Expert Systems

A variety of organizational computing applications, such as information systems, currently assist human service professionals in making decisions. This paper concerns a class of computing applications, called expert systems, which have evolved from the field of artificial intelligence. Expert systems are computer programs which use interface schemes to apply generalized human expertise to the facts of a specific case. Expert system concepts, potentials and implications are presented along with the issues involved in their development and use. A simple expert system, written in BASIC, is included to illustrate the concepts. Expert systems offer great potential for assisting human service professionals in making complex decisions.