A pioneer is out on a limb again; Carver Mead's faith in microchips proved out. Is he right about neural networks?

Article Abstract:

Carver A. Mead, known as Silicon Valley's gadfly and prophet, will join forces with Federico Faggin, who designed the first microprocessor at Intel in 1970, to form a company called Synaptics Inc. The company will make chips for neural networks. Such devices could form a basis for computers able to recognize faces, read handwriting and understand speech. Neural networks would 'learn': they would not be programmed to obey pre-established rules. Such devices would be modeled not according to principles of digital computing, but according to the structure of the brain. Some problems, such as ones that involve pattern recognition, lend themselves to neural computing, though neural devices will probably never replace traditional digital circuits for most kinds of computational problems. Neural networks, says Carver Mead, are the next major advance in information science.

Computer networks, Technological forecasting, Neural networks, column, Management Style, Entrepreneur, New Company, Future of Computing, Neural Network, Mead, Carver A., Faggin, Federico, Synaptics Inc.

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ACE computer standard suffering

Article Abstract:

The Advanced Computing Environment (ACE) is experiencing problems that could reduce the impact of the consortium's strength and will certainly affect the ACE computer standard. When ACE was first formed in 1991, five major computer companies and several smaller companies, including Compaq Computer Corp, DEC and Microsoft Corp, joined together to set a standard that would compete with IBM's standards. In recent months, Compaq has withdrawn from the group due to financial problems, while DEC has been busy developing its own competing technology known as DEC Alpha. ACE also decided to drop its endorsement of two alternative architectures developed by Intel Corp and MIPS Computer Systems Inc. The ACE consortium did establish a standard based on the MIPS chip and several companies have developed products that will be compatible with the standard.

Computer peripheral equipment, not elsewhere classified, Semiconductor industry, Planning, Product development, Compaq Computer Corp., CPQ, Microsoft Corp., Standard, Standardization, MSFT, MIPS Computer Systems Inc., MIPS, Digital Equipment Corp., DEC, Consortia, Industry Analysis, Strategic Planning, Consortium, Advanced Computing Environment

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Apple-I.B.M. venture chief is named

Article Abstract:

IBM and Apple select A. Nathaniel Goldhaber as CEO of Kaleida, the joint venture company between IBM and Apple. Kaleida will begin operating out of Apple's headquarters in Cupertino, California until a permanent location is found in San Francisco. Kaleida has been formed to produce multimedia systems incorporating audio, video and data displays. Goldhaber held out for several weeks until he was promised that the joint venture was an independent company and not just an entrepreneurial venture. Goldhaber also made sure his contract included more control and that employees would be awarded stock options for the company's success. The Kaleida team is made up of an equal amount of Apple and IBM members. Goldhaber is known as a venture capitalist and computer entrepreneur.

Officials and employees, International Business Machines Corp., IBM, Appointments, resignations and dismissals, AAPL, Employee selection, Apple Inc., Hiring, Kaleida Inc., Goldhaber, A. Nathaniel

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