TR-64: Teaching Fifth Generation Computing: The Importance of Small Talk

Abstract

The obvious approach to preparing studrnts for fifth generation computing is to focus on the two primary languages used by the Artificial Intelligence community: Lisp and Prolog. By dwelling on the features lacking in traditional didactic languages, e.g. symbolic manipulation and rule-based programming, an awareness and appreciation for the increased power of fifth generation systems can be imparted.

However, this emphasis is only a partial solution because it ignores one of the more important programming languages of the future. We claim that Smalltalk is at least as important as Lisp and Prolog from the point of view of fifth generation computing. The object-oriented paradigm that it supports, its r.mphasis on modularization for “programming iu the laxge”, and its potl’ntial as an Artificial Intelligence programming language combine to make it an important candidate for consideration.