Expert system shells are software tools used to build expert systems. They provide a set of pre-built functionalities that facilitate the creation of knowledge bases, rule bases, and inference engines. An expert system shell includes a knowledge acquisition module that allows the user to specify the knowledge base and rules, and an inference engine that processes the knowledge and generates recommendations or conclusions.
Expert system shells can be classified into two categories: rule-based shells and frame-based shells. Rule-based shells provide a rule-based interface to create rules and define the reasoning process. Frame-based shells use a frame-based knowledge representation to represent the knowledge and define the inference process.
Examples of rule-based shells include CLIPS, JESS, and Drools, while examples of frame-based shells include KEE, G2, and OPS5. These shells offer a range of features that make the development of expert systems more efficient and effective, such as debugging tools, knowledge validation, and natural language interfaces.
Expert system shells have been widely used in various domains, including finance, medicine, engineering, and military, to name a few. They have proven to be effective in capturing and utilizing the expertise of human experts and automating decision-making processes.
