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.