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\F1\CJan 30, 1981


Mr. Dan Fylstra
Personal Software

Dear Dan:

\J
Your brother suggested that I contact you directly about TLC-LISP and related
plans. Rather than attempt to  sketch out my plans by phone, I'm outlining
some of my plans in writing. Hopefully this will expedite matters, clarifying
whether or not we have common interests and goals.

I should point out that several of my goals are intimately intertwined, so
the presentation, though linear, does not express the true interrelationships.
\.

\C\F3Short Range\F1

\J
My initial interest is to capitalize on  my investment in the Z-80
version of TLC-LISP. I do not believe that there is a substantial market for
"unadorned" LISP systems. The question then, is how to package
 the  product. Two choices appeal to me: (1)applied AI, and (2)education.

Applied AI \F2can\F1 be done on Z-80's.

In a combination of AI and education, the US Navy
is staffing a large R&D AI effort. One aspect of their 
program is  an application of Intelligent CAI that will 
 utilize several
thousand micro-based  machines  running LISP.
One segment --called the STEAMER Project-- of this major
effort,
is using TLC-LISP
to "off-load" parts of a LISP-based  simulation model of the
dynamics of a ship's steam boiler plant.
The ultimate target of the
Navy work is, of course, a more powerful machine
and a more powerful LISP. In particular,
the  group that funded the UCSD Pascal effort  and
 STEAMER, wants an extended version of TLC LISP on the 68000. 
Please treat this information about LISP and the 68000  in confidence.
What the grant means is
that  they will be funding me
to "do for LISP, what UCSD did for Pascal". 
This has been my
 goal since the inception of TLC: develop the \F2de facto\F1 standard
LISP.

STEAMER  is only one segment of  applied AI currently
being done on small machines:
there is another project  in the mid-West (doing Air Force work) using
LISP to implement a natural language data-base retrieval system
for automated drafting. I have sold several CP/M-based LISPs to 
R&D-oriented  organizations for such things as LISP-based
multi-microprocessor systems (256 Z-80s!) and
research in Frame Languages. 

Unfortunately, due to neglible capital and an inability to time-share
myself across two-dozen tasks (book, teaching, LISP Conference, WCCF, etc.)
I have not pursued  this segment of  applications. Rather, I have
been actively developing an educational market.

Educational Applications of Small LISPs

Where LISP comes into its own in the educational 
market is its 
basis in mathematics, and computing principles; one can use LISP
to explain the 
\F2principles\F1  that underlie the phenomena that one
\F2experiences\F1 in Smalltalk and LOGO. Smalltalk and LOGO are to
engineering, as LISP is to mathematics. This added leverage
gives LISP inroads into intellectual disciplines that are not
open to a more superficial language. For example,
one can give a firm  and intuitive basis for modern computing,
based on simple LISP-like constructs;  I am developing a series
of courses at Santa Clara University based on these ideas.

I am developing at least two undergraduate classes, probably a 
continuing faculty workshop, a LISP class for the 
Western Institute in Computer Science, and ultimately a high school
mathematics/computing curriculum, based on LISP. All of these efforts
include an interactive programming laboratory as an integral part;
one cannot learn about computation without gaining some fluency
with the instrument. Unfortunately, computing courses go no further
than this programming experience.

At the college level, a small LISP system can be quite effective. 
in understanding the fundamental principles of computation.
Realistically, that market will not be large. What \F2will\F1 be large
is to potential high school market. Ultimately I hope this
segment will be exposed to LISP principles, but initially I
believe that a LOGO-based product should do quite well.

LOGO, as described in Seymour Papert's new book \F2Mindstorms: Computers,
Children, and Powerful Ideas\F1, has been an exceptional vehicle for teaching
 students "how to think".  LOGO will operate effectively on small machines,
can be easily implemented in LISP, and can be available at lower cost than
the more ambitious Smalltalk machines. I would suggest a machine like
the new NEC color computer as a host for this effort.
\.

\C\F3Long Range Goals\F1

\J
Last September, Xerox announced that they had released Smalltalk-80
to five manufacturers, beginning efforts to bring the Smalltalk family to
the mass market. The effect of Smalltalk is expected to be massive. 
I see LISP as a comprehensive answer to the
Smalltalk phenomenon.

Besides
being the parent of many of the LOGO/Smalltalk ideas, LISP offers
a degree of maturity and practicality not found in either Smalltalk or
LOGO. This breadth includes Artificial Intelligence applications
as well as educational benefits. 

The  AI market is broad, both in the sense of professional applications
and educational implications. 
Major corporations --Schlumberger, Standard Oil, TI, CDC,
IBM, and HP for example-- are investing heavily in AI. 
The immediate impact of this is a short supply of trained AI personnel
and therefore increased demand at the college level for AI-related 
courses. From beneath this surface will spring a general cultural
awareness of, and interest in, AI-related  topics. For example,
Creative Computing just did a two-issue spread on LISP/actor/object-oriented
concepts;
four publishers have asked me to write  an introductory-level LISP text;
and this year a group of us will do a major session/demo/tutorial
on LISP and related areas at the West Coast Computer Faire.

The point is that AI is a growing market
--two billion dollars by 1990, claims Business Week-- and a good
portion of that work will be done on traditional micro processor machines
rather than special LISP machines.
Furthermore, this is a market that \F2no\F1 language other than LISP
will impact for many years.

AI applications are only one thread of the LISP fabric. Another  
major  impact  will be "nose-to-nose" with Smalltalk in the educational
market, for LISP offers several advantages here.
At the level of applications, one can easily argue that
a syntactically "sugar-coated" LISP with a graphics interface will
supply the younger learner with much, if not all, that
Smalltalk supplies. In fact, this is exactly the route the LOGO people take,
often implementing LOGO in LISP.

So, to summarize the situation:

1.  I am developing a broad curriculum plan through Santa Clara University;
this plan, based on LISP ideas, is expected to move towards the mass markets
of high school education.

2. I have a "seed grant" coming from the Navy group that sponsored
UCSD's Pascal effort to develop the standard LISP for the Navy.

These two facets will give TLC a substantial position in the AI and educational
markets. To obtain that position I need the following.

1. I need Z-80 based machines  for the Interactive Programming Laboratory
at Santa Clara.
The course runs spring term and needs the
gift/loan of six to ten Z-80 systems.  This could  done through
Santa Clara University as a tax-deductible gift I suspect.

2. I need additional funds to move rapidly on the Navy grant.
I am neither the University of California nor Santa Clara; as TLC, I need
to staff this project professionally and rapidly.

I would consider licensing agreements for TLC-LISP or products based on it.
I would consider joint ventures to develop LISP-based products.
 I would consider acting on some non-LISP ideas; in particular,
a version of the Culler-Freid graphics-based functional programming system
would make an exciting and useful personal tool. Perhaps
a subset of the NLS/Augment editing system would also be attractive.

The critical  ingredient now is the availability of machines/money to
support the IPL.
The return on this  investment is the entry
 into the AI and quality educational market.
The market will be there in full force for the 16-bit machines,
and Smalltalk's entry will only enlarge the wave. Some will
ride that wave, others will be swamped by it. 

LISP offers
and elegant way to finesse the Smalltalk phenomenon, and TLC will be
the force behind micro-based LISPs. 
The 
the Z-80 effort has had the appropriate effect; the AI community  now
knows that  TLC exists and will supply professional quality software.
My  immediate  problem is the funding to spread the effectiveness of the
Z-80 LISP and prepare for the 16-bit market.

The question is: are you interested, willing to
act, and act soon? I need to locate support immediately to assure
that the Interactive Programming Laboratory is in place for the spring.

If you would like
further information about any  of
these projects, please contact me through one of the following:
Santa Clara University --(408)984-4358, TLC --(408)353-2227, 
or home --(408)353-3857.
\.


\←L\→S\←R\-L\/'2;\+L\→L

Yours sincerely,


John R. Allen
18215 Bayview Dr.
Los Gatos Ca, 95030
(408) 353-3857

\←S\→L