A human-like computer?

[medicine]

Researchers working at the National Institute of Standards and Technology have created a new computer programming language in collaboration with colleagues in France, Germany, Japan and the UK. The software is called as 'process specification language software' more commonly known as ISO 18629.

The unique feature of this software is that it allows a computer to think through the consequences of executing a particular action. Conventional programming languages consist of a series of instructions that are accurately followed by computers. With the ISO 18629 language, this is set to change. This language allows a computer to analyze instructions by understanding the context and the meaning and then decide whether to execute the same. ISO 18629 extensively uses artificial intelligence to represent computer commands.

The researchers say that they have added approximately 300 concepts including those of 'duration' and 'sequence' into the software of the ISO 18629. "Computers using software with this expanded, though still primitive, AI capacity can act on a word's 'meaning' and interpret a command almost like a person," the researchers revealed. Because of these concepts, a machine understands the meaning of the word before proceeding to act on it.

The NIST cites the example of a human operator who hears the commands 'paint it, before shipping it' and 'turn on the coolant, before milling' would react differently in both situations while it is difficult for a computer to understand the subtle difference in both commands. NIST says that the ISO 18629 supports computer systems with this type of rudimentary understanding of context-specific language.

The ISO 18629 language is meant for use in process planning, validation, production scheduling and control information for guiding manufacturing processes. The International Organization for Standardization is reviewing the program at present. Once approved, software vendors can begin building systems to incorporate ISO 18629.

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/3279.html