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                  What's New with Artificial Intelligence?                  
                                                                            
                         (c) 1991 Thinking Software                         
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	    The Personal Robot is sleek metallic blue and silver,
       and sunlight glints off his bare back as he washes his
       master's car in the noonday heat.

	    Is there a Personal Robot lurking in your future?

	    Very likely, and when you finally buy him (or her),
       it will be Artificial Intelligence running on your Robot's
       onboard 786 computer that will get your car washed and waxed.

	    At your command, he will also clean your house, mow
       your lawn, or wash and iron your shirts!

	    While you are out for the day!

            Artificial Intelligence is computer software that allows
       a computer (or Robot) to perform tasks we would consider intelligent
       if done by a person.  These tasks include giving expert advice,
       understanding natural language, speaking intelligently and
       recognizing complex patterns such as handwriting.  The three
       most important types of AI Programs today are Expert Systems,
       Natural Language Programs and Neural Networks.

       This exciting software is moving in several new directions
       in the 1990's:

       * Embedded Artificial Intelligence  -  A.I. within
	 otherwise conventional database software.

       * Robotics - insect like electronic creatures with simple
	 intelligence are being created at the MIT Robotics Lab.

       * Intelligent Vision - Robot Eyes that can identify various
	 components on an assembly line, for example.

       * CASE - Computer Aided Software Engineering - using software
	 to write new software.

       * CAI - Computer Aided Instruction, tutorial software that
	 automatically adjusts to your level of knowledge.

	   There is substantial interest in moving A.I. out of the
       factory and lab, and into the Office and home.  Work Group Software
       and complex Electronic Mail and Filing Systems are already starting
       to reflect this trend and become more intelligent.

	   A.I. Visionaries are talking about "Agents", very
       intelligent PC Based programs that can accept and carry out a long
       series of complex instructions, and report back to you when all
       tasks are completed.

	   Some software designers are even experimenting with primitive but
       fascinating forms of Artificial Life (software that mimics growth and
       reproduction), and a new field called Virtual Reality.

	   Virtual Reality Software, along with special goggles and gloves,
       allows you to seemingly enter an artificial world that exists only
       within the computer, and even move and touch objects that appear in
       the 3-D view provided by the goggles.

	   The new generation of super high-speed 486 PC's now becoming
       available from IBM, Compaq, and other compatible builders have become
       the platform of choice for the development of A.I. Software. Could
       the 586 PC running at 100 Megahertz be already in the wings?



                             EXPERT  SYSTEMS
 
            An Expert System is computer software that can solve real
       world problems requiring logic, decision making and knowledge
       processing.  Expert Systems can also categorize, consult, analyze,
       and diagnose.  These software tools are useful in areas that
       formerly required a human expert. Expert Systems use deductive
       reasoning to solve problems that are often unstructured, and
       would be impossible to approach with conventional procedural
       computer techniques.

	   You might think that when consulting an Expert System, you ask
	the Expert System a question, and receive a solution.   Actually,
	its the other way round. The vast majority of Expert Systems in use
	today ask YOU the questions, and arrive at a solution based on your
	responses - and the IF/THEN rules in their knowledgebase.

	   Here's a extremely simplified example:

       EXPERT QUESTION 1: Do you have a bad cough?
       YOUR ANSWER: Yes.

       EXPERT QUESTION 2: Do you smoke?
       YOUR ANSWER: No.

       EXPERT SOLUTION: You have a cold.

	   If you had answered Yes to the second question, the
       Expert Solution would be: You have smoker's cough.

       Naturally, an Expert System that you could question
       would be preferable, but this has been very difficult
       to program with current technology, because of the extreme
       difficulty of programming a computer to extract MEANING
       from a sentence or question. However, there is little doubt
       that this will eventually be accomplished, most likely through
       Knowledge Frames.

	   One large Knowledge Frame project manager likens
       building Knowledge Frames on a computer to teaching the
       Encyclopedia to a small child.  He has also called the
       process "teaching by brain surgery", as every single
       fact, relationship and idea must be manually typed into
       the computer in just the right way.  It is hoped that building
       millions of linked Knowledge Frames will result in a computer
       with enough "common sense" to understand and respond to questions.



                     THE DOMAIN OF THE KNOWLEDGEBASE
 
            An Expert System Shell is an Expert System minus its
       knowledgebase and domain.  It is an Expert System ready to be
       taught the rules of knowledge in a particular field.  An
       "Expert System Ready to Consult" is an Expert System that has
       been given knowledge rules for a specific domain or subject,
       such as Medical Diagnosis, Car Repair or virtually any organized
       body of knowledge.

	      Some of the most famous Expert Systems can be found
       in the area of Medical Diagnoses and Computer Configuaration,
       and surpass human experts in their specific areas of expertise.
       In one specific area of expertise - playing chess - a domain
       specific computer called Deep Thought has won against GrandMaster
       human players, and most experts believe that Deep Thought will
       eventually become the world chess champion, perhaps within five
       years.
 
                           NATURAL LANGUAGE
 
       Natural Language Software is the branch of AI that focuses on
  getting computers to understand spoken or typed english. English has proven
  itself as the most useful tool for people communicating with people.
  It is now starting to emerge as a viable alternative for people
  communicating with computers. Someday, desktop PC's will routinely respond
  to our spoken requests with answers in perfectly spoken English - or any
  other language!

  There is now software that can speak any file or text screen on your PC,
  (Monlogue, from First Byte), and software that can type your slowly spoken
  words (Dragon Dictate, $9000.00). There is also software to automatically
  translate from one language to another.  One A.I. goal is to provide
  automatic real-time language translation as you speak during a
  Trans-Atlantic phone conversation. The SoundBytes Toolkit
  (Thinking Software, $59.95) allows programmers to add Speech to any
  PC Program. The PC Therapist III (Thinking Software, $59.95) is an
  advanced update of Eliza, the famous talking psychiatrist first developed
  at M.I.T.

       There is absolutely no doubt that Encylopedia sales will soon
  be replaced by Enclopedias on CD-ROM Disks, with powerful Natual
  Language software "front-ends" that can accept a school child's
  typed question, and turn it into a correct search-and-retrieval
  procedure to answer any question from the Encyclopedia.

       Can you imagine a child telling his computer to "Prepare
  a report on the History of Artifical Intelligence", or - more likely -
  on the Presidents of the United States?

 
			   NEURAL NETWORKS
 
      A Neural Network is a biological model of a human brain, simulated in
  the binary memory of your PC. It is made up of artificial Neurons,
  connected to each other by Axions.  Each Neuron can have many inputs,
  but only one output. As a Neuron gets energized by input, it fires, sending
  energy along axions to other nearbye Neurons.  If another Neuron receives
  enough energy it will also fire, propagating the excitation to others.

  There are hundreds or even thousands of such Neurons, arranged in layers,
  and all together they form a Neural Network, capable of learning from
  experience though a self correcting technique called back-propogation.
  Today, Neural Networks are the most exciting area in Artificial
  Intelligence, and these real operational computer models of the brain
  routinely perform outstanding feats of pattern recognition such as reading
  scribbled handwriting at high speed with incredible accuracy, learning to
  identify male versus female faces, and even learning to speak almost
  without human assistance.

  There is also a lot of excitement on Wall Street where high
  level programmers have created Neural Networks that can predict the
  Stock Market quickly enough to place buy and sell orders based on the
  Networks output.  A number of small companies have been formed around
  the idea of using Neural Networks to predict the result of horse races
  and other sporting events based on past history.

  Some claim that Neural Network Software will lead us to a new
  "Age of Artificial Intelligence". When the first Personal Robot
  goes on the market (for the price of...let's say...about the
  price of a Cadillac or Mercedes...at first...) will its brain
  be an Expert System, a Neural Network, or Natural Language
  Software, or perhaps some exotic high-tech combination of the
  three still to be invented?

	The Personal Robot has finished washing and waxing the
  car, cleaning the house, doing the laundry, changing the sheets,
  and dinner is in the microwave.  He stands silent and waiting
  for further commands from you, his master.  He is not tired or
  resentful from performing the endless tasks.  He has been
  programmed to seem cheerful at all times. So when you finally
  buy your Personal Robot, don't go treating him like a slave.

       Treat him....or her...like a buddy.



(c) 1991 Thinking Software, Inc.

=============================================================================
      * * *  INCREDIBLE BARGAIN PRICES ON VERY SPECIAL SOFTWARE!  * * *

Dear PC User,

	Thinking Software just won The Loebner Prize (The Talking
Software Contest) at the Boston Computer Museum for our conversation
program PC Therapist III ($59.95), and the media is going nuts. This
place is crawling with photographers and reporters from the N. Y. Times,
Newsday, and the Wall Street Journal. My wife and kids want to be in
every photograph.  Tuesday I'm going to be on Japanese TV doing a demo
of the program via live satellite feed from a Manhattan Studio. Wow!

  This place is a hotbed of creative software development, and here's some
exciting news about our best products at shareware prices:

1. LIFEPLAN - We've modified our popular Personal Information Manager
   to use "text files" instead of database records. What does this mean
   to you?  Complete freedom in the way you enter your Goals, Projects,
   Plans and Things-to-Do. $29.95.

2. MONEYMAKER - This is great for new PC Users.  A dozen realistic ways
   to make extra money with your PC while you keep your present job. Plus
   tips on buying a Laser Printer, and a compact introduction to the most
   useful DOS Commands.$29.95.

3. AUTOSYN5 - Imagine if you could take ANY text file, run it thru a
   program that would find ALL the synonyms for nearly EVERY WORD in
   your text and automatically choose one, or show the synonmys to you
   and allow you to choose the best one with the arrow keys. Would
   you call it AUTO-REWRITE or would you call it MAGIC? An amazing tool
   for all writers, and we call it AUTOSYN5...intro price just $29.95

4. TURBO EXPERT - Build your first Expert System in one day, gain a real
   hands-on working knowledge of Artificial Intelligence Technology.$29.95.

5. AUTOWRITER - We now have an additional 800,000 byte text source file
   for AutoWriter, but you have to ask for it when you order. ($29.95)
   You'll need a 1.4 Meg Disk Drive, as we only supply this new text file
   on a 1.4 Meg Disk.  The file is full of contemporary quotes and sayings
   to spice up your writing.

6. PC THERAPIST IV - Adds an animated Talking Head and Voice Synthesis to
   our prize-winning program. Great for kids & teenages $64.95 +$5 S/h

7. THE NEW PSYCHOLOGY - Our latest creation, a visual voyage into the meaning
   of life and psychology. EGA or VGA and hard drive required. $29.95.

8. EASY NEURAL NETWORKS - A complete introduction to Neural Networks,
   with an actual running Neural Network you can train and test. $29.95

Sincerely,
Joseph Weintraub
President



			    L I F E P L A N
		"Don't you think its time to get organized?"

	LIFEPLAN is an easy-to-use planning tool for those of us who
	need a better way to organize our lives.  It is built around
	long term goals, projects & plans, and Daily Things-to-Do.
	Other Menu options include Calendar, Contacts, Notes & Letters,
	Checklist, and Utilities. The Calendar can handle repeating
	events, and can even remind you the day before.
	Many PC Users have found the "text files" used in LifePlan
	more User Friendly than database records. $29.95 (MS-DOS).

			 M O N E Y M A K E R
		   "How to make money with your PC"

	MONEYMAKER is a thinking tool for choosing a way to earn
	some extra money using your PC.  It features fourteen realistic
	ways to make money with your PC while keeping your day job.
	There is a section on purchasing a PC, and a perceptive list
	of Do's and Don'ts for new PC Users.  There is even a quick
	intro to the most frequently used DOS Commands.
	An included Expert System queries you about your aptitudes,
	and then selects the Business Idea that matches most closely.
	$29.95 (MS-DOS)



		       GIVEAWAY REGISTRATION DEAL
		       <========================>

 Here's a giveaway registration deal that no rational person could refuse.
 Register this copy of AI-TUTOR for just ten dollars ($10.00!) and you get:

	The 32-page Artificial Intelligence Software Catalog
		which opens you to a whole new world of PC Software.

	The famous "THINK"  Talking Expert System Demo Disk!
		Contains concise online tutorial on the future of software,
		plus a demo of a talking Expert System
		plus sample screens from all our best-selling products
		our software is explained in detail, with examples
		of popular programs in each category.

 PLUS your choice of ONE OF THE ABOVE 8 BEST-SELLERS (usually $29.95 or more)!
 Choose from: LifePlan, MoneyMaker, MoneyMaker2, Turbo Expert, PC Therapist,
 Best of Windows, AutoWriter, The New Psychology, or EASY Neural Networks!

     If this sounds too good to be true, remember we have an ulterior
     motive.  We are sure that once you see our AI Catalog and AI-TUTOR Disk,
     you'll find a lot of software you can't resist!
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