Expert Systems

Expert Systems

1. Advantages/Disadvantages

   • they do not get tired or overworked
   • they do not need to take breaks
   • makes rational decisions without any emotional overhead
   • Can be used as a training aid to increase the expertise of staff
   • usually only covers a narrow range of knowledge
   • a lot of effort and cost has to go into making a good expert system
   • not as good as having human experts to hand
   • unlikely to come up with creative solutions

2. What is an expert system?

   • an expert system focuses on one particular area
   • it provides information based on queries from the user
   • it uses artificial intelligence to try to make decisions

3. How does it work?

   • INPUT- a patient is asked a textual question by the expert system's USER INTERFACE.
     • the patient then replies to the computer system using a keyboard
   • PROCESSING- each answer will be sent using real-time transaction processing
     • the computer can change the questions it askes depending on the answer to the previous questions
       • the computer will use the answers to search its huge KNOWLEDGE BASE of illnesses
         • it will use an INTERFACE ENGINE to make a diagnosis based on a set of rules
   • OUTPUT- the diagnosis can be returned along with a probability percentage based on how sure the computer is
     • this will probably be displayed a normal computer monitor or can be printed

4. Where are they used?

   • they can be used to make medical diagnoses
   • they can be used to provide advice on a whether to invest in a business