The most popular basic introduction to Expert Systems is revised and updated to include new information on blackboard systems and has extended coverage of reasoning.

Abstract: "This monograph provides an introduction to the theory of expert systems. The task of medical diagnosis is used as a unifying theme throughout. A broad perspective is taken, ranging from the role of diagnostic programs to methods of evaluation. While much emphasis is placed on probability theory, other calculi of uncertainty are given due consideration."

Presents a step-by-step methodology for designing expert systems. Each chapter on design methodology starts with a problem and leads the reader through the design of a system which solves that problem.

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.

This book is designed to identify some of the current applications and techniques of artificial intelligence as an aid to solving problems and accomplishing tasks. It provides a general introduction to the various branches of AI which include formal logic, reasoning, knowledge engineering, expert systems, neural networks, and fuzzy logic, etc. The book has been structured into five parts with an emphasis on expert systems: problems and state space search, knowledge engineering, neural networks, fuzzy logic, and Prolog. Features: Introduces the various branches of AI which include formal logic, reasoning, knowledge engineering, expert systems, neural networks, and fuzzy logic, etc. Includes a separate chapter on Prolog to introduce basic programming techniques in AI