NCR Corp has for long been an enthusiastic participant in joint ventures with other computer companies, and over the past few years has innovated at a furious pace, so it comes as little surprise that the first company to bring out a product based on technology developed at the Microelectronics & Computer Technology Corp research co-operative in Austin, Texas, should be the Daytoner. NCR’s product is the Design Advisor, a program that applies artificial intelligence techniques to the task of proving – and improving designs for applications-specific integrated circuits. NCR reckons that the new system can cut weeks or months off circuit design times, using human-like reasoning to show up potential circuit problems to engineers and allow them to argue over potential solutions with the computer. NCR is initially making the program available as a remote service, at $4,000 per design analysis, but is hoping to have a version for Unix-based computer-aided engineering workstations ready for introduction next year.
