This post introduces the structure and format for meetings with subject matter experts. These meetings become the "live" facilitation sessions used to collect knowledge for the expert system's database. Acquiring expert knowledge Expert knowledge is collected by knowledge engineers through live facilitation sessions. Knowledge engineers acquire domain knowledge from subject matter experts through a range... Continue Reading →
Knowledge engineering | step 6 – project planning (challenges and strategies)
Knowledge engineering can be treated like a project. In some respects, the creation of a knowledge base is a one-time collection of activities that pursue a specific end in the creation of a knowledge base. This work will take considerable time and resources. Planning and management should be part of the process. This post covers some... Continue Reading →
Creating an expert system knowledge base: step 5 – proto-branch creation
Creating an expert system's knowledge base is the heart of knowledge engineering. This description covers steps 5 of the process at a high level. Proto-branch creation Following random content creation, the knowledge engineering team can move next to the creation of prototype branches through the domain. These branches will form the basis for the eventual... Continue Reading →
Creating an expert system knowledge base: step 4 – random content generation
Creating an expert system's knowledge base is the goal of knowledge engineering. This post describes random content generation at a high level. Random content generation Once the scope of the an expert system's knowledge base is determined, the next step is random generation of knowledge-based content. Random content generation creates sprouts of the branches that... Continue Reading →
Creating an expert system knowledge base: steps 1-3
Creating an expert system's knowledge base is the heart of knowledge engineering. This description covers the first 3 steps of the process at a high level. Orientation Knowledge engineers require orientation to the processes and methodologies that will be used to create the knowledge base for the particular system under construction. Subject matter experts also... Continue Reading →
Expert systems and the digital divide
Expert systems rely on computers to deliver non-expert reasoning, support and guidance to non-expert users. To benefit from this expert knowledge, users must have access to the technology, either directly on their own, or with the help of others. Expert systems are machines Expert systems deliver their output through computers. Paper-based "choose your own adventure" versions... Continue Reading →
Building intelligent tech | Experts and the knowledge engineering process
Intelligent technologies like expert systems are designed to deliver expert knowledge to non-expert users. Finding good subject matter experts and using them the appropriately are critical to success. The importance of expert knowledge The knowledge engineering process will depend on the availability of expert knowledge. At least one subject matter expert with specialized domain knowledge... Continue Reading →
Knowledge engineering | Scope
Knowledge engineers work to capture knowledge from a messy, abstract domain and turn it into logic-based rules structured in a very methodical way within a concrete, tangible knowledge base. Managing scope is a key to success. Managing scope of problems While work is under way to define the problem and potential responses, knowledge engineers must define... Continue Reading →
Getting started on knowledge engineering | Problems and responses
Expert systems can respond to real world problems. It's important for knowledge engineers to decide on the right problem before work begins. Defining the problem and the response Earlier, we talked about 3 key questions a knowledge engineer should consider: Is this a problem for non-experts that wouldn’t be a problem for experts? Is there a... Continue Reading →
Engineering knowledge in a domain
A knowledge engineer's job is to mine domain knowledge from human subject matter experts. The domain knowledge is the knowledge in a particular field of expertise. The Ins and Outs of Domains The domain can't just be "everything" or "all knowledge." It would be too difficult to cover everything in the knowledge base. You don't... Continue Reading →