o s 5i Ia Lynn Conway stands behind her workat XeroxPalo AltoResearch Center. Alan Bell (center) and Gaetano Borriello areplaying a game called "Truckin"' which tests artificial intelligenceapplications. "Truckin"' was designed by researchers working with Conway—Mark Stefik and DannyBobrow. Creating a new generation of SUPERCOMPUTERS Palo Alto's Lynn Conway has been entrusted with mobilizing American computer scientists to build a new generation of machines that can think. She's out to explore the New Frontier of Supercomputing — before the Japanese stake territorial claims. Michael Doyle Conwaydescribesherselfas afan Research Projects Agency (DARPA). excitement about her work PA, Conwaywill scout the frontier ofsuper- Lynnof the "laid-back Palo Alto "Let's gomake it happen," Conway said in computer research and develop- computing. Othjer countries will provide lifestyle." Sitting in her well-tended in a tone reminiscent of an inspirational Conway'sment is as tangible in her writings as competition, particularly Japan, which has backyard with her Siamese cats Samantha coachbefore the big game. Conway willlead in her speech. In a lecture givenat Caltech embarkedon its own, highlypublicized ad- and Rapunzel, the 42-year-old computer a project with major defense and commer- and later published by Xerox,Conway said vanced supercomputer project, scientist talksof sailing, bike rides and hik- rial implications. that the development of computers and The DARPA computer project for which ing in FoothillsPark. Working at the Defense Department, computer networks "arereminiscent of the Conway holds primaryresponsibility is en- As of this week, however,Lynn Conway Conway directs the government's effort to pervasive effects of the telegraph and the titled "Strategic Computing and Sur- has abandonedthe laid-back life for a more developa very very powerful computer railroads, as they spread out everywhere vivability." A total of million has been frenzied existence in Washington, that can reason like a human being and during the 19th century, providing an in- earmarked for the project in 1983-84, and where she heads a new national effort to understand everydaylanguages, frastructure people could use to go on another millionis scheduled for '84-85. t- developan advanced supercomputer. After 10 years of research work at the adventures, to go exploring and to send The supercomputers and associated Conway measures her phrases carefully Xerox Palo Alto Research Conway back news of what they had found. technologies developed through DARPA and listensintently,in themanner ofsomeone will not spend much time in the lab on her "I think of personal computers and the will serve military purposes, according to accustomedtoleadingothers.But she getsen- new job. Rather, she will be a pollinator, computer communication networks as a the DARPA R&D Program Summary thusiastic when discussing her favorite con- spreading money, advice and encourage- similar sort of infrastructure ... as we ex- Description, includingaircraft carrier com- cept—pushingforward the state of theart in ment among the various industry and plore the modern frontier the frontier of mand and control, photo interpretation, computer technology. "That'sreallycool!", universityresearchers working ongrants she what we can create." — pilots' assistant and strategic targetplanning. Conway is likely to say when somethingex- will administer, As computer project manager with DAR- But Conway is more excited about the cites her or catches her fancy. — chance to explore state of the art "I like to be part of the community of technology.She also wants to developthriv- people who go for it," Conway said, ing networks of advanced researchers the repeating the phrase "go for it" several 'There are some incredible technical social and technical infrastructure—that times in the conversation and sometimes forms the basis for future exploration. The pounding her fist into her palm for em- opportunities that can be taken if we go for actual supercomputeris but one goal of the phasis. it. We don't have to form some kind of project. In an exclusive interviewwith the Weekly "Itgreatly oversimplifiesto saywe'reo\it before she leftfor Washington, Conway ex- institute; wherever the researchers are, they to produceamachine,"Conway said. "Any pressedthe same can-do attitudetoward the can participate." one machine is only onepoint in the design challenges ahead of her as computer space." researchmanager for the Defense Advanced Conway observedthat, in the traditionof Palo Alto Weekly " August 3, 1983 " Page 11 fast, $50 DC, $95 Center, ______^_ - Supercomputers Tang and Space Blankets, theresearch con- ford. Feigenbaumrefers to the MCC pro- ductedfor thegovernmenton the suDercom- posal as "an American Fifth Generation." puter will lead to diverse and unexpected 'The charter of DARPA is, in a sense, to At the Center for Integrated commercialdevelopments. explore the farthest Systems (CIS) is a consortium of 18 elec- "You'llsee a wholearray of technologies frontiers ... to have a tronics firms (including Xerox and Hewlett and knowledge"spinoff from the DARPA sense of what is possible." Packard), which put up $750,000 apieceto work, Conway predicted. Fueling these conduct research. DARPA has provided a spinoffs will be the "col- three-year, million contract to CIS. The laborative/competitive" R&D environment annual CIS research budget is about that Conway hopes to establishthrough her million—a net 13.5percent increase over the apart is thecomputer's ability toreason and million. work at DARPA. This environment com- 1983budget. Currently, major projects are to understand everyday language. Such Conway noted that almostall ofthe work bines new technologies like computer net- working on advanced cruise missiles, laser computers can be providedwith alargebase sponsoredby DARPAis actuallycontracted works, with the desire to create and the weapons and what the summarydescription of knowledge. They can make intelligent out—to industry,to universitiesand to corn- desireto be number one. reports as "a major new initiative in a new decisions, bined groups like CIS. generationofsuper speed computers." This Some so-calledexpertsystems are already Conway's old job at the Xerox Palo is Conway'sproject. in practice. The Palo Alto-based firm onway speaks of attracting a Alto Research Center (PARC), located Stanford professor Edward Feigenbaum Teknowledge, founded by Feigenbaum, B "critical mass" ofresearchers in the Inin the hills of Stanford Industrial Park, and writer Pamela McCorduck, in their developedan expert system called Drilling different "compartments of she was involved with research in informa- book The Fifth Generation, explain that Advisor. This system diagnoses problems knowledge," such as software, chip design tion processing and related technologies. computer generations aredetermined by the encountered by oil well drillers and makes and naturallanguagecapabilities.Shehopes PARC has areputation as a well-funded, computer's central technology, recommendations for correcting the prob- therewillbe enough"interface" among the highly advanced research station, where the The first generation of computers was lem. groups that their workwill feed the totalef- scientists and engineers are not necessarily based on vacuum tubes. The second genera- This is the direction toward which the fort. obligated to produce immediate, commer- tion was based on transistors, and the third DARPA "strategic computing and sur- Conway specifically wants to stimulate cially viableresults. generationon integrated circuits. vivability"project is heading! The Japanese "an open evolution of knowledge." The "DARPA is to the Department of Integrated circuits use many transistors areheadingthat waytoo. Much ofTheFifth best encouragementfor R&D advancement, Defense as PARC is to Xerox," Conway Packed ontoa singlesilicon chip. The fourth Generationdescribesa 10-year, million she says, is for competing designs to meet said. Like "the charter of DARPA generation of computers, which Feigen- Japaneseproject to developafifth genera- openly, is to explore the, farthest frontiers" in baum says will "dominate during the tion computer. Designs thatworkcan be imitatedand im- various scientific disciplines. According to 1980s," is based on Very Large Scale In- "It's not just a response to the plemented morerapidly than if theresearch the DARPA summary description, this is tegrated (VLSI) chips. Japanese," Conway said of the DARPA were conducted in isolated, secretive in- ' 'high-risk research and developmentwhere VLSI is atechniqueforcramming 100,000 computer project. More than one team of dustry think tanks. Researchers can share major improvements in militaryoperations or more integrated circuits onto a single Americans is already working on so-called ideas even though they're working in dif- could evolve." chip. Much of Conway'sreputation isbased fifth generation projects. ferent parts of the country by using tools DARPA was founded in 1958, in large on her work in VLSI design, Ten American corporations (Digital like the computer network. Computer net- part aresponse to the Soviets launchingthe The supercomputer that Conway will at- Equipment and Control Data among them) works are recent innovations, "a strong Sputnik satellite.DARPA playeda "signifi- tempt to developwillpresumably represent formed the Microelectronics and Computer tool," inConway's phrase , thatcan quicken cant part," according to the summary the fifth generation. It will be based on Technology