Systematic Introduction to Expert Systems

At present one of the main obstacles to a broader§application of expert systems is the lack of a theory to§tell us which problem-solving methods areavailable for a§given problem class. Such a theory could lead to significant§progress in the following central aims of the expert system§technique:§- Evaluating the technical feasibility of expert system§projects: This depends on whether there is a suitable§problem-solving method, and if possible a corresponding§tool, for the given problem class.§- Simplifying knowledge acquisition and maintenance: The§problem-solving methods provide direct assistance as§interpretation models in knowledge acquisition. Also, they§make possible the development of problem-specific expert§system tools with graphical knowledge acquisition§components, which can be used even by experts without§programming experience.§- Making use of expert systems as a knowledge medium: The§structured knowledge in expert systems can be used not only§for problem solving but also for knowledge communication and§tutorial purposes.§With such a theory in mind, this book provides a systematic§introduction to expert systems. It describes the basic§knowledge representations and the present situation with§regard tothe identification, realization, and integration§of problem-solving methods for the main problem classes of§expert systems: classification (diagnostics), construction,§and simulation.