Conference heron::euro_swas_ai

217.0. "AI Training Course" by HERON::ROACH (TANSTAAFL !) Wed Aug 01 1990 10:50

Printed by: Pat Roach                                    Document Number: 012378
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                  I N T E R O F F I C E   M E M O R A N D U M

                                        Date:     30-Jul-1990 03:20pm CET
                                        From:     Ed ORCIUCH @VBE
                                                  ORCIUCH.ED AT ALGOA1 at VALMTS at VBO
                                        Dept:     VB EAITG/MIS
                                        Tel No:   DTN: 828-5082

TO: See Below

Subject: AI Training Course


There has been fairly consistent feedback from the IS community that there
is a need for an "intermediate" AI training course that would fill the gap
between the 6 week, comprehensive curriculum we began offering in Europe
this past Spring, and the one to two day seminars that have been available
for some time.   This memo is an attempt to gauge the actual need for
such a course.

We are thinking of offering, on site in Scotland, Ireland, and possibly
Germany or France, a one week course, focused on rule-based programming.

The goal of this course is for the participants to be able to:
   - Contribute to the support and maintenance of a project that includes
     a rule-based component
   - Contribute, as a member of a team, to the building of an expert system
   - Evaluate potential use of rule-based technology in projects
   - Interact knowledgeably about rule-based technology with customers.

It IS NOT the goal of this course for participants to develop expertise in:
   - Designing or building expert systems
   - Expert system project management issues
   - The wider field of AI
   - Techniques for knowledge acquisition.

This course can obviously not take the place of the 6 week curriculum, but
it is a way for all of the IS groups to collectively elevate their
level of competence in the technology.  We would plan the first offering
in October, in the country that shows the most interest. We're looking 
for an enrollment of at least 20 from each country.

Could you please respond to this with an estimate of the number in your
group that would attend such a course.  I'm also interested in any feedback
you might have about the goals, length, location, and timeframe.

Thanks and regards,

Ed

Distribution:

TO:  JIM LANE@AYO
TO:  BURKHARD@YIPPEE@MRGATE
TO:  WOGRIN@YIPPEE@MRGATE
TO:  ~Remote Addressee~                   ( GOULNIK@YIPPEE@MRGATE )
TO:  ~Remote Addressee~                   ( BLEY@YIPPEE@MRGATE )
TO:  ~Remote Addressee~                   ( ORCIUCH@YIPPEE@MRGATE )
TO:  ~Remote Addressee~                   ( BRANDT@YIPPEE@MRGATE )
TO:  ~Remote Addressee~                   ( SUTHERLAND@YIPPEE@MRGATE )
TO:  LAURIE MADIER@VBE
TO:  PAT ROACH@VBE
TO:  ED ORCIUCH@VBE
TO:  MALCOLM REID@VBE
TO:  VANDEBRUG@AYOU04@MRGATE
TO:  STEVE JONES@VBE
TO:  JOE FITZGIBBON@VBE
TO:  CAROL MCGRATH@KLO
TO:  EUGENE MAXWELL@GAO
TO:  AVIL HUGHES@AYO
TO:  SWARAN UTTAL@SQF
TO:  ARNOLD VANDEBRUG@AYO
TO:  ROBERT PARKER@AYO
TO:  PAT M MCGRATH@GAO
TO:  JOHN MCGRATH@KLO
TO:  JIMMY MCGLENNON@GAO
TO:  PAUL MCBRIDE@GAO
TO:  TOM MCCRORIE@AYO
TO:  PAT CROKE@ILO
TO:  FRANK BOYLE@ILO
TO:  PHILIP BARBONIS@JGO
TO:  EUGENE ANSELL @REO
TO:  ED ORCIUCH @VBE
TO:  ROB WATTS @GEO
TO:  LIAM FERRIE @GAO
TO:  MARTIN MCBRIDE @GAO
TO:  PAT PHELAN @ILO
TO:  MANUS HARLEY @KLO
TO:  JOHN LIVELIE @SQF
TO:  KEN ALLAN @AYO
TO:  GEORGE BLACKWOOD @AYO
TO:  JOHN KENNY @REO
TO:  MILLER DONALDSON @GEO
TO:  ARUN GAIROLA @PRL
TO:  NORBERT JORDA @KBO
TO:  DAVE DUANE @NRO
TO:  MIKE MCNEILL @AYO
TO:  ALI BASSIRPOUR @REO
TO:  DES KEAVENEY @ILO
TO:  JOHN WESTON @AYO
TO:  BOB HARTER @REO
TO:  GEORGE HERMAN @AYO
TO:  JIM MUIR @AYO
TO:  BRIAN WOODS @VLO
TO:  COLIN MACKENZIE @KBO
TO:  gaiote Addressee                     ( PETER COOK @REO )
TO:  GUUS VENNEMANN @JGO
TO:  ANDREW TWEEDIE @AYO

    
    I hope we learned from the Digital experience that rule-based systems are
    not the most elegant way to solve ALL problems. I would like to suggest
    that a carefully designed section on the limitations of rule-based
    technology is added to this agenda. Otherwise, I might not EVER get decent
    response on this system - if 20 IS people would join this course.
    
    That might put "AI" another 10 years back.
    
    Regards...Caroline
    

The first course is currently underway in Galway with 13 people.

I have a tentative 7, potential 12, for the next course which takes place in
Ayr, Scotland from 26th-30th November.

We would like to offer this training to EIS, as well as Manufacturing.

So, if there is anyone out there who would like to attend the course please
send your name and cost center to myself and I will enrole you.

Please find below a course description.

-----------------------

Deadline for Enrolment:		16th November 1990

Cost: 
	There will be a charge of $300 per person.



Course Description:  
	This course is a one-week, hands-on introduction to knowledge-based
	systems and rule-based programming.  This course is intended to
	prepare	the participants to be able to:
	- Contribute to the support and maintenance of a project 
	  that contains a rule-based component.
	- Contribute, as a member of a team, to the building of an expert 
	  system.
	- Evaluate the potential use of rule-based technology in 
	  software projects.
 	- Interact knowledgeably about rule-based technology with customers.

	This course is NOT intended to give participants expertise in:
	- Initial design and building of expert systems.
	- Expert system project management.
	- The wider field of Artificial Intelligence.
	- Techniques for knowledge acquisition.

	The course will include programming exercises in VAX OPS5.  No prior 
	experience with VAX OPS5 is assumed.

Target Audience:  
	This course is intended for IS software developers.