Expert Systems: Branch Of Computer Science

EXPERT SYSTEMS

2.2. Expert systems

Expert systems are computer programs that are derived from a branch of computer science research called Artificial Intelligence (AI).

The AI 's scientific goal is to understand intelligence by building computer programs that exhibit intelligent behavior. It is concerned with the concepts and methods of symbolic inference, or reasoning, by a computer, and how the knowledge is used to make those inferences will be represented inside the machine. Artificial intelligence is a branch of computer science which aims at transferring human intellectual skills into machines or programs [21]. The expert system can also be seen as a computer system that can provide information and expert advice on a particular subject

A knowledge-based system uses artificial intelligence techniques during problem-solving to aid in human decision making, learning, thinking and action. The knowledge base of an expert system includes the factual and heuristic knowledge [30]. The factual knowledge can be seen as the knowledge that is widely shared, which are typically found in textbooks, magazines, journals or non-experts and are commonly agreed on by human experts in that particular field [31]. Heuristic knowledge as the name implies refers to an experiential, logical and judgmental knowledge used to speed up decision making and performance. It is the knowledge of good practice, good judgment, and plausible reasoning in the field. It is the knowledge that underlies the "art of good guessing." [32]. Here are some applications that use the knowledge-based expert systems: medical treatment and analysis in the case of the eDoctor program, waste management, production management, knowledge management, financial analysis, etc. [33]. A knowledge base is known as the heart of an expert system. It includes a collection of facts and rules which show or tells all the knowledge about the problem area. Hence, it stores all relevant information, data, rules, cases and relationships used by the expert system (eDoctor) [35]. A knowledge base is not the

USER INTERFACE Advice and conclusions

2.2.4. Advantages of expert systems(eDoctor) Expert systems are very beneficial than the human experts. Some of those benefits are:

1. Accessibility- when multiple human experts combine their knowledge together, the result is more knowledgeable than what a single person can achieve.

Expert systems are always more accessible than the human experts, especially when they are readily unavailable.

2. Consistency- expert systems do not contain errors and are very consistent. Inaccuracies or errors can be easily prevented while using the expert system

3. Time constraints- human expert training is very time-consuming and expert systems can be recreated over and over again. This reduces the time intake to train a human expert.

4. Stability- it can assist a human expert in problem solving and is more likely to consider all possibilities.

5. An expert system can review all the transactions whereas a human expert can only review a sample.

2.2.5. Demerits of human experts

1. Human experts have disadvantages over the expert system.

2. Human experts do not retain large volumes of data in their memory.

3. Humans experts do not understand fully, the large volume of