On Tue, 29 May 2001 03:49:50 GMT, burbs <burbs@satx.rr.com> wrote:
Hi,
I'm sure you'll get more than one reply to this, but FWIW, here's
my opinion. (I'm trying to get in first, because this is very
much my own opinion, and I do *not* want to be the one to have the
last word on this.)
>Hi folks,
>
>I'm a Computer Science student currently enrolled in an Artificial
>Intelligence class. Our final project (due in about 7 or 8 weeks and
>class started tonight) is to either:
You don't say if this class is an option as part of a general
introductory year, or an advanced option in a final year. It makes
a difference in my mind how to answer.
>a) create an AI program
>
>or
>
>b) write a paper on the subject
>
>I would *like* to learn how to write an AI program (someone please tell
>me that POP is used for this! ;) ) but I'm a bit worried that I won't
Yes, POP is a good choice for writing AI programs.
>be able to learn the software in time for a project. Could someone who
>learns computer languages with some difficulty (I don't always get
I take it that means you already know at least one computer language?
>things right away, but I may just be stubborn) pick up the software and
>use it to create a program in that short of time?
The short answer is "yes".
Whether it is better for you to do this or write a paper depends on
what kind of programming project is expected (which, in turn, depends
on whether you are doing an intro or an advanced option, and what
fraction of your time is available for the project).
Unless you are an ace programmer, you are not going to make a program
capable of writing Shakespearean sonnets in six weeks (although, come
to think of it, as long as you don't expect them to make too much
sense, the "TEACH grammar" file has a section on "How to generate
sentences" and this is intended for first year students IIRC ... :-)
There are a lot of other "TEACH" files that discuss the basics of
a number of other areas of AI, with programming examples and
library programs that can be used for these purposes. Some of them
get pretty advanced.
Your best bet is to spend a few hours (at most) working through
some of the first few TEACH files to get a feel for whether you
feel comfortable with it or not. Then decide. I think we'd all be
interested to hear your reactions.
>Thanks for the advice!
You are welcome.
The bottom line is that it depends on how much you enjoy programming
(compared to writing a paper), what programming language(s) you
already know -- starting from some of them can even make it harder
to learn POP than for a complete beginner -- and how advanced a
project is expected for this course.
Jonathan
--
Jonathan L Cunningham
|