Conference heron::euro_swas_ai

138.0. "IBM Talk on 4th Portuguese AI meeting" by LISVAX::VALENTE (Jo�o Valente) Mon Oct 02 1989 12:54

    Last week it happen in Lisbon the Fourth Portuguese Conference on
    AI, It wass the first International AI conference that was organized
    by the Portuguese association for AI.
    
    It had papers from 18 countries. 
    
    The interesting thing is that at the last minute the sponsors were
    asked to present an � hour presentation on their products.
    
    From the sponsors:  IBM, Unisys,Nixdorf,Control Data,Digital, and
    a sw House Siscog, only IBM, DIGITAL and UNISYS made presentations.
    
    UNISYS:
    They brought someone from Unisys Spain, and he spoke about the EEC
    programs, ESPRIT, ... Not a word about products.
    
    IBM:
    
    IBM presentation was after mine, and I got the Idea that the guy
    changed his presentation to match mine. 
    
    I sent Pascal a copy of IBM presentation.
    
    Some basic ideas were:
    
    	- IBM has been testing Expert Systems for the last 20 years!
    	
    	- They have defined a road Map that goes from Operating Systems,
    through high Level Languages, Through DataBases to KBS technologies.
                                             
    	- Connectivity is their goal, Integrate KBS in DP environment
    they also have plans to integrate KBS in SAA in the future.
    
    IBM offer now is:
    	ESE  and ESE/PC,  It is on the second version wich shows IBM
    experience in this domain, ESE has an application interface and
    can be called in from several products including CICS, IMS.
    It is very simple to use , and realy integrated in IBM environment.
    ESE is aimed for AI professionals.
    
    	Knowledge Tool, extension of PL1 language , very good for DP
    integration., aimed for data processing professionals.
                                      
    
    	KEE/370, IBM version it has full KEE functionality but was adapted
    by IBM Engeneer to 370 type of environments. Good for very large
    and complex systems.
    
    	LISP and LISP/VM Common Lisp implementation, with interfaces
    with all languages, a very good editor. LISP/VM also includes MACLISP.
    
    	ECLPS Enhanced Common Lisp Production System, A LISP based OPS-5
    type tool for IBM Mainframes.
    
    	IBM Prolog/370 - Edimburg Syntax, with Run time and development
    environments. A very comprehensive implementations. (VM+MVS)
    
    
    
    As IBM presents several tools waht is the best one to choose:
    
    	      E	 |
    	      A	 |
    	      S	 |   ESE
              E  |
                 |
              O  |              KT
              F  |              KEE
                 |
              U  |                         LISP
              S  |                         PROLOG
              E  |
                 |________________________________________
    
                        Development Flexibility
                                                 
    
    
    Choose the most apropriate tool but if possible use ESE!
    Because it is easy to learn, very productive and easy to mantain.
    
    
    The future view will include:
    
       		- Knowledge Engeneering and end user shells
    		- for DP professionals (HLL extensions).
    		- K.E. Programming tools
    		- and very important also application Vendors.
                                                              
    
    
    To finalize, IBM is now using ES dayly, their sales people use Expert
    Systems every day and they don't notice they are using them.
    
    The examples showed by IBM as ES in use are:
    		FIST from Montpelier
    		AMEX American Express Credit
    		Education Advisor (IBM Canada) Advise customers about
		    education programs by IBM.
                KBASE - Help desk for Computer Operator.
    		MESS lexington. ES to assist first line managers to
    		    perform their tasks.
                                        
    

    Thanks Joao for the good update.
    
    Those of you receiving the "Spang-Robinson" letter on Artificial
    Intelligence will see the comment made by Sarah Spang, following
    IJCAI. She says something like "IBM still does not have a coherent
    AI strategy".

    
    
    I'm sure Joao will agree that one of the most interesting papers at this 
    conference was one describing an expert advisory system called RAD. 
    This system was developed in the European AI Technology Group at
    Valbonne. 
    
    .....It was presented by me!!
    
    Of course you all know about this system, but should you nevertheless
    want a copy of the paper, send me a mail!!!!
    
    George