Margins: Top: 1" Bottom: 1"
Page Numbers: No
XEROX CORPORATION, PALO ALTO RESEARCH CENTER, 3333 COYOTE HILL RD., PALO ALTO, CA. 94304 . (415) 494-4000
XEROX
Dear Friend:
The enclosed information is sent in response to the interest you have expressed in the Loops knowledge programming system.
Loops is an experimental system being developed by the Knowledge Systems Area at Xerox PARC. It is now in use by researchers here at PARC and also at a number of beta-test sites outside of Xerox Corporation.
We are distributing Loops references and instructional materials in order to assist users of experimental versions of the system. Feedback from such users is playing an important role in guiding the evolution of the system.
A list of presently available Loops references is enclosed. A form for selecting materials and a stamped reply-envelope are included for your convenience in ordering items of interest.
Sincerely,
Mark Stefik
Principal Scientist
Knowledge Systems Area
A LIST OF LOOPS REFERENCES AND RESOURCES FOR KNOWLEDGE PROGRAMMERS
Background Articles about Loops
"Knowledge programming in Loops: Report on an experimental course," by Mark Stefik, Daniel Bobrow, Sanjay Mittal, and Lynn Conway. Reprinted from the Fall 1983 issue of AI Magazine. (This article provides an overview of the Loops language, the Loops course, and the concept and conduct of a knowledge competition.)
"Knowledge competition caps artificial intelligence course," by Paul Wallich. Reprinted from the May 1983 issue of The Institute, the IEEE newspaper. (Story of a Loops knowledge competition.)
Loops Manuals
"The Loops Manual," by Daniel G. Bobrow and Mark Stefik. Xerox PARC Technical report KB-VLSI-81-13. (Describes details of the Loops knowledge programming system. Designed for those using Loops to build knowledge systems.)
"Rule-oriented programming in Loops," by Mark Stefik, Alan Bell, and Daniel Bobrow. Technical report KB-VLSI-82-22. (Details about the rule-oriented programming capabilities of Loops.)
Background Articles about Knowledge Systems and Knowledge Engineering
"The organization of expert systems: a prescriptive tutorial," by Mark Stefik, Janice Aikins, Robert Balzer, John Benoit, Lawrence Birnbaum, Frederick Hayers-Roth, and Earl Sacerdoti. Reprinted from Artificial Intelligence Vol 18 No 2. (A tutorial for computer scientists concerning the choice of program organizations for expert systems. The tutorial begins with an introduction to the concepts of AI, and then provides a pedagogical tour of ten case studies. The case studies begin with a simple organization of an expert systems, with many simplifying assumptions and limited capabilities. In the case studies, the assumptions are relaxed one at a time to yield more sophisticated programs with more complex organizations.)
"Towards the principled engineering of knowledge," by Mark Stefik and Lynn Conway. Reprinted from the Summer 1982 issue of AI Magazine. (Article discussing possible principles for designing systems of knowledge, drawing on experiences in the design of VLSI design methods.)
Other Educational Materials and Resources for Loops Instructors and Students
"The Loops Course Notebook," by Mark Stefik, Danield G. Bobrow, and Sanjay Mittal. (Contains a collection of manuals, viewgraphs, and training exercises used to support the 3-day intensive courses on knowledge programming in Loops.)
"Knowledge Programming in Loops: An intensive video course," by Mark Stefik, Daniel G. Bobrow, and Sanjay Mittal. (Videotape version of the lectures, the training exercises, the knowledge competition, and other highlights of the 3-day intensive course on knowledge programming in Loops. Approx. time: 15 hours.)
"Knowledge programming in Loops: Highlights from an experimental course," by Mark Stefik, Daniel G. Bobrow, and Sanjay Mittal. (Movie showing highlights of the 3-day intensive course on knowledge programming in Loops. Provides insights into the nature of knowledge programming by following a student’s experiences during the course, culminating in the excitement of a knowledge competition. Both film and videotape versions are available. Time: 43 minutes.)
"LISP" by Patrick Winston and Berthold K.P. Horn, Addison-Wesley, 1981. (An introductory text about the Lisp programming language. Includes example problems.)
"Interlisp Reference Manual", Warren Teitelman, Xerox PARC Technical Report, 1978. (Interlisp is a widely available dialect of Lisp. This is the programming manual.)
"Interlisp-D Users Guide", Xerox Electro-Optical Systems Technical Report, 1982. (Interlisp-D is Interlisp extended for a display-oriented computer. This is the language in which Loops is implemented. Runs on Xerox processors.)
Artificial Intelligence Periodicals
AI Magazine: Official magazine of the American Association for Artificial Intelligence. Quarterly publication with timely articles of general interest. (For information and subscritions write: AAAI, 445 Burgess Dr., Menlo Park, CA 94025.)
The AI Journal: The principal research journal of Artificial Intelligence. Often has special issues devoted to a particular area of AI research.
ACM SIGART Newsletter: Newsy publication listing conferences, new technical reports, new AI research and development organizations, etc.
Artificial Intelligence Conferences
AAAI Conference Series: Annual American AI conference held in years when IJCAI is not held in North America. Includes a technical program, a tutorial program, and a trade show. Good source of contact with and reference to recent work.
IJCAI Conference Series: International AI conference held every two years. Similar to the AAAI conferences in scope and organization.(See last page of AAAI-82 proceedings for information on how to order AAAI and IJCAI conference proceedings.)
OUTLINE OF THE INTENSIVE 3-DAY LOOPS COURSE:
FIRST DAY:
9:00-9:15 Introduction
9:15-10:15Object-Oriented Programming
Classes -- Objects -- Variables -- Methods -- Inheritance -- Documentation
10:15-11:00Loops Environment (Demonstration)
Defining Methods -- Editing -- Printing -- Inspecting -- Browsing -- Gauges
11:00-12:00Exercise 1- Introductory hands-on session: Sending Messages -- Browsing -- Editing -- Inspecting
12:00-1:00Lunch
1:00-2:00Access-Oriented Programming
Active Values -- FirstFetch -- NamedObjects -- AtCreation --
Nested Active Values-- The Loops Break Package
2:00-4:00Exercise 2 - Gauges hands-on session: Specializing Classes -- Instantiation -- Using Gauges
4:00-4:30The "Truckin" mini-Expert System.
4:30-5:00Discussion
SECOND DAY:
9:00-9:15 Introduction
9:15-10:15Rule-Oriented Programming
RuleSets -- Control Structures -- Recording Rule Invocations
10:15-12:00Exercise 3 - Rules hands-on session: Editing RuleSets -- Debugging RuleSets
12:00-1:00Lunch
1:00-2:00Knowledge Representation Examples from Truckin
2:00-4:30Exercise 4 - Knowledge programming hands-on session: Rule-Oriented and multi-paradigm programming
4:30-5:00Discussion
THIRD DAY:
9:00-9:15 Introduction
9:15-11:00Initial Development of your player: hands-on session
11:00-12:00Advanced Loops Features
Composite Objects -- Perspectives vs. Mixins -- Meta Classes -- System Mixins -- Knowledge Bases
12:00-1:00Lunch
1:00-3:00Final tuning of your player: hands-on Session
3:00-4:00The "Truckin" Knowledge Competition
4:00-4:30Loops Environment: Loops Tester -- Facilities for Bug Reporting
4:30-5:00Wrap-up: Loops support -- User Packages -- Future Directions
This intensive Loops course is offered periodically by the Knowledge Systems Area at Xerox PARC.
The Loops System itself is available to selected Xerox customers designated as beta-test sites.
Order Form for Loops Materials
FROM:
PLEASE SEND US THE ITEMS CHECKED BELOW:
Background Articles and Loops Manuals: (no charge)
( ) "Knowledge Programming in Loops: Report on an Experimental Course." (AI Mag. reprint).
( ) "The Loops Manual." Xerox PARC Technical Report KB-VLSI-81-13.
( ) "Rule-Oriented Programming in Loops." Xerox PARC Technical report KB-VLSI-82-22.
Loops Highlights Movie: (advance payment required)
"Knowledge Programming in Loops: Highlights from an Experimental Course" (43 minutes). Advance payment for a minimum of two weeks rental is required (includes one-way postage).
( ) 16 mm film. $25 per week (not counting time in the mail) until returned.
( ) U-MATIC 3/4" format videotape, or ( ) VHS 1/2" format videotape. $10 per week.
Enclosed is our check for$ (payable to Xerox Corporation) for items requiring fees. I agree to pay the additional rental for any movie or videotape if the movie/tape is not returned with one week, and to pay the replacement cost if the movie/tape is lost or damaged.
(Signature, Title, Date)
Use the enclosed stamped reply-envelope to return to:
Mark Stefik, Xerox PARC, 3333 Coyote Hill Road, Palo Alto, California 94304