[comp.newprod] Announcing S-PLUS

dennis@uw-warp.UUCP (Dennis Gentry) (10/27/88)

Announcing S-PLUS.
==================

S-PLUS is a state-of-the-art language and system for data analysis and
statistical and mathematical computing.  By taking advantage of modern
workstations with interactive graphics, S-PLUS provides a superb
platform for exploratory data analysis.  S-PLUS uses the latest robust
statistical methods.  In addition, S-PLUS is fully and seamlessly
user-extensible through the addition of custom C, Fortran, or S-PLUS
functions or subroutines.

S-PLUS is available on the following Unix machines: Apple Macintosh II; 
AT&T 3B2; IBM RT; Vaxstation; Apollo; HP 9000; Sun 3; Sun 386i; and
the Sun 4.

S-PLUS functionality includes:

Graphics And EDA
================
  - Interactive/Dynamic Graphics
  - Presentation Graphics
  - Exploratory Data Analysis  

Statistical Methods
===================
  - Modern Regression Methods
  - Multivariate Statistics
  - Robust Methods
  - Simulation
  - Survival Analysis
  - Time Series Analysis
  - Univariate and Bivariate Statistics

Mathematical Computing and Numerical Analysis
=============================================
  - Standard Vector and Matrix operations
  - Standard "Scientific Calculator" functions
  - Matrix Decomposition and Eigen analysis
  - 1-D and 2-D Fast Fourier Transform

More Plusses
============
  - User Extensibility
  - On-line help
  - On-line example datasets
  - Software Support


S-PLUS is produced and supported by Statistical Sciences, Inc.
For more information, phone Statistical Sciences at:

  (206) 322-8707

or write to:

  uunet!statsci!info

or:

  Attn: David Hartwell
  Statistical Sciences, Inc.
  Box 85625
  Seattle, WA  98145-1625


Here is some more detailed information on S-PLUS:


Graphics And EDA
================

    Interactive Graphics
    --------------------
    Operation under Suntools, X-Windows, or Apollo DM; reshapeable,
    saveable plot windows; pairwise scatter plots with marginal histograms
    and 3-D point cloud rotation, with "brushing" and linked highlighting;
    mouse-guided identification of points; 

    Presentation Graphics
    ---------------------
    Multiple data set and multiple plot composition tools; quick, easy,
    and high-quality view-graph production of legends, tables, and text; 
    bar graphs; pie charts; histograms; time series plots; gray scale
    images and topographic maps; high-resolution camera-ready laser
    printer output with a single command, even from low-resolution or
    non-graphic terminals; "click" to print postscript output.

    Exploratory Data Analysis  
    -------------------------
    Use of Graphics described above, for example: Boxplots, QQ-plots for a
    wide range of distributions; multivariate displays including "faces"
    and "trees."


Statistical Methods
===================

    Modern Regression Methods
    -------------------------
    Spline and supersmoother scatterplot smoothers; alternating
    conditional expectations regression; additive and variance stabilizing
    regression; projection pursuit regression; regression diagnostics.

    Multivariate Statistics
    -----------------------
    Least squares regression; principal components; factor analysis;
    canonical correlations; multidimensional scaling; log-linear
    contingency tables; hierarchical clustering; k-means clustering.

    Robust Methods
    --------------
    Median polish for two-way tables; modern high breakdown point robust
    extimates for location, scale, regression, covariance matrix; time
    series AR models; robust filters and smoothers for time series; robust
    ARIMA model fitting.

    Simulation Tools
    ----------------
    Random number generations for all common distributions:  beta, Cauchy,
    chi-square, F, gamma, lognormal, logistic, normal, stable, students-t,
    uniform; ARIMA model simulation.

    Survival Analysis
    -----------------
    Cox proportional hazards regression; Poisson regression; Anderson-Gill
    version of Cox model; Kaplan-Meier and Flemington-Harrington survival
    estimates; multiple survival curve plots.

    Time Series Analysis
    --------------------
    Univariate AT and ARIMA modeling; AIC order selection; multivariate AR
    modeling; correlation, partial correlation; univariate and
    multivariate spectral analysis; complex demodulations, filtering,
    diagnostic and robust methods.


Mathematical Computing and Numerical Analysis
=============================================

    Standard Vector and Matrix operations
    -------------------------------------
    Invert, solve, transpose, permute matrices; apply functions to 
    ragged arrays.

    Standard "Scientific Calculator" functions
    ------------------------------------------
    Functions work on vectors and matrices as well as individual numbers:
    +, -, *, /, **, ^, modulo, trig functions, transcendentals, sorting,
    and logic functions, 1-D and 2-D FFT.

    Matrix Decomposition and Eigen Analysis
    ---------------------------------------
    Singular Value (SVD), Gram-Schmidt, and Cholesky decomposition 
    of matrices;  Eigen analysis of symmetric matrices.




More Plusses
===========

    User Extensibility
    ------------------
    S-PLUS is completely extensible via the addition of arbitrary C and
    Fortran functions or subroutines.  In addition, functions can be
    easily written in the (very high level) S language itself.  All of
    these functions can be called from S in the same manner as previously
    built-in functions.

    On-line Help, Example Datasets
    ------------------------------
    Every S-PLUS function has complete on-line help describing the
    parameters and return values.  The help for many functions includes
    examples using one of the 36 included example datasets.
 
    Software Support
    ----------------
    If you buy S-PLUS, you can count on regular software updates and 
    expert assistance, provided by Statistical Science's expert staff of
    statisticians and computer scientists.

    Some Quotes from Users:
    -----------------------
    "S-PLUS lets us take full advantage of the capabilities of our
    graphics workstations.  S-PLUS increased our payback from statistical
    graphics because it gives us the ability to generate more powerful
    graphical displays."
				  - Perry D. Haaland, Ph.D.
				    Senior Scientist, Statistics
				    Becton-Dickinson and Co.

    "By combining the power and graphical capabilities of a workstation
    and the flexibility of the Unix operating system, S-PLUS puts in the
    hands of the researcher and data analyst the most advanced statistical
    tools in a highly interactive and user-friendly environment.  S-PLUS
    is not just a package, it is a new philosophy of data analysis and
    research in statistics.  A real plus to the statistical profession."

				  - Elvezio Ronchetti
				    Professor of Statistics
				    University of Geneva


S-PLUS is based on the S system developed at AT&T Bell Labs.

Not all features listed above are available on all machines (e.g.,
the Suntools driver is not available on Apollo machines).

Unix is a registered trademark of AT&T. (Of course).
PostScript is a registered trademark of Adobe, Inc.
Macintosh is a registered trademark of Apple Computer, Inc.
IBM is a registered trademark of International Business Machines, Inc.
Vaxstation is a registered trademark of Digital Equipment Corporation

-- 
Dennis.
-------
arpa:   uw-nsr!uw-warp!dennis@beaver.cs.washington.edu
usenet: {ihnp4|decvax|...}uw-beaver!uw-nsr!uw-warp!dennis