CHARACTERISTICS OF EXPERT SYSTEM

The following are some of the characteristics of Expert system:

• Expert system is capable of handling challenging decision problems and delivering solutions. Expert system uses knowledge rather than data for solution. Much of the knowledge is heuristic-based rather than algorithmic.
• The knowledge is encoded and maintained separately from the control program.
• Expert system has the capability to explain how the decision was made. It can also state why a particular piece of information was needed for the solution.

WHEN AN EXPERT SYSTEM CAN BE USED?

An Expert system can be used if the following conditions are met:

• The problem cannot be specified in terms of a well-defined algorithm.
• The problem requires consistency and standardization.
• The domain or problem area is narrow or limited.
• When the task is hazardous.
• There is scarcity of experts in the area.
• The problem involves complex logic or a large number of rules.
• Human experts have successfully solved similar problems.

ADVANTAGES OF EXPERT SYSTEM

Expert System is an application area of artificial intelligence. Its purpose is to analyze how
human experts make decisions and replicate this decision capability at affordable costs for
organizations. It advantages are:

• It enhances decision quality.
• It reduces the cost of consulting experts for problem solving.
• It provides quick and efficient solutions to problems in narrow area of specialization.
• It offers high reliability of expert suggestions or decisions.
• It gathers scarce expertise and uses if efficiently.
• It can tackle very complex problems that are difficult for human experts to solve.
• It can work on standard computer hardware.
• It can not only give solutions, but also the decision logic and how the solution was arrived at.

Hence, the explanation facility permits a review of the decision and its logic.