Stanford Artificial Intelligence Laboratory
Computing with text
Like LISP, PAM achieves processing power by providing atomic objects, means of structuring
them into complex objects and taking them apart, and equality tests for objects. Text
handPAM is an agile environment for the manual manipulation of text
graphic objects (described briefly).
writtenPAM provides programmatic manipulation of visual objects. Pattern processing is demonstrated by functions which translate a LISP sexpr to the visual name
shape synonyms of the VennLISP notation system, and then spatially lay it out.
writtenPAM also permits definition of pattern evaluating, enabling actual computation with text
graphic forms. An eval function for text graphic objects is given which can execute VennLISP expressions.
An experimental version of the PAM system has been implemented in MACLISP at the Stanford Artificial Intelligence Lab.***
Evaluation of visual mapping function with underlying tree structure shown
- A Structure from Manipulation for Text
- Basic Functions of writtenPAM
- Predicates of writtenPAM
Graphic Pattern Notation
- Pattern Processing
- Pattern Evaluating
- The function vizeval
- Notes on the Illustrations
This paper was published in the proceedings of the first-ever LISP Conference at Stanford University, August 1980.
* at the time visiting Xerox Palo Alto Science Center, 3333 Coyote Hill Road, Palo Alto, CA 94304
** McCarthy, John, "Recursive functions of symbolic expressions and their computation by machine", Comm. ACM, 1960, vol. 3, no.4.
***And a production version called "vmacs" is now in daily use, running in CMUCL under OS X, and was used to create this html version.
© 1980, 1994, 2009 PGC