🚀 go-pugleaf

Submitted-by: mod-ki@Germany.EU.net
Posting-number: Volume 1992, Issue 126
Archive-name: 08/mes0950

mod-ki message 0950 (Volume 1992, Month 08, Issue 126)
***************************************************************************
FOCL, an expert system shell and machine learning program, is now available
by anonymous ftp from ics.uci.edu

The expert system has a number of capabilities:

 * A backward-chaining rule interpreter.
 * A graphical rule and fact editor.
 * Graphical display of the rule base.
 * (Simple) Natural language explanation of inferences.
 * Menu-based facilities for editing rules and adding natural language
   translations to rules.
 * Optional typing of variables and checking the rule base for type
   conflicts.
 * Tracing of rules.

The machine learning program extends Quinlan's FOIL program by containing a
compatible explanation-based learning component. FOCL  learns  Horn  Clause
programs from examples and (optionally) background knowledge.

The expert system has been used successfully in an undergraduate laboratory
course. A 75 page manual (that should print on any Macintosh  printer)  and
sample rule bases are included.  A minimum of 4 MB of memory is recommended
for the application.

For details on FOCL, see:
Pazzani, M. & Kibler, D. (1992). The role of prior knowledge
in inductive learning. Machine Learning, 9, 54-97.

It is available in one of two forms:

1. A (binhexed, Compacted) Macintosh application. This is stored in
   pub/SaranWrap/KR-FOCL-ES.cpt.hqx

If you don't have access to ftp, and you  want  a  copy  of  the  Macintosh
application, send two 800 K disks and a stamped self-addressed envelope to:

   Mike Pazzani
   ICS Dept
   UC Irvine,
   Irvine, CA 92717
   USA

2. Common lisp source code. See the file pub/SaranWrap/README  for  details
   on ftping the source code. This is portable source code for the  machine
   learning program only, since the interface depends on the MAC.

If you use a copy of FOCL, please send mail to  pazzani@ics.uci.edu  so  we
can inform you of upgrades
***************************************************************************