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Genetic programming is keynote of conference

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Nov 28, 2003

John Koza will give the lead keynote address for COFES 2004.

John Koza will give the lead keynote address for COFES 2004.

Koza, a consulting professor at Stanford University, is the inventor of genetic programming - a method that allows automatic development of software to solve specific problems.

Koza is the author of four books on the subject, most recently "Genetic programming IV: routine human-competitive machine intelligence".

Since 1988, he has taught courses on genetic algorithms and genetic programming in the Biomedical Informatics Programme in the Department of Medicine and Department of Electrical Engineering at Stanford University.

He has served on both the Science Board and the Board of Trustees of the Santa Fe Institute and received his PhD in computer science from the University of Michigan in 1972.

Genetic programming is the application of Darwinian evolution methods to software development.

Using a problem-independent approach, a computer is able to take millions of possible solutions to a specific problem, and progressively evolve a population of programs over a series of generations.

Eventually the process identifies the best solution to the problem.

"This process takes days or weeks as opposed to months spent now in development", stated Joel Orr, Chief Visionary at Cyon Research, the host of COFES 2004.

"It stands in my mind as a 'tipping point' for the software industry as a whole, as well as being critical for engineering software in particular.

The vision, understanding, and sheer brilliance of John Koza are a matter of record.

Yet his ability to describe genetic programming is so powerful and engaging, it is impossible not to grasp the importance of this invention after hearing him speak about it".

"There are now 36 instances where genetic programming has automatically produced a computer program that is competitive with human performance", states John Koza, Consulting Professor in the School of Engineering and the Department of Medicine, Stanford University.

"In just a few years, we will see this technology having a profound effect upon the way software is developed, sustained, and supported".

Koza will be the lead keynote speaker at the COFES 2004 conference - a key event for the leaders in the software industry.

COFES - the Congress on the Future of Engineering Software - has built a strong reputation for delivering understanding, clarity, and vision about coming technologies - and the effects they will have on manufacturing, architecture and construction.

In its 2002 event, COFES featured Dr Eric Drexler, the "father" of nanotechnology - a technology now coming to initial maturity by revolutionising microchip manufacture.

In 2003, Alan Kay, an HP fellow, introduced his vision of innovation to the participants in his keynote speech.

With John Koza as its lead keynoter, COFES continues to bring the leading innovators and thinkers to its attendees.

The fifth annual Congress on the Future of Engineering Software, presented by HP, will take place at the Scottsdale Plaza Resort, Scottsdale, Arizona from 1st to 4th April 2004.

COFES, a mainstay of the engineering software industry, provides an intensive conference atmosphere where private and public discussions are held.

Delegates are executives, end users, CAD and PLM vendors, analysts, and press who work together to determine, define, and clarify the business issues of engineering technologies.

COFES is an invitation-only event.