Expert system shells software

At the start of the development, it had been intended use an expert system shell to implement this tool, however, after careful consideration, it was concluded that this was not the optimum strategy. An examination procedure can be considered as consisting of two parts fixed documentary information and variable parameters. For the fixed documentary information, a hypertext-like browser can be incorporated to provide point-and-click navigation through the standard. For the variable parameters, such as probe scanning paths, the decisions involved are too complex to be easily specified in a set of rules. Therefore a software module was developed to perfonn calculations on 3D geometric models, created fi om templates scaled by the user. 

Expert System Shells are software packages that facilitate the building of knowledge-based systems by providing a knowledge representation scheme and an inference engine. The developer adds domain knowledge. 

Expert System Shell is a suite of software that allows construction of a knowledge base and interaction through use of an inference engine. 

The Air Force wanted the model to be useable by a large number of geographically diverse users so the IBM-PC/AT was selected as the logical delivery environment. A number of expert system shells were then examined and KES(r) by Software A E was selected. 

Many expert systems which have been developed are very large software systems. A large system does not lend itself to maintenance or modifications. With the recent improvement of expert system shells, the opportunity to develop smaller, modular expert system, with highly specific knowledge bases has become possible. A small system could be treated as a black box program. Expert systems could be developed and used in the same way as mathematical libraries on computers are today. These small modular expert systems would be easily shareable. Modular expert systems libraries could the be used as building blocks to develop problem-specific expert systems. 

To handle large numbers of logic, hevuistic, and fuzzy rules, a variety of supporting software (expert systems shells, languages specially designed to handle logic, etc.) has been developed and is now available... 

Most expert systems are developed via specialized software tools called shells. These shells come equipped with an inference mechanism — backward chaining, forward chaining, or both — and require knowledge to be entered according to a specified format. We will have a closer look at several tools for developing expert system in this chapter. 

The problem with automated tools is that many times they are software/system dependent. For example, CHECK has been ported to the Automated Reasoning Tool (ART) framework but to little else (short of a MYCIN type structure). Thus, automated tools are not necessarily available for off-the-shelf applications in shell, language or tool expert system development. Cost-to-benefit-type trade-off studies need to be undertaken before fully automated tools are fully recognized as a (partial) means of expert system V V. 

Now, what about tools to aid the V V process. Good, systematic software development, maintenance and documentation techniques are of course assumed (but don t let them get in the way of progress). Martin, Orr, Yourdon and others make a good living teaching and writing about these. In addition to the environments delivered with ART, KEE, Ml/Sl and expert system development shells sold by TI, Gold Hill, Arity, KDS and others, a couple of recent demonstrations have been very impressive. 

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