). This system supports several PC "ftp" protocols, including
xmodem (and "standard" variations...)
-Matt Heffron BEC.HEFFRON@ECLA.USC.EDU
------------------------------
Date: 21 Oct 87 13:59:56 GMT
From: trwrb!aero!venera.isi.edu!smoliar@ucbvax.Berkeley.EDU (Stephen
Smoliar)
Subject: Re: Neural Networks - Pointers to good
In article <8300006@osiris.cso.uiuc.edu> goldfain@osiris.cso.uiuc.edu writes:
>
> On the other hand, whatever became of the term "cybernetics" that Norbert
>Weiner coined long ago? I thought its definition was quite suitable for
>denoting this research.
I do not profess to be an expert in either the history of cybernetics or the
usage of the term; but, with that qualification, let me try to address this
question. As I recall, Weiner's original concern was with the design of
analog devices which, by virtue of feedback circuits, were capable of control
of other devices and adaptive behavior (which may be regarded as self-control).
Through my encounters with the literature as an AI researcher, I have observed
that the term "cybernetics" appears with greater frequency in Europe
(particularly the Soviet Union and the United Kingdom) than it does in
the United States. There is definitely a tendency to recognize that
Weiner's original principles could be generalized from analog to digital
hardware. However, I have the distinct impression that cybernetics grew
from the belief that behavioral knowledge was something which would ultimately
be encoded in the feedback loops, rather than in an explicit device concerned
with memory or the storage of a knowledge base. I would appreciate any
reactions to these comments simply to get the historical record straight.
------------------------------
End of AIList Digest
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