Preface
(Shunichi Uchida and Kazuhiro Fuchi)
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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