Intelligent systems
Intelligent systems
The UK's Intelligent Systems Integration Programme (ISIP) is now coming to a close. The programme which is backed by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) will still be making its results available under the umbrella of the Information Society Initiative. The ISIP web site has now finally closed. A summary of the ISIP activities has been issued on a CD-ROM titled: "Intelligent Systems in Business"*. This outlines the programme's achievements and provides briefing materials which will help its users to access and utilise intelligent systems. Most of the ISIP projects have made arrangements for follow-on activities and a summary of each of the projects together with a contact point for further information is given as follows:details can also be found on the ISIP CD-ROM and by contacting ISP**:
ADEPT Advanced Decision Environment for Process Tasks. ADEPT addresses the needs of future business support environments by utilising pro-active intelligent agents to gather, manage and distribute information. A concurrent information engineering platform has been developed and used in two demonstrator applications. A Bid and Quote Generation procedure for British Telecom (BT) and for an engineering application in ICL. Contact: Paul O'Brian,Intelligent Systems Research, BT Laboratories, MBLl/PP12, Ipswich IP5 7RE, UK. Tel: +44 (0) 1473 605464; Fax: +44 (0) 1473 648409; e-mail: MAILTO:paul@info.bt.co.uk
CAKE has developed a series of tools allowing engineers or technologists with only limited software experience to construct complex real-time intelligent systems. This has shown how knowledge engineering methods can be integrated into systems development practice along with other automation products such as SCADA and DCS. Contact: Steve Davison, Cogsys Ltd, 26-28 Leslie Hough Way, Salford M6 6AJ. Tel: +44 (0) 161 745 7604; Fax: +44 (0) 161 736 2634;e-mail: industry
Chronos has investigated the use of Temporal Database Management Systems (TDBMS) to integrate data storage and retrieval with deductive facilities and constraint reasoning. Temporal Activity, Resource Reasoning and Integrity constraints are used to support applications such as resource allocation and planning. Contact: Prof. Barry Richards (Imperial College) Tel:+44 (0) 171 594 8429 Fax: +44 (0) 171 594 8449;e-mail: ebr@doc.ic.ac.uk; Dr Babis Theodoulidis(UMIST); Tel: +44 (0) 161 200 3309. Fax: +44 (0) 161 200 3324; e-mail: babis@co.umist.ac.uk
Enterprise has developed methods for modelling business environments to support management decision making. An intelligent toolset has been created which takes into account emerging standards in this field. The tools have been tested on several business applications. Contact: Ann Macintosh AIAI, University of Edinburgh, 80 South Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1HN. UK. Tel: +44 (0) 131 650 2732;Fax: +44 (0) 131 650 6513;e-mail; alm@aiai.ed.ac.uk
Intelligent Architecture (IA) investigated the use of intelligent techniques to support decision-takers in the built environment sector. The project created a prototype workbench embodying novel ideas in design, analysis,and data storage, which has been tested on a number of applications in strategic urban design and building and facilities management. Contact: Alan Penn,Bartlett School of Architecture, University College of London, Gower Street,London WC1E 6BT, UK. Tel: +44 (0) 171 391 1890; Fax: +44 (0) 171 387 1397;e-mail; a.penn@ucl.ac.uk
Intelligent Marketing Integrated System (IMIS) has investigated the application of hybrid techniques, including neural networks and genetic algorithms, to provide intelligent support for key marketing decisions in areas such as brand management, new product development and pricing strategy and tactics. A real application involving brand comparisons based on data from point-of-sale terminals has been demonstrated. Contact: Scott Moss, Centre for policy Modelling, Manchester Metropolitan University, Aytoun Building, Aytoun Street, Manchester M1 3GH, UK.Tel: +44 (0) 161 247 3886; Fax: +44 (0) 161 247 6802; e-mail; s.moss@mmu.ac.uk
Model Based Intelligent Trainers (MOBIT) created a generic model-based training system for a wide range of industrial problems. The system is able to deal with a wide range of trainee types and provides an efficient simulation of processes at an appropriate level of detail for realistic interaction. The system has been demonstrated in electronic manufacture and nuclear power environments. Contact: Philip Pymm, Scottish Nuclear Ltd., 3 Redwood Crescent, Peel Park, East Kilbride G74 5PR, Scotland, UK. Tel: +44 (0)1355 262130; Fax: +44 (0) 1355 262626; e-mail: philip.pymm@snl.co.uk
StAR has developed a technology for evaluating and reporting risk. This combines qualitative and quantitative techniques for reasoning under uncertainty. The resulting system has been tested on the assessment of carcinogenic risk from exposure to chemicals. Contact: Philip Judson, Heather Lea, Bland Hill, Norwood, Harrogate HG3 1TE, UK. Tel and Fax: +44 (0) 1943 880241; e-mail: judson@dircon.co.uk.
ISIP projects have been reported in these pages at frequent intervals and it is with some regret that we record the demise of the programme which officially closed last year. The information here will give readers the opportunity of updating information about the various projects and in particular, reflect the information produced in the latter stages of the programme. This will inevitably, include additional material about a number of cases that show intelligent systems in action. There is now a need for all concerned with this area to examine possible future directions for Intelligent Systems. It may well be the end of the Intelligent Systems Integration Programme in the UK for the moment, but surely it is just the start of the next phase of developments worldwide. Over the last five years ISIP was funded to the tune of £13 million so that it could show large and small organisations from all sectors of the UK commercial and industrial communities,how to integrate intelligent systems solutions into their mainstream business and how it can improve their competitive position.
CD-ROM is titled: "Intelligent Systems in Business". It is intended to run on a PC with a given minimum configuration: 486-66MHz PC (Pentium recommended) 8Mb RAM, two-speed CD-ROM drive, SVGA screen (640 x 480) resolution, 256 colours). Some features will require a sound card. It runs under both Windows 3.1 and Windows 95. For copies contact: The Information Society Initiative's Programme for Business Infoline,UK. Tel: +44 (0) 01345 15 2000; e-mail: info@isi.gov.uk. Further information about the ISI visit the web site: http://www.isi.gov.uk
The ISI Programme for Business is a partnership between industry and the UK Government to help business thrive in the emerging information-based economy. The programme offers awards, challenges and funding opportunities to develop applications, creative ideas and technologies. More information is available about the programme on the infoline detailed above.
