Preface 

It has been 10 years since the Fifth Generation Computer Systems (FGCS) project 
started in 1982. Throughout this period, we have been conducting research and de-
velopment on hardware and software technologies, and basic theories for new computer 
systems, combining highly parallel processing and knowledge information processing using 
logic programming. Furthermore, we aimed at the development of a prototype of FGCS 
integrating hardware and software technologies to be able to objectively evaluate these 
newly developed technologies. The research and development contained many technical 
problems that were difficult to solve. However, rapid growth In the research fields of 
logic programming and knowledge information processing produced many distinguished 
researchers. Through cooperative research with these researchers, we were able to solve 
most of these problems and complete the prototype system. 

At the FGCS'92 conference, we successfully demonstrated the major achievements of 
the project as well as presenting papers on many important research results. Furthermore, 
we introduced a new scheme that enables us to disclose the software developed in the 
project free of charge to contribute to the advancement of computer science and technology 
in the world. Taking this opportunity, we intended to hold a project evaluation workshop 
inviting leading researchers in the fields related to FGCS technologies to ask them to 
evaluate the software and hardware technologies and scientific and political contributions 
of the project. 

In the workshop, we asked those of the invited researchers from overseas who have 
conducted collaborative research work to present their opinions on the evaluation of this 
project. This was followed by discussions with other workshop participants. This proceed-
ings consists of the program of this workshop, which includes an explanation of the aim 
of the workshop and a list of participants, evaluation reports containing various opinions 
written by the researchers who made presentations at the workshop, and some additional 
papers contributed after the workshop. 

Their opinions mentioned various aspects of the project; the impact of this project 
on government sponsored projects in many countries, contributions to computer science 
and technology, evaluation of technical achievements in logic programming and parallel 
processing, future directions of knowledge processing applications, disclosure of developed 
software, future role and extension of ICOT, and many others. 

The various opinions summarized in this proceedings are not limited to the technical 
aspects of FGCS related technologies but extend to political aspects such as what Japanese 
national projects must do In connection with world research and development on advanced 
technologies. Thus, they indicate important conditions that Japan must consider in carry-
ing out advanced research and development. All these opinions are very constructive and 
helpful. We, the organizers of this workshop, deeply thank the researchers who presented 
or joined the discussions at the workshop. 

It is our sincere hope that this proceedings will serve as a valuable reference for the 
researchers, project managers, and government people who are interested In the evaluation 
of the FGCS project from technical, academic and political aspects and may be engaged 
in advanced research and development in the future. 

                   August 1st, 1992                 Shunichi Uchida and Kazuhiro Fuchi 
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