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The intelligent agent object (IAO) system is a multi‐paradigm development environment which can be used to create intelligent agent systems for manufacturing or other domains. The IAO system was developed from the rule‐based object (RBO) system which is a programming environment integrating both the rule‐based and object‐oriented paradigms. Propagation‐oriented programming, access‐oriented programming and group‐oriented programming are among the extensions included in the IAO system. Its most unusual contribution is the propagation‐oriented programming paradigm which is not found in most systems. A key application is the messenger inferencing structure which is a user‐extendable framework supporting multiple knowledge representation, meta‐inference control, and distributed inference. This allows the IAO system to go beyond predicate logic based production rule programming. New developments are also introduced for access‐oriented programming. The IAO system can be used to develop integrated manufacturing systems such as the prototype automated guided vehicle planning and control system, which is briefly described.

Presents an approach to improved performance and flexibility in industrial robotics by means of sensor integration and feedback control in task‐level programming and task execution. Also presents feasibility studies in support of the ideas. Discusses some solutions to the problem using six degrees of freedom force control together with the ABB S4CPlus system as an illustrative example. Consider various problems in the design of an open sensor interface for industrial robotics and discusses possible solutions. Finally, presents experimental results from industrial force controlled grinding.

Computer programming as a job or profession was unheard of a few years ago. Now thousands of people work at programming. Newspapers are full of advertisements offering high‐paying jobs. Self‐styled institutes display posts practically promising to double your salary if you take their short course in programming.

First results of a research project at Bolton Institute show advantages in using a text‐based off‐line programmer in conjunction with a low‐cost PC‐based kinematic simulator. The system being developed could mean for small companies an economical alternative to using comprehensive robot simulation packages.

Peter Sorenti and Joe Bennaton discuss developments in off‐line programming and decribe the use of the GRASP 3D graphical simulation system to program a complex welding task at JCB.

This paper presents an interactive system, called POINTY. The goal of this system is to solve problems encountered when a high‐level manipulator lanaguage, as AL, is employed. Those problems are related to the necessity of supplying any manipulation program with a complete description of the objects involved. The object description has an important role in any task description oriented language. In these languages the procedural part, which expresses the assembly steps, is reduced by increasing correspondently the descriptive part, which expresses the knowledge a program has about the physical world. An approach to the generation of object models is presented, and the system based on it is illustrated. The basic idea is to point to the objects with the manipulator for building an incremental model of the world, and then to generate the AL corresponding instructions. The preliminary experiences using it demonstrate that the object model part of an AL program can be easily obtained and tested.

The purpose of this paper is to identify how the newly emerging UK practice of “collaborative planning” (CP) for construction project delivery aligns with the advocated principles of the global last planner system (LPS) of production planning and control.

A mixed, qualitative, exploratory approach was adopted for the study. This entailed qualitative data through three techniques, namely: semi-structured interviews, documents analysis, and structured observation. In total, 30 in-depth interviews were conducted over a 12 month period with lean construction consultants, clients, main contractors, and subcontractors drawn from the building, highways and infrastructure and rail sector. In all, 15 projects were visited where practices were observed.

The study reveals that the current practice of CP in the UK partially aligns with the LPS principles. Where practitioners have heard of the LPS they believe it to be the same practice as CP.

This study is limited to 30 interviews, observation of 15 projects and document analysis. The aim of the study is not to generalise the findings, however, since the study examined top construction companies and practitioners in the UK and the findings were consistent across the sample, some conclusions could be made. The study is also limited to examining the construction phase only, future studies should incorporate the design phase.

A clear identification of the elements of current practice compared to the components of the LPS provides a contribution to the future practice of project production planning and management in the construction industry.

The study highlights a continuing resistance to collaboration within the industry. This resistance is subtly embedded within implemented practices even though they are based on collaborative working for their success.

This is among the first studies in the UK that comprehensively examines and reports the application of LPS/CP practice in construction across the major construction sectors. Future studies could build on the findings from this work to develop an approach/methodology to improve the current practice.

Computerized accounting information systems (CAIS) are becoming more readily available to all types and sizes of business. The increased growth in real‐time and online data processing in CAIS has made access to these systems more available and easier for many users. Therefore, implementing adequate security controls over organisations, CAIS and their related facilities has become a necessity. The main objective of this article is to investigate the adequacy security controls implemented in the Egyptian banking industry (EBI) to preserve the confidentiality, integrity and availability of the banks' data and their CAIS through a proposed security controls check‐list. The security controls check‐list of CAIS was developed based on the available literature and the empirical results of previous studies. It includes many security counter‐measures that are empirically tested here for the first time. The entire population of the EBI has been surveyed in this research. The significant differences between the two respondent groups had been investigated. The statistical results revealed that the vast majority of Egyptian banks had adequate CAIS security controls in place. The results also revealed that the heads of computer departments (HoCD) paid relatively more attention to technical problems of CAIS security controls. This study has provided invaluable empirical results regarding inadequacies of implemented CAIS security controls in the EBI. Accordingly some recommendations were suggested to strengthen the security controls in the Egyptian banking sector.

This paper aims to examine the existence and adequacy of implemented computerized accounting information system (CAIS) security controls to prevent, detect and correct security breaches in Saudi organization.

The first part of the paper introduces and discusses the literature review concerned with the CAIS security controls. The current paper introduces and discusses the main results of the empirical investigation. An empirical survey using self‐administered questionnaire, was carried out to achieve this purpose. A total of 500 questionnaires were distributed on a random sample of Saudi organizations. Of them, 275 valid, usable questionnaires were collected and analyzed.

The results of the study highlight a number of inadequately implemented CAIS security controls, and some suggestions and recommendations are introduced to strengthen the weak points and to close the loopholes in the present CAIS security controls in Saudi organizations.

From a practical standpoint, mangers, auditors, IT users and practitioners alike stand to gain from the findings of this study.

The results presented in the paper help enable managers, auditors, IT users and practitioners to better understand and secure their CAIS and to champion IT development for the success of their businesses.

VINE is a Very Informal Newsletter produced three times a year by the Information Officer for library Automation and financed by the British library Research & Development Department. It is issued free of charge on request to interested librarians, systems staff and library college lecturers. VINE'S objective is to provide an up‐to‐date picture of work being done in O.K. library automation which has not been reported elsewhere.