General Problem Solving

In 1972, the concept of pattern recognition as a general problem solving tool for a broad scope of chemical appHcations was introduced (9,10). 

Newell, A., Shaw, J. C., and Simon, H. A., Report on a general problem solving program. Proc. ICIP, 256 (1960). 

An expert system does much more than extract information from a database, format it, and offer it up to the user it analyzes and processes the information to make deductions and generate recommendations. Because an ES may be required to present alternative strategies and give an estimate of the potential value of different courses of action, it must contain a reasoning capacity, which relies on some sort of general problem-solving method. 

The value of this approach is that a running expert system is rapidly created, without forcing the expert to articulate a general problem-solving procedure. The prototype system is available for the iterative knowledge refinement process, which draws out more details of the decision-making procedure from the expert to gradually build a complete and tested exi>ert system. 

Use the general problem-solving guidelines from Section 16.2. 

A general problem-solving strategy is summarized in Figure 5.7. By systematically applying this strategy, you will be able to solve virtually any problem requiring calculations based on the chemical equation. 

A general problem-solving strategy, using molar quantities. 

The general problem-solving procedure can be summarized as follows ... 

General problem-solving techniques used when difficulties are encountered through changes in raw material, new technology, or new specifications. 

The Harvard program currently lacks stereochemical capability, and work is under way 5) to rectify this situation. Corey feels that the task of developing a general problem-solving procedure for use by a computer is too large to be accomplished in a five or ten-year period and is unlikely to be complete, in a final sense, in the forseeable future... 

The surface characterization tools that provide qualitative and quantitative information about wettability, morphology, and elemental and molecular surface chemistry are outlined in this section. These tools can provide a comprehensive view of the surface (10-100 A) from which a model of interfacial behavior can be developed. The model of the working surface can be utilized to understand fundamental structure-property relations and thus used in general problem solving. It is important to remember that no one surface tool is an end in itself [28j. It is important to correlate information from all sources to build a working model of behavior. The understanding of the surface structure allows one to apply the appropriate surface modification and to follow the modification as a function of polymer processing. Thus, assessment of the real-world surface chemistry in a deliverable biomedical product is necessary and prudent. 

The purpose of the model is to provide a mechanism which supports an analytical view of accident causation and the creation of hazards. Data collected is used to implement preventative strategies and provide information which will support decision making in risk management and general problem solving. 

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