Fifth generation and VLSI architectures

Most Western Governments (USA, Japan, EEC, etc.) have now launched national programmes to develop computer systems for use in the 1990s. These so-called Fifth Generation computers are viewed as “knowledge” processing systems which support the symbolic computation underlying Artificial Intelligence applications. The major driving force in Fifth Generation computer design is to efficiently support very high level programming languages (i.e. VHLL architecture).

Historycally, however, commercial VHLL architectures have been largely unsuccesful. The driving force in computer designs has principally been advances in hardware which at the present time means architectures to exploit very large scale integration (i.e. VLSI architecture).

This paper examines VHLL architectures and VLSI architectures and their probable influences on Fifth Generation computers. Interestingly the major problem for both architecture classes is parallelism; how to orchestrate a single parallel computation so that it can be distributed across an ensemble of processors.     

The architecture of fifth generation inference computers

The architecture of the FGCs sequential and parallel inference machines are described.     

Program generation system for modern hybrid computers

This paper describes the use of a new integrated hybrid programming system which provides equation oriented specification of continuous system simulation models and automated setup, checkout, and operation of the hybrid computer. The programming system is based upon the APBE compiler originally developed through the National Computing Center in England and the HYTRAN Operations Interpreter (HOI) implemented on EAI hybrid computers. In the new program generation system, both processors have been enhanced to enrich the languages and to provide compatible file processing so that the compiler generates a complete HYTRAM object program file which is processed on-line by the hybrid system for setup, checkout, and operation of the analog processor. The benefits of this automatic program generation over the manual process include significant reduction of programming time and cost, error free program setup and operation, and increased hybrid computer productivity.     

Curve generation of implicit functions by incremental computers

The conventional numerical solution of an implicit function f(x, y) = 0 is substantially complicated for calculating by any computer. We propose a new method representing the argument of the implicit function as a unary function of a parameter, t, if the continuous and unique solution of f(x, y) = 0 exists. The total differential $\text{d}\text{f}\text{d}\text{t}$ constitutes simultaneous differential equations of which the solution about x and y is unique. The Newton-Raphson method must be used to calculate the values near singular points of an implicit function and then the sign of dt has to be decided according to four special cases. Incremental computers are suitable for curve generation of implicit functions by the new method, because the incremental computer can perform more complex algorithms than the analog computer and can calculate faster than the digital computer. This method is easily applicable to curve generation in three-dimensional space.     

Parallel three-dimensional mesh generation on distributed memory MIMD computers

This paper discusses the development of an automatic mesh generation technique designed to operate effectively on multiple instruction multiple data (MIMD) parallel computers. The meshing approach is hierarchical, that is, model entities are meshed after their boundaries have been meshed. Focus is on the region meshing step. An octree is constructed to serve as a localization tool and for efficiency. The tree is also key to the efficient parallelization of the meshing process since it supports the distribution of load to processors. The parallel mesh generation procedure repartitions the domain to be meshed and applies on processor face removals until all face removals with local data have been performed. The portion of the domain to be meshed remaining is dynamically repartitioned at the octant level using an Inertial Recursive Bisection method and local face removals are reperformed. Migration of a terminal octant involves migration of the octant data and the octant's mesh faces and/or mesh regions. Results show relatively good speed-ups for parallel face removals on small numbers of processors. Once the three-dimensional mesh has been generated, mesh regions may be scattered across processors. Therefore, a final dynamic repartitioning step is applied at the region level to produce a partition ready for finite element analysis.     

Microprocessor-based computers

The development of the computer and the evolution of the integrated circuit have been intertwined since the first commercial IC appeared in 1961. The author explores microprocessor history and ponders future developments     

Anthropocentrism and computers

This paper introduces the multi-dimensional concept of anthropocentrism with respect to computers, the tendency to believe that (1) computers do not possess human physical and psychological capabilities; and (2) it is not acceptable for computers to fill routinized (e.g., auto mechanic), interpretive (e.g., newspaper reporter), and persona) (e.g., baby sitter) roles traditionally held only by people. A mail survey (n = 133) of individuals in Northern California focuses on individual differences rather than differences between technologies. As suggested by the literature on ethnocentrism, experience with other cultures and education are strong predictors of the dimensions of anthropocentrism; surprisingly, experience with computers fails as a predictor.     

Collaborating with computers

Abstract The main body of the article explores three questions concerning the collaborative use of computers in classrooms. The first looks at the opinions of the powerful as evidenced by the recent spate of publications concerning the National Curriculum; the second explores the extent to which there exists research evidence to support the position the curriculum makers have taken up; the third reviews the literature for indications as to how teachers are likely to react to their proposals. A fourth question niggles: how does the ‘subjective’ computer fit into the classroom? The article ends in speculationperhaps we need to take a fresh look as to why exactly many teachers remain uneasy in the presence of computers?     

Conversing with computers

Systems that incorporate advanced speech technology derive great benefits from allowing people to interact with them in a manner which requires no previous training. The article describes the state of the art of speech recognition and voice synthesis, as well as applications such as voice store and forward systems, and reviews future developments in the field. The speech technology market is on the verge of a largescale expansion bringing continuous speech recognition/speaker-independent systems within our reach by the 1990s.