The communicative power of expert systems

Abstract

Abstract‘Expert Systems’ or intelligent knowledge‐based computer systems can be expected to have a considerable impact in the near future on the dissemination and use of technical expertise in practical situations. The potential benefits of such an approach to decision‐making in applied science domains, for example, in anti‐corrosive coating selection, are considerable. This paper argues, therefore, that a premium must be placed on such a system's performance as a communicator.The structure and behaviour of a classical ‘production system’ are briefly described, and the communicative ability of such a system is analysed. This critical examination of a production system's question‐answering capabilities highlights the inherent restrictions which the structure of this kind of system places on its explanatory and justificatory powers. An outline design for a less inhibitive structure is presented.It is argued that the form in which the system provides ‘answers’ after the completion of a problem‐solving session, may not yield sufficient appropriate information to the user, and a possible alternative view of a ‘solution schema’ is proposed.