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Subject: Announcing on-line availability of AI reference database
How many times have customers asked you about specific references of using AI in
either the same industry or the same domain as they are in? How many times have
you wished you could pull out immediately relevant reference examples?
Well, to begin addressing this need, I am pleased to announce the restricted
on-line availability of an AI reference database, which you will be able to
query in order to find out about specific European references using expert
system technology. There are currently about 80 references listed.
The following memo is rather lengthy, so I suggest you print it out and save the
hardcopy for future interaction with the database.
*************************
PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING
*************************
Please be aware that, in the short term, we wish to restrict use of this
database to the people involved to some extent with AI activity (marketing,
sales support, training). Because of its limited user interface functionalities
and its confidential characteristics, we do not encourage people who are not on
this memo's distribution list to access directly the database. Future updating,
testing and user interface enhancements will allow us to make it available to a
wider group (all sales, sales support and marketing) through a more common and
robust communication medium, such as VTX.
Our intent is to let you access the database as it is now for a period of 3
months, and by January (time of the AI Forum) to get your feedback so that we
can proceed with:
- modifying the query system
- improving the user interface
- consolidating the project information
- extending the database from a European-only to a worldwide nature
Obviously, your comments and feedbacks are appreciated, whether they deal with
the content of the information put into the database, or with the database query
system.
Best regards,
Pascal
1. HOW TO ACCESS THE EUROPEAN AI REFERENCE DATABASE?
Currently, you will have to set host to the HERON system, on which the database
is residing. You will be immediately placed into the application and will not be
able to interact with other applications or accounts on the system.
The commands are:
- SET HOST HERON
login name: AI_REF
password: EUROREFS
Note that the password will be changed every month. I will send you a memo with
the new password each month.
The login.com file is such that you will immediately be placed into the
application. By the same token, when you press "5" fro exiting the main menu,
you will be "ousted" and you will get back into your system.
Please also note that you will only have the "user" privilege, meaning that you
will not be able to modify yourself the database information. If you wish that
the information for a specific reference (which you have been involved with) be
modified, please send me (or Andrew Buchanan @VBO) a memo.
2. WHAT DOES THE DATABASE CONTAIN?
The database contains information about 80 European references (as of October 1,
1990). An AI reference is defined as:
- a project where Digital AI people have been directly involved in
either the solution definition (pre-sales) or the development/delivery
- projects done by third-party vendors (tool vendors or consulting
firms), using a Digital AI solution (a Digital AI software or a
third-party software running on a Digital platform)
- projects done by the customer himself, but using a Digital AI solution
- projects internal to Digital (Mnfg, IS, Customer Services, SWAS, ...)
We anticipate that the most frequent types of queries will use search criteria
like:
- country
- industry
- application domain
- tools
The current implementation does not give us liberty to mix freely search
criteria, but we added 2 options which would combine 2 criteria, namely:
- industry and application domain
- tools and application domain
The last two allow to get cross-references, such as references of scheduling
applications in manufacturing, or references using Nexpert in diagnostic.
For both industry and application domain, we used 2 levels of
description/classification. If, for example, one does not find a specific
reference in the Food & Beverage industry (detailed description level), then the
search could be broadened to Manufacturing industry (general description level).
Same thing for application domain, where a "monitoring" application is part of
a broader class of applications in "interpretation and decision-support". The
details of the structure are described in the main help section.
Below are extracts of 2 of the most important help menus:
**************************
* HELP OF FEATURES MENU :*
**************************
The different options of this menu allow you to make a selection of references
with respect to their fields.
FEATURES OF A REFERENCE :
*************************
All the AI references have been structured with a standard structure containing
15 following fields :
**** 1 PROJECT NAME
* 2 TYPE OF APPLICATION
* 3 CUSTOMER NAME
* 4 TYPE OF INDUSTRY
* 5 COUNTRY
* 6 CONFIDENTIALITY
An AI * 7 TOOLS
REFERENCE = * 8 IMPLEMENTATION STAGE
* 9 PARTNERS
* 10 DIGITAL CONTACTS
* 11 DESCRIPTION
* 12 DETAILED DESCRIPTION
* 13 DIRECT REVENUES
* 14 DEMONSTRATION
**** 15 UPDATE
1 PROJECT NAME : When a project name is not a formal one, a name is
**************** given in keeping with the main purpose of the project
and it is written between quotes (" ").
2 TYPE OF APPLICATION : This field caracterizes the application. There are two
*********************** levels of classification with respect to this field :
. A general classification (3 classes)
. A detailed classification (11 classes)
For further details, please see the HELP OF TYPES MENU
3 CUSTOMER NAME : The usual name of the customer
*****************
4 TYPE OF INDUSTRY : This field caracterizes the customer industry. There
******************** are two levels of classification with regard to this
field:
. A general classification (5 classes)
. A detail classification (14 classes)
For further details, please see the HELP OF TYPES MENU
5 COUNTRY : The country where the project has been developed and
*********** implemented.
6 CONFIDENTIALITY : The level of confidentiality of the project. There are
******************* currently 3 levels :
Examples of keyword
input usable to select
references with a
particular level :
. No confidentiality NO
. Internal use only INTERNAL
. High confidential HIGH
7 TOOLS : List of the different tools used in the project
*********
Examples of keyword
input usable to select
references using a
particular tool:
. OPS5 OPS5
. NEXPERT NEX
. etc...
8 IMPLEMENTATION STAGE : The stage of implementation of the project.
************************ There are 4 stages :
Examples of keyword
input usable to select
references with a
particular stage:
. PROTOTYPING PROTO
. TEST TEST
. IMPLEMENTATION IMPLE
. DELIVERY DELIV
9 PARTNERS : Compagnies involved in the project
************
Examples of keyword
input usable to select
references with a
particular PARTNER:
. DIGITAL DIGITAL
. EPITEC EPI
. etc...
10 DIGITAL CONTACTS : Names of people involved or responsible in the
********************* project
11 DECRIPTION : It is a short description of the project
***************
12 DETAILED DESCRIPTION: It is a more detailed description of the project
***********************
13 DIRECT REVENUES : Direct revenues from the project if available.
********************
14 DEMONSTRATION : This field informs you whether there is a demo
****************** available.
Examples of keyword
input usable to select
references with or
without DEMONSTRATION:
. WITH A DEMO YES
. WITHOUT DEMO NO
. UNKNOWN UNKNOWN
15 UPDATE : This is the date of the last modification of
*********** the previous fields.
************************
* HELP OF TYPES MENU : *
************************
This help informs you about the TWO TYPES of classification for a reference:
* 1 The TYPE OF APPLICATION with respect to the project
* 2 The TYPE OF INDUSTRY the customer is in.
For both TYPES, in order to make a selection of references you can use either
a GENERAL or a DETAILED CLASSIFICATION level.
1 TYPE OF APPLICATION CLASSIFICATION :
**************************************
************************** ******************************
| GENERAL CLASSIFICATION | | DETAILED CLASSIFICATION |
************************** ******************************
INTERPRETATION --------- MONITORING
AND DECISION |---- DIAGNOSTIC
SUPPORT |---- HELPDESK
|---- RISK ANALYSIS
|---- MAINTENANCE
|---- PROCESS CONTROL
|---- MATCHING SUPPLY TO DEMAND
CONSTRAINT ------------- DESIGN
ORIENTED |---- CONFIGURATION
APPLICATIONS |---- PLANNING
|---- SCHEDULING
|---- SIMULATION, MODELING
DEFINITION OF DETAILED CLASSIFICATION TERMS :
---------------------------------------------
MONITORING : Interpration of data and information coming on a continous basis
------------
DIAGNOSTIC : Interpration of data and information indicating an anomaly or
------------ malfunctioning.
HELP DESK : Analysis of a given request to dispatch it to the appropriate
----------- resource.
RISK ANALYSIS : Assessment of a given situation and of the possible
--------------- consequences of a given decision.
MAINTENANCE : Can be corrective (repairing a malfunctioning) or preventive
------------- (anticipating possible failures)
PROCESS CONTROL : Control system status and adjust in "real-time" parameters
-----------------
MATCHING SUPPLY TO DEMAND : Addressing customer needs with the appropriate set
--------------------------- of products and services
DESIGN : Elaboration of a new system without specfic constraints
--------
CONFIGURATION : Elaboration of a system from a set of known well-constrained
--------------- elements and processes
PLANNING : Defining a strategy over a time period to achieve a set of goals
----------
SCHEDULING : Laying out precisely the tasks necessary to achieve a goal and how
------------ tasks are interlated
SIMULATION, MODELING : Decision and evaluation of a model built to simulate a
---------------------- given process or system
2 TYPE OF INDUSTRY CLASSIFICATION :
***********************************
************************** ******************************
| GENERAL CLASSIFICATION | | DETAILED CLASSIFICATION |
************************** ******************************
MANUFACTURING ---------- FOOD (FOOD,BEVERAGES,PAPER,
| AGRICULTURE...)
|---- PROCESSING (CHEMICAL,OIL,MINERALS,
| PHARMACEUTICAL...)
|---- MECHANICAL (AUTOMOTIVE,MACHINERY...)
|---- AERONAUTICS
|---- ELECTRONICS
SERVICES --------------- BANKING
|---- INSURANCE
|---- TRANSPORTATION
|---- DISTRIBUTION
|---- UTILITIES
TELECOM ---------------- TELECOM SERVICES PROVIDERS
|---- TELECOM EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURERS
ADMINISTRATION --------- GOVERNMENT (ADMINISTRATION,DEFENCE...)
|---- UNIVERSITIES (EDUCATION,RESEARCH...)
|---- HEALTH SERVICES
DIGITAL ---------------- SERVICES (IS,FIELD SERVICE...)
|---- MANUFACTURING
3 HOW TO MAKE SELECTIONS :
**************************
Example of selection for the TYPE OF INDUSTRY classification :
. If you use the GENERAL CLASSIFICATION :
You can select all the references in the TELECOM domain :
.Enter TYPE OF INDUSTRY : TELECOM
. If you use the DETAILED CLASSIFICATION :
You can select all the references in the BANKING services domain :
.Enter TYPE OF INDUSTRY : BANKING
NB 1 : If you want to select all the MANUFACTURING customer references (which
not include the DIGITAL ones) :
.Enter TYPE OF APPLICATION : MANUFACTURING /
If you want to select all the MANUFACTURING DIGITAL references (which not
include the customer ones) :
.Enter TYPE OF APPLICATION : DIGITAL / MANUFACTURING
If you wnat to select all the MANUFACTURING references (both customer and
DIGITAL ones) :
.Enter TYPE OF APPLICATION : MANUFACTURING
NB 2 : It is exactly the same for the SERVICES references, customer and DIGITAL
ones
NB 3 : You can give also just a significant part of the designation :
ex: Enter TYPE OF APPLICATION : DIAG (for DIAGNOSTIC)
ex: Enter TYPE OF INDUSTRY : SERV (for SERVICES)
When looking for internal DIGITAL references use "DIGITAL" as industry
type :
ex: Enter TYPE OF INDUSTRY : DIGITAL
3. USER INTERFACE - ITS (MANY) LIMITATIONS AND SHORTCOMINGS
The summer student who worked with me on this reference database spent most of
his 3 months on the compilation/consolidation/structuring of the information.
Therefore he did not have the time to build a nice, user-friendly, robust user
interface, and you will quickly see some of the limitations yourself.
Let me point out a few of them:
1. There is no screen control, i.e. if a page is larger than that of your
screen, the system will scroll automatically until the end of the reference and
you will not see the top part of it. At this time, the only way around this is
to use your "Hold" key (not convenient, I must admit!)
2. When prompting you for an entry (for a specific field), there is no help or
list of possible keywords. You have to know the right terminology (which is
given in the help sections of the 2 main menus), otherwise your search will
yield no result.
3. No spelling errors are allowed.
4. When one search is completed, the system goes back automatically to the menu
choice, and does not ask whether you would like to do another search on the same
field. Since there is always a delay after selecting a search criterion, that
slows down the whole interaction.
5. You have the possibility of storing the reference information into a
text.file called "REF.TXT". Unfortunately, there is only one file with that
name which is updated with a new version number each time your press "A" for
saving the text file. If you want to retrieve that text file, you will have to
copy it from your account. Its full path name is :
Heron::ndec:[lenci.rdb]ref.txt
My advice is to do it immediately after the end of the consultation: it will
take the latest verion by default and you have a good chance of getting your
file, if noone else is accessing the database at the same time.
There are probably other limitations, which you will have to live with...
4. WARNING: CONFIDENTIALITY ISSUE
Among the 80 references listed, there are about 55 "external" ones, i.e.
mentionning specific customer names. A majority of them are CONFIDENTIAL,
meaning that you cannot describe them to OTHER CUSTOMERS, unless you use very
general terms and do not specifically mention the name of the customer.
Until we have a more robust communication medium for this database with the
possibility of restricted access to those highly confidential references, please
be aware that this is a very sensitive issue and I trust you will all exercise
caution in using this information made available to you.
All confidential references have a field "CONFIDENTIALITY" with the mention
"HIGH". Also note that some internal Digital references have the mention
"INTERNAL USE ONLY", meaning that again they should not be discussed in detail.
Failure to observe the confidentiality rules could result into serious
difficulties for Digital and this reference database being "shelved"
indefinitely.
5. A FINAL WORD
I have not tried to access the application from a remote node and therefore I do
not have a good sense of the response time. The shortcomings of the user
interfaces may also be quite penalizing.
However, I trust you will see this effort as a preliminary attempt to make
extremely valuable information accessible to you, so that you can use it with
customers.
Please do not hesitate to give us your feedback.
Distribution:
TO: Remote Addressee ( TIM BARBER @RDL )
TO: Remote Addressee ( ERIC COATES @RDL )
TO: Remote Addressee ( MCDONALD@SPYDER@VAXMAIL )
TO: Remote Addressee ( PAYNE@SPYDER@VAXMAIL )
TO: Remote Addressee ( ROBBINS@SPYDER@VAXMAIL )
TO: Remote Addressee ( STOW@SPYDER@VAXMAIL )
TO: Remote Addressee ( POGSON@SPYDER@VAXMAIL )
TO: Remote Addressee ( EXTON@SPYDER@VAXMAIL )
TO: Remote Addressee ( DINGWALL@SPYDER@VAXMAIL )
TO: Remote Addressee ( HODGE@SPYDER@VAXMAIL )
TO: Remote Addressee ( TURNER@SPYDER@VAXMAIL )
TO: Remote Addressee ( ANTHONY MADELEY @BST )
TO: Remote Addressee ( BOB MULLER @BST )
TO: Remote Addressee ( MARIANA BOZESAN @RTO )
TO: Remote Addressee ( ALEXANDRA BOECK @UNT )
TO: Remote Addressee ( KLAUS GRUPE @UFC )
TO: Remote Addressee ( HANNS BALZER @CEN )
TO: Remote Addressee ( ADRIAN HAMMERSTEIN @UFC )
TO: Remote Addressee ( HUBERT HERS @UFC )
TO: Remote Addressee ( MANFRED SCHLUETER @SUS )
TO: Remote Addressee ( KARL KRAMER @SUS )
TO: Remote Addressee ( UWE LEDERHAAS @SUS )
TO: Remote Addressee ( HEINZ-DIETER HUFNAGEL @FRS )
TO: Remote Addressee ( KARL-LUDWIG BARTH @COO )
TO: Remote Addressee ( RALPH WINTER @HAO )
TO: Remote Addressee ( ANDREAS HEMBERGER @FRA )
TO: Remote Addressee ( KLAUS REPPERMUND @MGO )
TO: Remote Addressee ( BERND JUNG @COO )
TO: Remote Addressee ( DIETER SCHEITOR @COO )
TO: Remote Addressee ( PETER BRITTAIN @UFH )
TO: Remote Addressee ( GERD SCHEMPP @UFC )
TO: Remote Addressee ( THOMAS BOCK @SUT )
TO: Remote Addressee ( GERD BACHBAUER @NBO )
TO: Remote Addressee ( ALAIN JANNOT @EVT )
TO: Remote Addressee ( JEAN-PIERRE PELOFFY @FCO )
TO: Remote Addressee ( ANDRE KRAMER @FCO )
TO: Remote Addressee ( HENRI MERCIER @PAO )
TO: Remote Addressee ( STEPHANE RIPOLL @EVB )
TO: Remote Addressee ( PATRICK BARANES @PAO )
TO: Remote Addressee ( OLIVIER CAYATTE @PAO )
TO: Remote Addressee ( LUCIE BENOLIEL @FCO )
TO: Remote Addressee ( HAMADOUN DICKO @EVO )
TO: Remote Addressee ( RICCARDO SIMINO @MRA )
TO: Remote Addressee ( ANTONELLA EANDI @TNO )
TO: Remote Addressee ( DARIO TOGNAZZI @GOZ )
TO: Remote Addressee ( CHIARA VACCARINO @CIN )
TO: Remote Addressee ( CARLO FERJANCIC @RIO )
TO: Remote Addressee ( FEDERICO MACCHI @MIA )
TO: Remote Addressee ( CARLO RITTER @ZUO )
TO: Remote Addressee ( CAROLINE STUTZ @THR )
TO: Remote Addressee ( CHRISTINE BOSSUAT @ZSW )
TO: Remote Addressee ( PETER TER HUURNE @UTO )
TO: Remote Addressee ( HANS DE HARTOG @UTO )
TO: Remote Addressee ( BJORN LANNERO @SOO )
TO: Remote Addressee ( ANDERS GRANVALD @SOO )
TO: Remote Addressee ( MARIE-HELENE MARTINEZ @BRO )
TO: Remote Addressee ( RENE HAENTJENS @BRO )
TO: Remote Addressee ( LUC VAN DE VYVER @BRO )
TO: Remote Addressee ( ARI SAUKKONEN @FNO )
TO: Remote Addressee ( MIGUEL DE PABLO @SQO )
TO: Remote Addressee ( JUAN ESCUDERO @SQO )
TO: Remote Addressee ( IDELFONSO DE MIGUEL @SQO )
TO: Remote Addressee ( ARNE SKAANES @NWO )
TO: Remote Addressee ( HANS ESKE @DMO )
TO: Remote Addressee ( JOAO VALENTE @XIP )
TO: Remote Addressee ( FRANK DALY @DBO )
TO: Remote Addressee ( SEAN GRIFFIN @DBO )
TO: Remote Addressee ( EMIL ABERGEL @ISO )
CC: Remote Addressee ( JIM KANE @VBO )
CC: Remote Addressee ( ANDREW BUCHANAN @VBO )
CC: Remote Addressee ( PAT ROACH @VBO )
CC: Remote Addressee ( DANIEL SERAIN @VBO )
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