Meeting Agenda

Wednesday, May 14^th, 1997

Location:

DC 1304

Time:

13:30

Chair:

Navid Sadikali

1. Adoption of the Agenda - additions or deletions

2. Coffee Hour

Coffee hour this week:

Blair Conrad

Coffee hour next week:

Navid Sadikali

3. Next meeting

Date:

May 21^st, 1997

Location:

DC 1304

Time:

13:30

Chair:

Liddy Olds

Technical presentation:

Mark Riddell

4. Forthcoming

Chairs:

1. Clara Tsang (5/29)
2. Teresa Yeung (6/4)
3. Tali Zvi (6/11)

Tech Presenters:

1. Navid Sadikali (5/29)
2. Clara Tsang (6/4)
3. Teresa Young (6/11)

5. Technical Presentation

Presenter:

Dan Milgram

Title:

Hypermedia Navigation

Abstract:

Difficulty in navigating through hypermedia information systems is often a product of their unconstrained nature. Simple node-link paradigms as bases, for instance, can lead to an information space of arbitrary complexity. Attempts to tackle navigational problems, seemingly inherent to hypermedia systems, vary tremendously in their approach. Various architectures have been proposed striving to constrain the information space, thereby attacking the problem from its core. In contrast, navigational "band-aids" provide a layer of functionality at the user's disposal for reorientation purposes. Issues relevant to hypermedia navigation, and a survey of methods which attempt to ameliorate existing problems, are presented.

6.General Discussion Items

7. Action List

• Alias Brown Bag Seminar Series

8. Director's Meeting

9. Seminars

• `Computing Values of Two Factor Options: How to Spot an Opportunity'


Peter Forsyth, Dept of Comp. Sci., Univ. of Waterloo
Friday, May 23, 1997
11am-12noon
DC 1304

The total notional value of outstanding options in 1994 was over $20 trillion, and continues to grow. The rapid growth in options (derivatives) markets is due to the increased demand for such products from banks, corporations, insurance companies, and individual investors. This talk will give a general overview of the assumptions used in option pricing models, and will specifically deal with two factor pricing models. Examples of such models include: stochastic volatility, convertible bonds, two asset options, and Asian options. All these pricing problems can be solved using a general finite-element/finite-volume technique. American early exercise constraints and barriers can also be easily accommodated using this method.

10. Lab Cleanup (until 14:30 or 5 minutes)