A new basis for spreadsheet computing - Interval solver for microsoft excel (R)

There is a fundamental mismatch between the computational basis of spreadsh eets and our knowledge of the real world. In spreadsheets, numeric data are represented as exact numbers and their mutual relations as functions, whos e values (output) are computed from given argument values (input). However, in the real world, data are often inexact and uncertain in many ways, and the relationships, that is, constraints, between input and output are far m ore complicated. This article shows that interval constraint solving, an em erging AI-based technology, provides a more versatile and useful foundation for spreadsheets. The new computational basis is 100-percent downward comp atible with the traditional spreadsheet paradigm. The idea has been success fully integrated with Microsoft EXCEL as the add-in INTERVAL SOLVER that se amlessly upgrades the arithmetic core of EXCEL into interval constraint sol ving. The product has been downloaded by thousands of end users all over th e world and has been used in various applications in business computing, en gineering, education, and science. There is an intriguing chance for a majo r breakthrough of the AI technology on the spreadsheet platform: Tens of mi llions of EXCEL users are making important decisions based on spreadsheet c alculations.