Medical decision support in the light of interactive granular computing: Lessons from the Ovufriend project

Abstract

The main aim of the paper is to discuss the architecture for the future Intelligent Systems (IS's) and Decision Support Systems (DS's) dealing with complex phenomena such as supporting medical decisions (diagnosis and therapy) and to emphasize challenges in designing such systems. More precisely, the paper presents arguments for developing a specialized computing model based on the interactive granular computing paradigm which can help to design IS's and DS's more close to the prototypes of real life decision making. In this regard, the paper brings to the fore different experiences faced during designing other medical IS's or DS's.As a starting step, the paper considers the experience of developing the OvuFriend platform and outlines some possible extension of it in the framework of the proposed architecture on the basis of Interactive Granular Computing (IGrC) model. Specifically, our attempt is to analyze a scheme, which is being used in the platform of OvuFriend for determining health risks and possibilities of a woman to conceive a child, from the perspective of IGrC. The target of the paper is two fold. Firstly, to show how the underlying AI algorithm of this scheme can be related with the notion of computing in the context of IGrC. Secondly, to identify possible extensions of the existing scheme so that it becomes more dynamic, interactive, and close to personalized medicine.