TCC 7.84 (Full Moon Edition) -- comp.ai distribution
Kenneth I. Laws
_________________________________________________________________
AI Vol. 7, No. 84
IS December 11, 1997
CS THE COMPUTISTS' COMMUNIQUE
"Careers beyond programming."
1> Funding news.
2> Industry news.
3> Electronic commerce.
4> Research software.
5> Hardware/software reviews.
6> Education.
7> Cognitive science.
8> Computists' news.
_________________________________________________________________
Nothing is more powerful for your future
than being a gatherer of good ideas and information.
That's called doing your homework. -- Jim Rohn.
[Archie Kregear <arc...@ix.netcom.com>, Oct97.]
Goood morning, Full Moon readers!
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You must specify where you heard this half-price offer --
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("On the net" isn't sufficient.) Please circulate this
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to accept. Information about the service can be found
on <http://www.computists.com>.
1> Funding news:
DARPA/ISO has issued BAA 98-01 soliciting proposals
in agent-based systems and architectures, due 07Jan98.
Ensembles of cooperating agents are of particular interest,
esp. if able to assess a situation, form and execute plans,
or protect the information infrastructure (without
introducing dangerous or chaotic behavior). DARPA is looking for
interoperability standards, including an agent reference model,
agent-agent communications standards, agent-software
communications (API) standards, and benchmarking
and evaluation standards; also agent system construction tools
and simulation/testing environments. Component capabilities
may include distributed AI-based techniques such as planning,
scheduling, execution monitoring, knowledge-sharing, and acting.
$3M may be available in FY98; total funding over 5 years
is expected to be $50M. Douglas Dyer <baa9...@darpa.mil>;
703-516-6065 Fax ("ATTENTION ABS"). <http://www.arpa.mil>
(search under "solicitation").
[Michael N. Huhns <hu...@sc.edu>, DAI-List, 24Nov97.]
NIST's FY98 budget appropriation of $678M is now official.
The Advanced Technology Program (ATP) will get $192.5M,
of which up to $82M will be available for FY98 cost-shared
grants with industry. [NIST Update, 08Dec97.]
The new GRANTS list focuses on all aspects of grants
and US/Canadian foundations, including grant seeking in
any subject area. (In the US, foundations contributed
an estimated $11.83B to nonprofits in 1996 -- a 12% increase
over 1995.) Send a "subscribe grants your name" message
to <list...@philanthropy-review.com>. Other lists
and forums hosted by American Philanthropy Review are at
<http://philanthropy-review.com/forums>.
[<Stephe...@philanthropy-review.com>, NEW-LIST, 06Dec97.]
2> Industry news:
The sharp rise in salaries for technical jobs -- spurred by
a shortage of qualified workers -- is bothering both
non-technical personnel and managers considering tech projects.
[WSJ, 01Dec97. EduP.] (If you don't ask, you don't get
what you're worth on the open market.)
Sun has won ISO/IEC JTC approval to submit Java to the
International Standards Organization. The US was opposed,
but only because its 15-10 majority in favor fell short
of the required 2/3. (Microsoft wants Java turned over to
a consortium, as is more common for such standards.)
<http://www.news.com/News/Item/0%2C4%2C16457%2C00.html?nd>.
[Network News, 23Nov97.] (COBOL and C++ are not ISO standards.)
Apple's new QuickTime 3.0 is available for developer preview.
It's a Mac/Windows "QuickTime Media Layer" for audio/video
capture, compression, playback, authoring, etc. 3.7MB download
from <http://quicktime.apple.com/preview/>. <devworld.apple.com
/mkt/informed/appledirections/aug97/stratmosaic.html>.
[TidBITS, 01Dec97.]
The two leading manufacturers of 56Kbps modems have finally
agreed on a standard, incorporating techniques from each vendor.
Most modems made this year will be upgradeable. [WSJ, 08Dec97.
EduP.]
MidPoint Companion allows any two modems to work together
for increased throughput. From MidCore, for Windows 95/NT.
<http://www.cnet.com/Dispatch/0%2C118%2C264%2C00.html?dd>.
[Network News, 16Nov97.]
IBM, Delco, Netscape, and Sun have produced a prototype
Chevy Blazer with a 400Kbps satellite dish in the roof
and a heads-up windshield display (for email and Web pages!).
The computer system is controlled by voice, and will supposedly
let you download restaurant recommendations and travel directions.
[Roger O. Crockett, BW, 01Dec97, 164G.]
Netscape claims that it still has a 67% browser share.
Dataquest's estimate of 58% comes from monitoring a search engine
that Netscape no longer lists prominently on its home pages.
[IBD, 28Nov97. EduP. Brad Miller.]
Supermarkets are discovering "loyalty marketing,"
with stocking policies and discounts that cater to their
most loyal customers. Promotion dollars can be focused on
the most profitable shoppers, due to data analysis from
"Rewards" or "Club" cards. Grocers have found that 30%
of customers account for 75% of sales; the other 70% of customers
are mostly just clogging the checkout lines. Express lanes
encourage small purchases, as do loss leaders and newspaper
coupons that bring in bargain hunters. The new theory
leads away from single-price or everyday-low-price marketing,
to better deals for better customers. Markets may also
sponsor joint deals with non-competing retailers who serve
similar customers (perhaps leading to another wave of mergers).
It all depends on data analysis (and on the reactions
of customers). [Rebecca Smith, SJM, 24Nov97, 1A.]
3> Electronic commerce:
IBM is creating a new, $10M Institute for Advanced Commerce
to fund industry/academia research on global electronic
commerce (including information economies, online auctions,
and electronic payments). [WSJ, 05Dec97.]
There are lots of e-commerce sites: news stories,
futurist essays, surveys, economics papers, standards, RFCs, etc.
You might check <http://web.idirect.com/~tiger/> for an analysis
of over 1K sites. [Network News, 07Dec97.]
TechKnow Times is an e-newsletter about Internet and online
marketing, Web sites and their design, and online technology
and culture. Send a "subscribe" message to <techknow-request
@techknowtimes.com>, or browse back issues at
<http://www.TechKnowTimes.com>.
[Thom Byxbe <by...@content.net>, net-hap, 25Sep96.]
"ego" is a new $995 software/hardware/services system
for setting up a PC-based e-commerce Web site. It includes
a firewall, Java Virtual Machine, and 25-person email server,
but can be set up in 30 minutes. It's from Encanto Networks Inc.
(Santa Clara), a startup headed by former Novell CEO Bob
Frankenberg. [IBD, 09Dec97. EduP.]
Click2U software can create malls with any number of
storefronts and products, for $900. <http://www.click2u.com>.
[Network News, 16Nov97.]
Online merchants say that fraudulent credit card numbers
are given for as much as 20% of software downloads.
Sometimes it's people downloading for resale, to get the money.
Sometimes it's people -- often in poor parts of the world --
who can't afford to pay for the software. And often it's just
a teenage boy with no use for the software, downloading it
for the thrill and for status with peers -- somewhat like
baseball cards. Unfortunately, such sales can drive a merchant
out of business. [NYT. SJM, 11/18/97.] (Cyber Source
runs a risk-scoring service for online transactions,
said to be able to reduce fraud to less than 5%. The score
costs $.50-$1 per transaction.)
4> Research software (in our CRS 7.42 digest this week):
ViSe2: Virtual Secretary cooperative software agents,
from UTromsoe.
SOFM Demo Applet: colorful self-organizing map demo, in Java.
OR-Objects 0.10: 150 Java objects for operations research
applications.
ASA 16.3: Adaptive Simulated Annealing.
GIFIC and KEGS: data visualization approach.
Copernic v1.1: Internet search agent for Windows 95.
SpotCheck 1.0: Java code analyzer, for Macintosh.
Automatic Learning Techniques in Power Systems: book by Wehenkel.
"Software Fault Injection: Inoculating Programs Against Errors":
book by Voas and McGraw.
Presenting XML: markup language book by Light, North, and Allen.
Exploring Java (2nd Ed.): book by Niemeyer and Peck.
Java Examples in a Nutshell: companion book to Java in a Nutshell,
from O'Reilly.
Netscape IFC in a Nutshell: book about the Java
Internet Foundation Classes, by Petrich and Flanagan.
5> Hardware/software reviews:
CNET has launched COMPUTERS.COM, a computer product directory
-- PCs, servers, modems, digital cameras, etc. -- with reviews,
comparison articles, and links to retailers.
<http://www.computers.com/>. [CNET Dispatch, 04Dec97.]
ZDNet offers info from over 20 Ziff Davis computing magazines
and newspapers, including hardware reviews and software downloads.
<http://www.zdnet.com/>. [Scout Report, 25Oct96.]
TechShopper now offers product news and search, one of
the Web's largest software stores, and an auction site
for bulk purchases. [CMPnet, 02Dec97.]
TechCompanies offers news, product reviews, financial
profiles, and contact info for more than 45K technology companies.
<http://www.techweb.com/companies>. [CMPnet, 02Dec97.]
Microsoft Home Essentials is a 4-CD set containing the full
business-strength Word 97, an upgrade of Works 4.0, a multimedia
Encarta encyclopedia, and the Greetings Workshop from Hallmark --
all for $109. It's a loss leader designed to get Internet-capable
product versions into use. Although it's sold as an upgrade
(for legal reasons), just about anyone using a word processor,
spreadsheet, or game can qualify. Requires Windows 95 on a 90MHz
Pentium. <www.microsoft.com/homeessentials>, (800) 426-9400.
[Jim Coates, Chicago Tribune. SJM, 16Nov97, 5F.]
Microsoft's new Age of Empires game is "one of the best
of the year in any genre." Wonderful graphics, sound,
and single or multiplayer game play. Requires Windows 95/NT
on a Pentium 90 with 16MB-24MB, 80MB of disk space,
and (optionally) Internet Explorer over a 28.8Kbps modem.
[Malcolm X. Abram, Cox News Service. SJM, 16Nov97, 5F.]
6> Education:
UC Berkeley has seen a 65% jump since 15Jul97 in enrollments
for its 43 online extension courses. Almost half of the students
are from outside California, some from outside the US.
The courses are on AOL, but will soon be available on
the Internet. <http://www-cmil.unex.berkeley.edu/>
or <http://www.unex/berkeley.edu>, (510) 642-4111.
[Educom Update, 01Dec97.]
Western Governors University is offering its first online
classes, after two years of planning. The first two degrees
offered are a general associate's degree and one in semiconductor
manufacturing technology. Accreditation is still being
negotiated. [Chronicle of Higher Ed. EduP.]
The Southern Regional Education Board (Atlanta) will deliver
for-credit courses from 50 Southern universities via the Internet.
The service should grow to 1,500 courses. [AP, 08Dec97. EduP.]
Colorado State University's library was flooded with
21M pounds of water three months ago, damaging 425,750 books.
Fortunately, the library had already implemented many "virtual"
services. Faculty can still get electronic access to databases
and other reference materials. [Educom Update, 15Nov97.]
The Hitachi Foundation is inviting $25K-$100K proposals
to evaluate or advance the role of technology in teaching
and learning. Letters of intent are due 06Jan98; proposals
by 10Mar98. Information Technology Initiative at Hitachi
Foundation, 1509 22nd St. NW, Washington, DC 20037-1073;
(202) 457-0588. [Educom Update, 01Dec97.]
Oracle will offer $50M software, technical support,
and curricular materials to 50 colleges and universities.
<http://highered.us.oracle.com/govt/owa/style.page?p_id=1140>,
<oa...@us.oracle.com>, 1-800-633-0584 x8730. [FEDIX, 30Nov97.]
Gifts In Kind International offers Lotus software to nonprofit
organizations. Three copies of any product per organization,
per calendar year. GIKI, Attn: Software, 700 North Fairfax
Street, Suite 300, Alexandria, VA 22314; (703) 549-1481.
[FEDIX, 30Nov97.]
Alex Aiken has a Measure of Software Similarity program
that looks for similarities in students' code to identify
plagiarism. <http://www.cs.berkeley.edu/~aiken/moss.html>.
[<ai...@cs.berkeley.edu>, comp.edu, 26Aug97.] (This is
a free Internet service, as described in our CRS 7.29.)
7> Cognitive science:
Carleton University (Canada) is offering a new PhD program
in cognitive science, involving 26 faculty members.
<http://superior.carleton.ca/~jlogan/Grad_Cog_Sci.html>.
[Andrew Brook <abr...@ccs.carleton.ca>, FISC, 18Nov97.]
Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST)
has a new Brain Science Research Center with 69 members
from 18 organizations. The Korean Ministry of Science
and Technology has announced a 10-year national program on
"brain researches," including brain-like computing systems
and overcoming brain disease. Specific areas are neurobiology,
cognitive science, neural network models and hardware,
artificial vision and auditory systems, inference technology,
and intelligent control and communication systems.
The 1998 budget will be about $1B. Prof. Soo-Young Lee
<sy...@eekaist.kaist.ac.kr>, BSRC, KAIST, 373-1 Kusong-dong,
Yusong-gu, Taejon 305-701,Korea (South); +82-42-869-3431,
+82-42-869-8570 Fax. [connectionists, 09Dec97.]
8> Computists' news:
Michael Hucka would like to remind other Computists
that spam email doesn't always come from the person listed
in the header. He himself has been targeted by a vengeful
spammer -- one selling laser/fax toner as BENCHMARK PRINT SUPPLY
-- who sent out thousands of "visit-our-xxx" messages
in Michael's name. (This was in response to his
routine complaint about receiving their spam mail.)
The spammers have also targeted people with forged ".org-asms"
sex messages and with faked job-hunting messages and resumes.
There's really no way to defend one's good name in such
a situation. Michael would like to see someone develop
an intelligent spam filter or rating system based on adaptive
AI techniques. [<hu...@eecs.umich.edu>, 01Dec97.]
(One might even get research funding for it. Shouldn't be
any harder than virus detectors, despite the NLP aspects.)
-- Ken
Just as the wave cannot exist for itself, but is ever a part
of the heaving surface of the ocean, so must I never live my life
for itself, but always in the experience which is going on
around me. -- Albert Schweitzer. [QotD, 10Sep97.]
_________________________________________________________________
ISSN 1084-015X. Publisher/Editor: Dr. Kenneth I. Laws,
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