This article summarizes the findings of a 1992 study of knowledge-based systems research and applications in Japan. Representatives of universities and businesses were chosen by the Japan Technology Evaluation Center to investigate the state of the technology in Japan relative to the United States. The panel's report focused on applications, tools, and research and development in universities and industry and on major national projects.

Recent general AI conferences show a decline in both the number and the quality of vision papers, but there is tremendous growth in, and specialization of, computer vision conferences. Hence, one might conclude that computer vision is parting or has parted company with AI. This article proposes that the divorce of computer vision and AI suggested here is actually an open marriage: Although computer vision is developing through its own research agenda, there are many shared areas of interest, and many of the key goals, assumptions, and characteristics of computer vision are also clearly found in AI.

Immediately preceding the 1993 National Conference on Artificial Intelligence (NCAI) in Washington D.C., a new conference series on the application of AI to molecular biology was inaugurated in neighboring Bethesda, Maryland. The First International Conference on Intelligent Systems for Molecular Biology (ISMB-93), held 6-9 July 1993 at the Lister Hill Center of the National Library of Medicine (NLM), attracted over 200 computer scientists and biologists from 13 countries.

The Second Annual Robotics Competition and Exhibition was held in July 1993 in conjunction with the National Conference on Artificial Intelligence. This article reports some of my experiences in helping to design and run the contest and some reflections, drawn from post mortem abstracts written by the competitors, on the relation of the contest to current research efforts in mobile robotics.

The Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence held its 1993 Fall Symposium Series on October 22-24 in Raleigh, North Carolina. This article contains summaries of the six symposia that were conducted: Automated Deduction in Nonstandard Logics; Games: Planning and Learning; Human-Computer Collaboration: Reconciling Theory, Synthesizing Practice; Instantiating Intelligent Agents; and Machine Learning and Computer Vision: What, Why, and How?

A simulated (Houston, Tex.) has selected Telepresence technology allows scientists The Consolidated Communications from the Advanced Technology Program signed a strategic alliance agreement Facility's Element Manager at the National Institute of Standards with Gensym (Cambridge, Mass.) to will allow data communications and Technology. The grant will use Gensym's G2 real-time expert system system operators to remotely configure, support Kurzweil AI's development of development tool. Chevron control and monitor the operation a spoken-language interface capable installations are using G2 to intelligently of the front-end processor, providing of controlling PC software applications monitor energy management simultaneous support for through natural language and process simulation in conjunction multiple manned space flight missions, instruction in combination with a with other systems. Logica Cambridge (Cambridge, Developers at Georgia Tech AT&T Universal Card Services England) is developing a virtual reality (Atlanta, Ga.) have designed a neural (Jacksonville, Fla.) has signed a multiyear application to improve presentation network modeling, control and diagnostic agreement with HNC (San Diego, of data for air traffic controllers. Falcon uses see the heights of different aircraft, linked to sensors and other data neural network technology to learn rather than just the altitudes displayed sources on the factory floor, the neural and identify unusual transaction pat-numerically.

The Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence sponsored a number of workshops in conjunction with the Eleventh National Conference on Artificial Intelligence held 11-15 July 1993 in Washington, D.C. This article contains reports of four of the workshops that were conducted: AI Models for System Engineering, Case-Based Reasoning, Reasoning about Function, and Validation and Verification of Knowledge Based Systems.

The First covered genetic algorithms, neural elements called alpha helices and International Conference on Intelligent networks, and linguistic methods for beta sheets can be predicted with Systems for Molecular Biology sequence analysis. Invited speakers, some success, using algorithms that (ISMB-93), held 6-9 July 1993 at the who opened each day of the conference, examine a window of surrounding Lister Hill Center of the National were Temple Smith (Boston primary sequence.

To integrate robotics into society, it is first necessary to measure and analyze current societal responses to areas within robotics. This article is the second in a continuing series of reports on the societal effects of various aspects of robotics. In my previous article, I discussed the problems of sensor abuse and outlined a program of treatment. However, despite the wide dissemination of that article, there are still numerous empty beds at the Susan Calvin Clinic for the Prevention of Sensor Abuse. Sensor abuse continues unabated despite strong evidence that there is a better way. In this article, I explore the age-old question, Why does the robotics community look down on efficient sensing systems?

The principal investigator (PI)-IN-A-BOX knowledge based system helps astronauts perform science experiments in space. These experiments are typically costly to devise and build and often are difficult to perform. Further, the space laboratory environment is unique; ever changing; hectic; and, therefore, stressful. The environment requires quick, correct reactions to events over a wide range of experiments and disciplines, including ones distant from an astronaut's main science specialty. This environment suggests the use of advanced techniques for data collection, analysis, and decision making to maximize the value of the research performed. PI-IN-A-BOX aids astronauts with quick-look data collection, reduction, and analysis as well as equipment diagnosis and troubleshooting, procedural reminders, and suggestions for high-value departures from the preplanned experiment protocol. The astronauts have direct access to the system, which is hosted on a portable computer in the Space Lab module. The system is in use on the ground for mission training and was used in flight during the October 1993 space life sciences 2 (SLS-2) shuttle mission.