Expert Systems

The paper gives an overview of expert systems discussing all aspects concerned with them. Starting with the definition and evolution of expert systems the paper tells how, from the traditional mainstream of Artificial intelligence the growth of expert systems took place. Then the architecture and working of expert system is analyzed, giving details about the working of each component and its functions. Expert system shells and blackboards which have become an integral part of expert systems are also analyzed. Inference mechanisms used in expert systems and the design considerations while creating an expert system are also considered. Lastly the paper concludes with a case study of MYCIN (a famous expert system) and the challenges before the current expert systems to reach the next generation of expert systems.