Introduction to simulation using Intelligent Simulation Interface (ISI)

ISI is a graphical user interface for general-purpose simulation languages. Currently it provides an interface to the SIMAN language, although other languages such as SLAM and GPSS could also be used. ISI allows a hierarchical modeling approach which satisfies the often conflicting requirements of ease-of-use and functionality. By providing graphical model building, hierarchical modeling, interactive experiment definition, instant animation and graphical output processing, ISI transforms a general-purpose language into a complete simulation environment. An example is presented which shows how an overall system model can be developed by defining new building blocks to represent repeated subprocesses