I've edited the following introductions, so blame me if shades of meaning are unclear or incorrect. Feel free to ask questions. As you read about other Computists, be looking for how their experience could help you -- as well as how you could help them.

John Josephson (Ohio State, jj@cis.ohio-state.edu) wants to understand knowledge from an information-processing perspective: what it is, how you get it, how you use it. He sometimes calls himself a "computational epistemologist." He believes knowledge is derived from experience by abductive inference (best-explanation reasoning): in diagnosis; in the construction of causal theories; and in the detailed workings of the perceptual systems. (Hypothesis: perception is compiled deliberation). He has contributed to the design of six generations of abductive-assembly mechanisms, each intended as a domain-independent problem solver embodying generic inference-control strategies. Medical and mechanical diagnoisis have been the driving applications. He has recently worked with other researchers to develop a layered-abduction model of perception in subdomains of spoken-language understanding. They are also studying causal representation in biological theories and in the understanding of engineered devices.

I'd also like to introduce a pair of Computists who are looking for work in the SF Bay area (or on the West Coast). Elizabeth Charnock and Steve Roberts have four years of industry experience. Elizabeth created and managed a human-factors lab at Unisys after graduating from UMichigan with a BS (honors) in Mathematics. Steve was also in honors math, but shifted to CS/AI and Computational Linguistics. They formed a successful Detroit-area AI consulting venture, Quantum Leap Solutions, starting with a cognitive model that Elizabeth developed. Projects included robotic user interface and real-time control software for McDonnell Douglas and Kohler Corp.; object-oriented control software for an electric power plant; a 4th Dimension retail and inventory database; and development of an aptitude test/screening program for a major financial institution.

Pacific Microelectronics, Inc. (Mountain View) bought them out in 1989, with Elizabeth joining PMI to write proposals and to design and prototype an integrated expert system/neural network tool for the NeXT computer. She later moved to Natural Language, Inc., in Berkeley, where she developed, documented, and installed applications for General Dynamics, Democratic National Headquarters, and Digital Equipment. Steve took a job at Neuron Data (Palo Alto) as resident Nexpert/AI guru, with two people reporting to him. Unfortunately, reorganizations happen. Elizabeth and Steve are both looking for new opportunities. Together they have experience with Objective-C, C++, Common LISP, CLOS, Prolog, Smalltalk, Object Pascal, Basic, Assembler, CLIPS, OPS5, PostScript, 4th Dimension, Nexpert Object, Hypercard, Open Interface, NextStep, Sun OS, UNIX, Mach, Macintosh OS, MS-DOS, and Microsoft Windows. Their interests include neural networks, genetic algorithms, expert systems, object-oriented programming, natural language processing, and user interface design. They seem able to master complex skills rapidly, and should be a real catch for a company developing integrated toolsets or state-of-the-art applications. To reach Elizabeth and Steve with leads, please contact ebc@mica.berkeley.edu, or call (415) 435-8870.