Larry E. Travis

Professor
Computer Sciences Department
University of Wisconsin
1210 W. Dayton St.
Madison, WI 53706-1685

E-mail: travis@cs.wisc.edu
Telephone: (608) 262-6587
Fax: (608) 262-9777
Ph.D., University of Californa, Los Angeles, 1966
Interests: Expert systems, non-procedural control of automatic deduction, computer support for understanding complex data, philosophical foundations of artificial intelligence, computing management, social implications of computing.


Research Summary

My research centers around using logic as a basis for knowledge formalization in expert systems and for deductive augmentation of database systems. Recent work has focused on non-procedural control of automatic deduction and on design of systems that support the contruction, display, and testing of high-level abstractions from patterns formed by information contained in large, heterogeneous databases. Special attention is being devoted to the representation and use of geographic information in ways that enhance data integration and data visualizability (as with maps). I am actively involved with several expert system development projects and with a large "intelligent" database project that incorporates databases, "what if" modeling, and visualization aids into a single integrated system; with organizational and social issues associated with the introduction and use of information technology; and with analysis of the pre-suppositions underlying alternative approaches to artificial intelligence.

Current PhD Students

  • Chuck Ohare
  • Bryan So
  • Scott Swanson
  • Andy Whitsitt
  • Derek Zahn
  • Recent Publications

  • If we could do it again: "Failures" in expert system development and implementation (with J. Oravec) to appear in Journal of Systems and Software, 1992.
  • The computational metaphor and artificial intelligence: A reflexive examination of AI's falsework (with D. West) Artificial Intelligence Magazine, 1991.
  • From society to landscape: Alternative metaphors for artificial intelligence (with D. West) Artificial Intelligence Magazine, 1991.
  • Some Interesting Links

  • U-Wisc CS Dept
  • U-Wisc AI Group

  • Last Changed: June 4, 1994 by so@cs.wisc.edu