CHAPTER ONE

1.0 INTRODUCTION

An expert system is a computer application that solves complicated problems that would otherwise require extensive human expertise. To do so, it simulates the human reasoning process by applying specific knowledge and interfaces. Expert systems also use human knowledge to solve problems that normally would require human intelligence. These expert systems represent the expertise knowledge as data or rules within the computer. These rules and data can be called upon when needed to solve problems. Books and manual guides        have a tremendous amount of knowledge but a human has a read and interpret the knowledge for it to be used.

A computer program designed to model the problem solving ability of a human expert (Durkin 1994). A system that uses human knowledge captured in a computer to solve problems that ordinarily require human expertise (Turban and Aroson, 2001).

An intelligent computer program that uses knowledge and inference procedures to solve problems that was difficult enough to acquire significant human expertise for their solutions (Fiegenbayunm).

Expert systems typically have a number of several components. The knowledge base is the component that contains the knowledge obtained from the domain expert. Normally the way of representing knowledge is using rules. The inference engine is the component that manipulates the knowledge found in the knowledge base as needed to arrive at a result or solution. The user interface is the component that allows the user to query the system and receive the results of those queries. Many expert systems also have an explanation facility which explains why a question was asked or how a result or solution was obtained.

There are several major application areas of expert systems such as agriculture, education, environment, law, manufacturing, medicine power systems etc. The most commonly used among practitioners are agriculture, education, environment and medicine expert system due to the maturity of the field by revealing the acceptance of the technology by the commercial sectors.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1.1. STATEMENT OF PROBLEMS

  The computers are indispensable throughout the research process. The role of computer becomes more important when the research is on a large sample. Data can be stored in computers for immediate use or can be stored in auxiliary memories like floppy disk, compact disk, universal serial buses ( pen drives) or memory cards, so that the same can be retrieved later. The computers assist the researcher throughout different phases of research processes, which includes:

1. 1. This material content is developed to serve as a GUIDE for students to conduct academic research work
2. 2. As a source for additional understanding of the subject.
3. 3. As a source for ideas for your own research work (if properly referenced).
4. 4. For PROPER paraphrasing (see your university definition of plagiarism and acceptable paraphrase)
5. 5. Direct citing (if referenced properly)
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