NATIONAL OPEN UNIVERSITY OF NIGERIA

UNIVERSITY VILLAGE, PLOT 91, CASDASTRAL ZONE, NNAMDI AZIKIWE EXPRESS WAY, JABI, ABUJA.
FACULTY OF SCIENCES
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2014 EXAMINATION

COURSE CODE:                                                                              CIT474

COURSE TITLE:                                                                             Introduction to Expert Systems

TIME ALLOWED:                                                                          3 Hours

INSTRUCTIONS:                                                                            Answer any Five (5) Questions

Q1.       A knowledge-based computer program that exhibits, within a specific domain, a degree of expertise in problem solving that is comparable to that of a human expert.  Individuals who interact with this system are assigned various role As such this system  has its strengths and drawbacks. List and briefly explain these Roles of Individuals who interact with such system. Also briefly discuss the drawbacks of the system.      (14 Marks)

Q2.a     The rules composed by subject matter experts must be translated and stored in the Knowledge-base before they can be exec Rules are transformed into machine- readable  forms by the Rule Translator. Using a well labeled diagram illustrate and briefly explain how the rule translator are generated from grammar                                       (14 Marks)

Q3.a     The Rule Engine executes Knowledge-base rule Illustrate using a well labeled diagram the steps involved in the execution of the rules and state rule actions  which may be included.                                                                                                        (7 Marks)

b.    A knowledge-based computer program that exhibits, within a specific domain, a degree of expertise in problem solving that is comparable to that of a human expert.  These systems are typically written in special programming languages which have  certain distinguishing characteristics from other programming languages.

List any seven of such characteristics                                                                                (7 Marks)

Q4.a     Highlight any four advantages of an interface which has the ability to interact with users using human language such as English, as opposed to computer language,  a command line interface, or a graphical user interface                                                  (4 Marks)

      b.   State and briefly discuss the two main classes of Programming languages,

• Procedural
• Declarative

Q5.       Using a well labeled diagram illustrate the system which would ask a series of questions designed to emulate the thinking of an expert in the field of infectious disease and from the responses to these questions give a list of possible diagnoses, with probability, as well as recommend treatment. What is the system called?

List and briefly discuss the two major components which make up this system.          (14 Marks)

Q6.a     What is a Blackboard System?                                                                                               (1 Mark)

     b.    Define a rule-based expert system                                                                                                    (1 Mark)

     c.     Highlight and illustrate using a well labeled diagram the:

(i)        Components of a blackboard system.

(ii)       Basic Blackboard system                                                                             (8 Marks)

   d.      Highlight any four conditions in which a demon can be triggered                                 (4 Marks)

Q7.a     Define a rule-based expert system                                                                                                   (1 Mark)

      b.   Highlight any four conditions in which a demon can be triggered                                 (4 Marks)

      c.    Using a well labeled diagram illustrate and discuss the Architecture of Hearsay-II.    (9 Marks)