Expert Systems
Overview
How can a computer diagnose a tropical disease, advise where to drill for oil, or play chess at grandmaster level? Not by being clever in some general way, but by carrying the bottled knowledge of human experts and applying it through cold, consistent logic. That is an expert system: software that mimics the decision making of a specialist in one narrow field, asking you questions and reasoning towards a conclusion the way the expert would.
In this lesson you will meet the five parts that every expert system is built from, follow the chain of yes and no answers that leads to a diagnosis, and see real uses from medicine to mineral prospecting. You will also weigh the genuine advantages, speed, accuracy and tireless consistency, against the real drawbacks, high cost, cold responses and the danger of trusting a machine too much.
Objectives
- Expert systems.
- Characteristics, uses and purpose of expert systems including mineral prospecting, car engine fault diagnosis, medical diagnosis, chess games, financial planning, route scheduling for delivery vehicles, plant and animal identification Components of an expert system: user interface, inference engine, knowledge base, rules base, explanation system How an expert system is used to produce possible solutions for different scenarios.
Audio Lesson
Listen to this lesson in the app
Mind map
This topic is mapped out so you can see how the ideas connect.
Open the mind map in the app
Flashcards
Quick recall practice on the facts this topic is tested on.
Practise these cards in the app
Lesson Note
Complete Note Available on the Green Bridge App
Get the Green Bridge CBT app on your phone or computer for the complete IGCSE library: past papers, mark schemes, mind maps, flashcards and audio lessons.
Lesson Evaluation
Congratulations on completing the lesson on Expert Systems. Now that youve explored the key concepts and ideas, its time to put your knowledge to the test. This section offers a variety of practice questions designed to reinforce your understanding and help you gauge your grasp of the material.
You will encounter a mix of question types, including multiple-choice questions, short answer questions, and essay questions. Each question is thoughtfully crafted to assess different aspects of your knowledge and critical thinking skills.
Use this evaluation section as an opportunity to reinforce your understanding of the topic and to identify any areas where you may need additional study. Don't be discouraged by any challenges you encounter; instead, view them as opportunities for growth and improvement.
- Which component of an expert system stores the facts about the field of expertise? A. Inference engine B. Knowledge base C. Rules base D. User interface Answer: B
- The IF ... THEN inference rules used to draw conclusions are held in the: A. Knowledge base B. Explanation system C. Rules base D. User interface Answer: C
- Which component tells the user the reasoning behind a conclusion and its probability? A. Inference engine B. Explanation system C. Knowledge base D. Rules base Answer: B
- Which of the following is NOT a typical use of an expert system? A. Medical diagnosis B. Mineral prospecting C. Word processing a letter D. Car engine fault diagnosis Answer: C
- Which is a disadvantage of an expert system? A. It gives a fast response B. It is only as good as the facts entered C. Its results are consistent D. It can store vast amounts of facts Answer: B
Work through these questions in the app
Work through these questions in the app
Recommended Books
Practice Mock Questions
Want to practice mock questions on Expert Systems? Download the Green Bridge CBT app to access mock questions and full practice assessments for this topic.
Download The App On Google Playstore
Everything you need to excel in your exams
