expert system

expert system a computer system or program that uses artificial intelligence techniques to solve problems that ordinarily require a knowledgeable human. The method used to construct such systems, knowledge engineering, extracts a set of rules and data from an expert or experts through extensive questioning. This material is then organized in a format suitable for representation in a computer and a set of tools for inquiry, manipulation, and response is applied. While such systems do not often replace the human experts, they can serve as useful adjuncts or assistants. Among some of the successful expert systems developed are INTERNIST, a medical diagnosis tool that contains nearly 100,000 relationships between symptoms and diseases, and PROSPECTOR, an aid to geologists in interpreting mineral data.

Bibliography: See A. Bonnet, Expert Systems (1988).

expert systems Computer programs built for commercial application using the programming techniques of artificial intelligence, especially those techniques developed for problem solving. Expert systems have been built for a variety of purposes including medical diagnosis, electronic fault finding, mineral prospecting, and computer-system configuration. See also knowledge base, inference engine.

expert system A computer application used to solve problems in a particular area of knowledge. The system uses the computer's ability to store, organize, and retrieve large amounts of information and is programmed to make decisions of the type that would be made by an expert in the field. Typically, an expert-system program asks questions of the user, who chooses one of several possible answers. This leads to other questions, and eventually to a conclusion. A common successful use is in basic medical diagnosis, but expert systems can also be designed for analysis of company results, review of loan applications, buying stocks and shares, and other financial purposes.