[mod.ai] Seminar - The Perspective Concept in Computer Science

Emma@SU-CSLI.ARPA (Emma Pease) (03/06/86)

          [Excerpted from the CSLI Calendar by Laws@SRI-AI.]


                 SYSTEM DESCRIPTION AND DEVELOPMENT TALK
               The Perspective Concept in Computer Science
            12:15, Monday, March 10, Ventura Conference Room

      Our topic next Monday (March 10) will be a continued discussion
   (introduced by Jens Kaasboll) of the issues raised by Kristen Nygaard
   in his talk about perspectives on the use of computers:
      Regardless of definitions of ``perspective'', there exist many
   perspectives on computers.  Computers are regarded as systems, tools,
   institutions, toys, partners, media, symbols, etc.  Even so, there
   exist system description languages but no tool, or institution, or
   ... languages.  What do the other perspectives reflect, which make
   them less attractive for language designers?  Suggestive answer: The
   system perspective is the definite computer science perspective in
   which the processes inside the computers are regarded as the goal of
   our work.  Viewed through some of the other perspectives, the computer
   is seen as a means for achieving ends outside the computer, i.e., the
   needs of people using the computers.