Showing papers on "User interface published in 1970"

HELP: a question answering system

Abstract: HELP---A Question Answering System---enables a user, sitting at a console of a time-shared computer, to obtain information based on questions typed in. This information might concern the operating system itself, the format of commands to the user interface executive program, the use of a selected subsystem, or an area totally separate from the computer. The content of the data base in HELP is completely arbitrary, and determined by the creator of each individual HELP system. Questions are presented to HELP in standard English and elicit one or more separate responses, depending upon the nature of the question. If HELP cannot generate an appropriate response, a standard "I don't know" message is output. A second system, called QAS, was developed to enable a user to conveniently generate a HELP program. This paper will discuss the structure of both programs. All of the work discussed in this paper was performed on a modified SDS 930 computer, developed at Project Genie at the University of California, Berkeley.

Technical and human engineering problems in connecting terminals to a time-sharing system

Abstract: Today, an increasing number of computer systems are used interactively by their user communities. Interactive use of computers, involving more prolonged man-machine contact than non-interactive use, requires a well human engineered user-system interface. The interactive user's performance---his rate of doing work and his ability and desire to utilize system capability---is a sensitive function of the success of this human engineering. In turn, the computer system's effectiveness depends on achieving a satisfactory level of user performance with reasonable efficiency.

Dynamic Linking Between GIS And Surface Water Databases

Abstract: Within the field of surface water hydrology the use of relational databases is being extended to include Graphical Information Systems (GIS). The method proposed in this paper involves using two separate databases to manage the GIS and the surface water database, and provides dynamic links between the two components. These components perform distinctive tasks the GIS is responsible for manipulation of visual objects as part of the user interface; the surface water database performs data retrieval and processing in response to the requests from the GIS. Since links between the GIS and the surface water database are dynamic, the two separate components can be set-up independently providing flexibility.

An intelligent environment formechanical engineering design -application to gear transmissions

Abstract: This paper presents a description of an Intelligent Design Environment (IDE) based on AI tools. Fundamentally an IDE is based on the coexistence of algorithmic procedures, of common usage in Mechanical Engineering Design methods, and knowledge based systems where non algorithmic knowledge is dealt with. This synthesis leads to the development of a powerful design environment where the two types of knowledge mutually enhance their capabilities. Starting from the results obtained during an EC funded research programme, aimed at the optimisation of gear transmissions using AI tools, the paper presents structures and particularities of an IDE that can be used in any domain of mechanical engineering design. The application to gear transmission design is then described in detail including the data acquisition module, the inference module, reasoning strategy and user interface. The system capabilities are critically discussed, particularly by the controversial point of view of the utility of AI methods and tools in Mechanical Engineering Design.

Computing devices of the second and third generations.

Abstract: Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the use of computers as pattern recognizing devices in the treatment of physiological data. The two principle fields in these developments are electrocardiography (EKG) and electroencephalography (EEG). There are major programs to develop pattern-recognizing techniques in the EKG for detection of changes with age, and in management of patients in intensive care. There is a requirement for rapid, accurate, and continuous assessment of physiological status in performing man, and in the sick patient. For this purpose, one may anticipate that a special purpose computer, simpler in its user interface than any available now, capable of carrying out complex but essential calculations, and with special weighting factors to cover particular parameters, will achieve a reliable classification of states. Verification of states might well involve continuing comparison with a much larger library of data.

Highly Interactive 3D Geometric Modeling

Abstract: This paper presents an effort to build a 3D modeling system that can be used for 3D quick prototyping. We focus on providing a highly interactive user interface for 3D direct manipulation, and allowing for the efficient creation and modification of 3D shapes. The main features of the system are (1) the use of kinetic depth effect to provide effective 3D visualization on a traditional CRT screen, (2) the use of a hand-held six degrees of freedom input device (a bat) for direct manipulation of 3D objects, and (3) a set of modeling operations based on the new input device. The system allows a designer to quickly create, modify, place, orient, and organize 3D objects in a natural and intuitive manner. Preliminary results show that such a highly interactive interface has the potential of increasing the efficiency of 3D geometric modeling by a large factor.

Writing A Graphical User Interface For Math-Ematica Using Mathematica And MathLink

Abstract: Interactive graphics are a weak part of Mathematica. In this article, a MathLink program which provides interactive graphics in realtime will be introduced. The program can be used to detect a user interface event, and send it to the Mathematica Kernel as an Event Expression. This mechanism enables one to write Graphical User Inter face (GUI) in Mathematica. To define a GUI object in Mathematica, an Object Oriented Programming Style (OOPS) is introduced. The combination of realtime interaction and kernel evaluation provides a dynamical interface building, execution, and debugging environment. In this article, theoverall design of the program will be discussed.

An Intelligent User Interface ForComputational Fluid Dynamics Software

Abstract: The development of advanced and successful numerical modelling packages for Computational Fluid Dynamics ( CFD ) within recent years has led to their widespread use in engineering and industrial environments. Increasingly this has led to a situation where package users have little or no specialist knowledge of the underlying physical principles upon which CFD packages are based. Generally users also have limited knowledge of the numerical software itself, or how to obtain accurate results efficiently. However this knowledge can often be vital to the correct usage of the software for producing reliable simulation data. This paper describes an on-going research project to incorporate such expert knowledge into CFD software. The special problems encountered are those of interfacing knowledge based components with numerical routines via a blackboard^ architecture. The design of appropriate user interfaces and the provision of dynamic run-time graphical displays and solution monitoring are also problematic areas. The approach adopted here allows the interaction of knowledge sources, numerical solution routines, display tools, and pattern recognition tools. The architecture of the system is described, together with experience of its capabilities and benefits to CFD simulation. Transactions on Information and Communications Technologies vol 1, © 1993 WIT Press, www.witpress.com, ISSN 1743-3517 78 Artificial Intelligence in Engineering INTRODUCTION TO CURRENT RESEARCH The widespread use of Computational Fluid Dynamics by novice users and the extensive demands placed on CFD techniques has led to a situation where traditional batch mode packages are no longer satisfactory. This paper outlines the merits of using a Knowledge Based System ( KBS ) approach to CFD and proposes an alternative architecture for interactive simulations. The design and development of a prototype system is considered with emphasis placed on reliability and overall efficiency rather than speed performance. Prior research into intelligent front ends to numerical simulation packages has indicated the feasibility of KBS techniques for CFD. Much of the existing research treats the numerical component as a batch process. The system proposed by this paper provides interactive control of the CFD numerical process. The current research is based on FLOWES^, a prototype, inference controlled CFD code. The continued development of the FLOWES architecture has indicated problems associated with existing approaches for developing and using CFD codes. This paper details solutions and proposes a new approach to CFD simulations. BACKGROUND TO RESEARCH A KBS is a system that uses human expertise and knowledge, usually in the form of heuristic rules, to reason about specific application areas. The application areas have to be limited because computational demands for inferencing are far higher than those for numerical calculation. Knowledge is elicited from human Experts and then encapsulated in some suitable form within an application specific database, often called a Knowledge Source ( KS ). In the work described here the application area is that of fluid dynamics simulation. The encapsulated knowledge is used to make decisions about the solution strategy adopted for a particular simulation. Much of the previous research has been devoted to KBS support for the specification of a simulation. The techniques utilised have the advantage of ensuring that the simulation is specified correctly, completely and consistently. Such support is limited because there is no dynamic control of the numerical simulation component. FLOWES makes use of a blackboard architecture which provides a flexible and extensible framework within which numerical and knowledge based components can interact cooperatively. There has been limited research into KBS control of a numerical code^l This was restricted to the adjustment of a limited Transactions on Information and Communications Technologies vol 1, © 1993 WIT Press, www.witpress.com, ISSN 1743-3517 Artificial Intelligence in Engineering 79 number of parameters by hard-coded conditional rules. This integration of rules into the source code of an application suffers from a lack of flexibility and has only very limited inference capability. There is little possibility of conflict resolution and the monitoring capabilities are limited. The approach adopted did not provide any interaction for the system user and the numerical component was still, essentially, a batch mode process. PREVIOUS RESEARCH FLOWES^ is a two dimensional heat transfer code that provides KBS support for problem set-up, mesh generation and solver selection. The system also provides dynamic solution control by the integration of a KBS component^ into the numerical solver. There have been a number of problems during the development of FLOWES due to the nature of the control structure required. A blackboard architecture^ was chosen for truly interactive solution control. The severe restrictions of existing CFD codes to external interactive control have necessitated the re-implementation of the numerical component to provide KBS control capabilities. The FLOWES system is currently under test for reliability of the inference techniques and for suitability of the design. The results, to date, are promising and suggest that the integrated blackboard approach is suitable for CFD. FLOWES currently has a number of limitations, namely:• Support for two-dimensional un-structured meshes only. • No solution for fluid flow properties. • No user interface for operations controlled by the KBS component. These limitations have restricted the current research because the prototype system needs flow simulation capability and threedimensional meshes. Other researchers are investigating KBS techniques for CFD. Jambunathan, Lai, Hartle and Button are developing an Intelligent Front End ( IFE ) for PHOENICŜ , a well known commercially available CFD code. This IFE is designed to support problem set-up and specification during an interactive question and answer session at a computer terminal. Expertise is used to support the set-up and to pre-set the parameters and switches used by the PHOENICS system̂ . The output from the IFE is a simulation specification file that can then be used by the CFD code to run that problem. The CFD code is still treated as a numerical \"black-box\" since the user has little control of the computations once the processing has started. Transactions on Information and Communications Technologies vol 1, © 1993 WIT Press, www.witpress.com, ISSN 1743-3517 80 Artificial Intelligence in Engineering Finn, Hurley and Sagawa are developing AI-DEQSOL̂ . This is an Artificial Intelligence ( AI) system for the numerical simulation of engineering problems that are defined by partial differential equations. The system comprehensively supports the specification of the mathematical model and the boundary conditions using an IFE. However the numerical solver is again used as a batch process. The output from the IFE is generated simulation code which is then processed by the DEQSOL simulation system. AIMS OF CURRENT RESEARCH The previous research has demonstrated the potential benefits of KBS techniques but little research has been conducted into comparison between KBS support for CFD and fully interactive CFD. There are currently no CFD packages that support dynamic solution control by either a KBS or the application user. The current project will have an intuitive Graphical User Interface ( GUI ). The KBS can then be switched off so that meaningful investigations into the relative benefits of a KBS, can be conducted. Knowledge will be acquired for two example CFD application areas, namely external vehicle aerodynamics and fire simulation modelling. The CFD numerical component will have to support threedimensional meshes, body fitted coordinates and solve turbulent and elliptic flowŝ . These requirements will affect the overall system design criteria. Much of the existing CFD research is restricted to use within specific codes. It is intended that an application framework for KBS techniques will be developed during the current research. The data and control architectures will be sufficiently flexible to allow for the integration of other research work. The limitations of many existing CFD codes is, in part, due to the techniques employed in their development. The current research is intended to highlight, to CFD developers, the benefits of using sound software engineering principleŝ . Future research and code maintenance would be greatly facilitated by the use of a software design methodology. CFD codes would be easier to re-use and modify if supported by comprehensive and accurate documentation. These techniques are rarely used by most CFD code developers. THE PROBLEMS OF CFD RESEARCH There are problems associated with the usage of many of the CFD Transactions on Information and Communications Technologies vol 1, © 1993 WIT Press, www.witpress.com, ISSN 1743-3517 Artificial Intelligence in Engineering 81 codes currently available. Many of these difficulties stem from the complexity of the underlying code'\"\"\"' and the vast scope of fluid flow type simulations. The numerical approximation techniques used for CFD are vital to obtaining reliable solutions and users must currently be aware of the limitations and restrictions of the various techniques available. CFD techniques have been used successfully for over 20 years but still lack the reliability and robustness of some other disciplines ( e.g. CAD and structural Finite Element Analysis applications ). The use of CFD codes is still only viable for CFD experts. These experts need to be well versed in both the physical principles upon which the codes are based and the quirks and implementation details of specific codes. These joint requirements mean that there are few users who can specify and run a simulation successfully in one attempt. T

Artificial Intelligence For Secure NetworkCommunications

Abstract: The national telecommunications infrastructure is increasing rapidly in complexity and the numbers of interconnected networks. To ensure high quality telecommunications service, Dr. Johnson and her students are developing an expert system that monitors evolution of the network and rejects proposals for evolution that violate rules that are built into the system. They are using an object-oriented graphical language for the rules and for constructing the user interface. Initially, they are concerned with changing network topologies and the software developed is called an expert system for network configuration. This is one part of their research goal of providing a network planning system that plans network topologies based on demands for service. Their focus is on interconnected voice networks as opposed to the rapidly emerging data services (e.g., email). The methods are expected to apply also to data networks. Three students are involved all of whom are now employed full time at telecommunications companies in Canada and continue their work on the project by providing consultation and writing scholarly papers coauthored by Dr. Johnson. We report investigative and preliminary work undertaken by Johnson and her students at the University of Regina in the area of network communications security, modelling and management. Transactions on Information and Communications Technologies vol 16, © 1996 WIT Press, www.witpress.com, ISSN 1743-3517