\documentstyle[a4]{article} \pagestyle{myheadings} \markboth{Author:kk}{Doc.No. AID/newsletter/1} \setlength{\textheight}{9in} \setlength{\topmargin}{0in} \setlength{\headheight}{.3in} \setlength{\headsep}{.5in} \parindent=0pt \parskip= .35\baselineskip plus .0833333\baselineskip minus .0833333\baselineskip \begin{document} Artificial Intelligence for Development\\ Document No: AID/newsletter/1\\ Last Modified and by whom: 22/10/90 kk \\ Distributed on: 22/10/90\\ \LARGE \begin{center} Artificial Intelligence for Development\\ Newsletter Number 1\\October 1990\\ \end{center} \normalsize This newsletter is being sent by both electronic and paper mail. If you no longer wish to receive it, or have any contributions or comments on its content, please contact KK by any of the normal methods. If you would like a copy of the literature database (which is in BibTeX format but perfectly comprehensible to ordinary folk) or have anything to contribute to it, please mail ER. Addresses are at the end of this document. \section{Next meetings:} The next meeting will be on {\bf Thursday November 1st} at 5.30pm in room F10 of the AI Department. Please arrive promptly so that we can let you into the building. The meeting will take the following form: \begin{enumerate} \item Matters outstanding from last meeting (workshop etc.) \item Short presentation on {\em ``A Cost-Effective Computational Diagnostic Aid for Zimbabwe Nurses''} \item Discussion of presentation \item Software demonstrations \item Retire to a local hostelry (optional) \end{enumerate} On {\bf Thursday January 10th} Robert Muetzelfeldt will speak on {\em ``A knowledge-based land use allocation program - potential for development''} and give a software demonstration. On {\bf Thursday March 7th} Dan Walker will speak on {\em ``The representation of indigenous ecological knowledge about agroforestry''}. On {\bf Thursday May 2nd} Teresa Anderson will speak on {\em ``AI for Rural Electrification in Nepal: Experiences with laptops, 14000 feet up in the Annapurnas''} and give a software demonstration. \section{News from around the world} SUN MICROSYSTEMS SIGNS FIRST DISTRIBUTOR AGREEMENT IN AFRICA\\ (OK, I know it's a bit out of date, but I just thought I'd start this section and see if anyone had any news...)\\ CASABLANCA, Morocco --May 9, 1990-- Sun Microsystems today announced that it has appointed Casablanca-based Universal Computer as its first distributor in Africa. The agreement will allow Universal Computer to distribute Sun's hardware and software products throughout Morocco. Sun France, a subsidiary of the company, will oversee the relationship with Universal Computer as well as all additional market development for Sun in Africa. According to Sylvain Idy, distribution director for Sun France, "Universal Computer has the expertise to help us gain a foothold in the Moroccan market and will be a valuable partner as we seek to establish Sun's presence in Africa." Universal Computer is a leading distributor of high-technology products in Morocco. The company distributes computer hardware and application software, primarily for CAD, GIS, architecture and commercial markets. According to Mr. Moussaria, general manager of Universal Computer, "Sun's arrival in Morocco represents a tremendous opportunity for computer users in research, industry and management to access the best computer technology." Idy estimates the size of the computer market in Africa at approximately 500 million dollars for 1990. As one of the more industialized African countries, Morocco's demand for computer products has increased roughly 25 percent annually, representing a substantial opportunity for both Sun and Universal Computer. Sun Microsystems, Inc., headquartered in Mountain View, Calif., is a leading worldwide supplier of network-based distributed computing systems, including professional workstations, servers and UNIX operating system and productivity software. For reader inquiries, telephone 1-800-821-4643 outside California. Inside California, call 1-800-821-4642. Press Contact: Karen Rohack (415) 336-7841 \section{Journals} The following journals might be of interest to members of the group. Samples for perusal are available in the AI for Development `library' (aka filing cabinet) in room F12 of the AI department at 80 South Bridge. \begin{enumerate} \item AI Applications in Resource Management (Darwin Library, K.B.) \item AI and Society \item African Technology Forum \item Appropriate Technology \item Computers in Africa \item Information Technology for Development \end{enumerate} \section{Coming Events} Again, these are all very soon. If you have any information on events that would be of interest to the group please tell us. \begin{description} \item[3rd International Symposium on Artificial Intelligence:] Applications of Engineering design, Manufacturing and Management in Industrialised and Developing Countries, 22-26 October 1990, Instituto Tecnologico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey, Monterrey, Mexico.\\ {\bf Contact:} Hugo Terashima, Program Chair, Centro de Intelligencia Artificial, ITESM, Sucursal do Correos ``J'', C.P. 64849, Monterrey, N.L. Mexico.\\ e-mail ISAI@TECMTYVM.MTY.ITESM.MX\\ KK also has a copy of the call for papers. \item[Southern Africa Computer Show:] 1-3 November 1990, Harare Sheraton, Harare, Zimbabwe.\\ {\bf Contact:} Computers in Africa, 21 Mill Lane, London NW6 1NT, phone 071 794 5308, FAX 071 435 3607. \item[Information Technology in Support of Economic Development:] 9-12 December 1990, Khartoum, Sudan.\\ More details available on this one from ourselves or Computers in Africa (as above).\\ {\bf Contact:} Professor W. W. Cotterman, Computer Information Systems, Georgia State University, PO Box 4015, Atlanta, Georgia 30302-4015, USA. \end{description} \section{Contact Personnel} \begin{tabular}{l|l} {\bf Software library:} & {\bf Newsletter, overall co-ordination, meetings:}\\ Howard Beck & Kathleen King\\ Artificial Intelligence Applications Institute & Department of Artificial Intelligence \\ University of Edinburgh & University of Edinburgh\\ 80 South Bridge & 80 South Bridge\\ Edinburgh EH1 1HN & Edinburgh EH1 1HN\\ 031-225-7774 x208 & 031 225 7774 x236\\ hab@uk.ac.ed.aiai & kk@uk.ac.ed.aipna\\ \hline {\bf Addresses and contacts, funding:} & {\bf Distribution of information, newsgroup etc:}\\ Robert Muetzelfeldt & Olly Morgan\\ Department of Forestry and Natural Resources & School of Agriculture\\ University of Edinburgh & University of Edinburgh\\ Kings Buildings & Kings Buildings\\ Mayfield Road & West Mains Road\\ Edinburgh EH9 3JU & Edinburgh EH9 3JU\\ 031 667 1081 & 031 667 1081\\ R.Muetzelfeldt@uk.ac.edinburgh & O.Morgan@ed\\ \hline {\bf Literature resource and bibliography:} &\\ Ehud Reiter &\\ Department of Artificial Intelligence &\\ University of Edinburgh &\\ 80 South Bridge &\\ Edinburgh EH1 1HN &\\ 031 225 7774 x294 &\\ reiter@uk.ac.ed.aipna & \end{tabular} \end{document}