Thank you for your interest in the ShadeTree electronic bulletin board and the ShadeTree newsletter. ShadeTree, both in the form of the bulletin board system and the newsletter, is dedicated to providing an alternative, cost effective means of getting started in the world of artificial intelligence. ShadeTree BBS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The bbs provides a quick, inexpensive source of some of the latest public domain and shareware AI related programs available. We also maintain a library of older programs and versions of those programs for those need access to them. There are also quite a few discussion areas available on ShadeTree, running the gamut from neural nets to machine learning, pattern matching to expert systems. Some of the discussion areas are local to the ShadeTree BBS itself. We also provide access to the National FIDONet AI, Robotics and Neural Net echos (echos are national or international discussion areas). These echos are wonderful places to seek assistance and guidance when getting started in AI. They also provide a good way of helping others once you've reached a level of expertise and you would like to share your knowledge and experience with others. ShadeTree News ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The ShadeTree News is published on a bi-monthly basis and is used mainly as an ongoing tutorial publication and a method of disseminating general information about various AI related topics. It also contains a listing of the files currently available on ShadeTree BBS and provides a means to order those files through the mail should downloading them from the bbs prove not to be feasible. We also welcome submissions to the newsletter. If you would be interested in writing an article, or perhaps even a regular column, please request the writer's guidelines or download the file GUIDELIN.TXT. Users and Subscribers ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ We have found that the majority of users and readers are already comfortable with computers. From that point on, the base diversifies. Quite a few of the users are computer professionals, some actively or commercially involved in AI. Others are people who are involved in other aspects of compters but are curious about AI and need a place to get started. ShadeTree has proven itself to be helpful to both ends of the spectrum. If you have any futher questions concerning ShadeTree, please feel free to write us at the address shown below or contact at out FIDONet address of 1:129/124.0 or out Internet address of bill.keller@nsf.fidonet.org *** !!! PLEASE NOTE !!! *** ***!! TIMES FOR SHADETREE ARE 8:30 PM TO 8:30 AM SEVEN DAYS A WEEK !!*** ======= ======= (412) 244- 9416 8-N-1 300-1200-2400 BAUD 1:129/124.0 We have the following AI related discussion areas on the bbs: 1. General Messages (stay on this board) 2. FIDONet Artificial Intelligence Echo 3. FIDONet Neural Net Echo 4. BrainMaker Neural Net Discussion 5. NeuralWare Users Group 6. General Expert System Discussion 7. Management Action Expert System Discussion 8. OOPS (Object Oriented Programming)/Little SmallTalk 9. SmallTalk (Digitalk and Little SmallTalk) 10. LISP Programming Language Discussion 11. PROLOG Programming Language Discussion 12. Hypertext Discussion 13. Genetic Algorithm Discussion 14. Machine Learning Discussion 15. Natural Language Processing 16. FIDONet Robotics Echo 17. Logic/Uncertainty (Fuzzy Logic) 18. Pattern Matching/Machine Vision 19. Commercial Demo Program Discussion 20. Electronic Frontier Foundation (laws and legislation concerning bbs's) We have the following AI related file areas on the bbs: 1. General/Miscellaneous Files and Programs 2. Miscellaneous AI Files 3. Miscellaneous Neural Net Programs 4. BrainMaker Neural Net Programs 5. NeuralWare Files 6. Miscellaneous Expert System Programs 7. Management Action Expert System - the best shareware expert system 8. OOPS (Object Oriented Programming) 9. SmallTalk (Digitalk and Little SmallTalk) 10. LISP Language Files 11. PROLOG Language Programs Files 12. Hypertext Programs 13. Genetic Algorithms 14. Machine Learning 15. Natural Language Processing 16. Robotics 17. Logic/Uncertainty (Fuzzy Logic) 18. Pattern Matching/Machine Vision 19. Commercial Demo Programs 20. Electronic Frontier Foundation (laws and legislation concerning bbs's) contains downloadable files of the Effector On-Line, the EFF Electronic Newsletter If the board sees enough activity, we will convert to an exclusive line available 24 hours a day. As users, you can help achieve this in two ways: * Get involved in the discussion areas * Upload any AI programs or applications that you have developed Please do not be hesitant about getting involved in a discussion. This board is dedicated to AI enthusiasts, both BEGINNERS and professionals!! We will be getting input from the authors of some of the programs but mainly we are all here due to our curiosity and a desire to learn. Thank you for your support. Bill Keller, SysOp |---------------------------------------------------------------------------| | MAIL to: ShadeTree | | c/o Bill Keller | | 417 Peebles Street | | Pittsburgh, PA 15221 | | | | NAME ___________________________________________________________________ | | | | | | ADDRESS ________________________________________________________________ | | | | | | CITY __________________________________________________________________ | | | | | | STATE _________________________________________________________________ | | | | | | ZIP ___________________ TELEPHONE (OPTIONAL) __________________________ | | | | PLEASE MAKE CHECK OR MONEY ORDER PAYABLE TO Bill Keller | | | | We are not accepting foreign subscriptions yet but we expect to have | | that capability by early 1991. | |---------------------------------------------------------------------------| While we have endeavored to check every program on the bulletin board, there is always the possibility of some problem sneaking through. You use these programs at your own risk and neither ShadeTree BBS nor Bill Keller is to held responsible nor liable for any loss of data or harm to equipment.