The Cutting Edge

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The Cutting Edge

Chapter 17Chapter 17

Expert Systems, Robotics, Expert Systems, Robotics, and Virtual Realityand Virtual Reality


Artificial Intelligence (AI)

AI is a field of study that AI is a field of study that explores how computers explores how computers can be used for tasks can be used for tasks that require the human that require the human characteristics of characteristics of intelligenceintelligence, , imaginationimagination, and , and intuitionintuition..


AI Interests

AI includes the following branches of AI includes the following branches of study:study:

• Problem solvingProblem solving• Natural languagesNatural languages• Expert systemsExpert systems• RoboticsRobotics


Problem Solving

This area of AI This area of AI includes solving includes solving simple problems simple problems such as such as gamesgames and complex and complex strategies strategies needed by the needed by the militarymilitary..


Natural Language

This branch of AI This branch of AI involves the involves the study of the study of the human/computer human/computer interface that interface that uses standard uses standard English.English.


Expert Systems

Expert systems Expert systems present the present the computer as an computer as an “expert” on some “expert” on some particular topic.particular topic.


Robotics

Robotics is a branch of Robotics is a branch of AI that is concerned AI that is concerned with endowing with endowing computer-controlled computer-controlled machines with machines with electronic eyes, ears, electronic eyes, ears, limbs, and voice.limbs, and voice.


Early AI

Early AI research revealed that the Early AI research revealed that the problem of problem of simulating human simulating human intelligenceintelligence is far more complex is far more complex than feeding facts into a computer.than feeding facts into a computer.

Current research focuses instead on Current research focuses instead on how computers learnhow computers learn..


How Computers Learn

Computers learn by being given a Computers learn by being given a knowledge baseknowledge base which is a set of which is a set of facts and rules about those facts.facts and rules about those facts.

Next, the computer uses an Next, the computer uses an inference engineinference engine to access, select, to access, select, and interpret a set of rules to and interpret a set of rules to make up make up new factsnew facts..


AI Debate

For many years, researchers in AI For many years, researchers in AI have debated about whether or have debated about whether or not a computer can think.not a computer can think.

So far, AI systems cannot match a So far, AI systems cannot match a human’s ability to solve problems human’s ability to solve problems through original thought.through original thought.


Data Mining

Since computers solve Since computers solve problems by step-by-step problems by step-by-step logic, they are ideally logic, they are ideally suited for data mining.suited for data mining.

Data mining is the process Data mining is the process of extracting previously of extracting previously unknown information unknown information from existing data.from existing data.


Natural Language Ambiguities

Humans want to be able to use Humans want to be able to use natural languages with computers.natural languages with computers.

However, natural languages, such as However, natural languages, such as English, are full of ambiguities.English, are full of ambiguities.

Computers need more than Computers need more than vocabulary and grammatical rules vocabulary and grammatical rules to truly understand what is being to truly understand what is being “said” to them.“said” to them.


The Context of Natural Languages

An additional problem for computers An additional problem for computers is the context in which the words is the context in which the words are spoken.are spoken.

Humans have a sense of context. Humans have a sense of context. However, AI researchers have However, AI researchers have been unable to “teach” a computer been unable to “teach” a computer to understand based on context.to understand based on context.


Expert Systems

An expert system is a software An expert system is a software package used with an extensive package used with an extensive set of organized data.set of organized data.

The organization of data presents The organization of data presents the computer as an “expert” on a the computer as an “expert” on a particular topic.particular topic.


Examples of Computer Experts

Depending on the nature of the Depending on the nature of the organized data, the computer organized data, the computer expert can assist with:expert can assist with:

• meal planningmeal planning• medical diagnosismedical diagnosis• financial planningfinancial planning


Expert Systems in Business

Businesses use expert systems to:Businesses use expert systems to:• make the knowledge of human make the knowledge of human

experts accessible to more peopleexperts accessible to more people• simplify assembly-line productionsimplify assembly-line production• efficiently route transportation efficiently route transportation

systems demandssystems demands


Building an Expert System

Most organizations begin with an Most organizations begin with an expert system shell and fill in the expert system shell and fill in the knowledge they will be working with.knowledge they will be working with.

The expert system shell includes the The expert system shell includes the basic structure that will be used to basic structure that will be used to access the knowledge after it is access the knowledge after it is entered.entered.


Knowledge Engineer

The role of a knowledge engineer is The role of a knowledge engineer is to gather the information needed to gather the information needed to feed into the expert system to feed into the expert system shell and then to link them in a shell and then to link them in a way that simulates the way a way that simulates the way a human expert thinks.human expert thinks.


Robotics

Robotics is a field of AI that tries to Robotics is a field of AI that tries to endow human capabilities to a endow human capabilities to a machine-controlled entity.machine-controlled entity.

However, most robots are not found However, most robots are not found in homes, schools, or offices. in homes, schools, or offices. Instead, they are in factories.Instead, they are in factories.


Robots in the Factory

Those tireless, mechanical arms in Those tireless, mechanical arms in factories are actually robots.factories are actually robots.

A robot is a computer-controlled A robot is a computer-controlled device that can physically device that can physically manipulate its surroundings manipulate its surroundings according to a set of predescribed according to a set of predescribed conditions.conditions.


Field Robots

Field robots are used to inspect and Field robots are used to inspect and repair places that would be unsafe repair places that would be unsafe for people.for people.

Field robots have been used to clean Field robots have been used to clean chemical spills, explore volcanoes, chemical spills, explore volcanoes, inspect nuclear power plants, and inspect nuclear power plants, and other dangerous sites.other dangerous sites.


Virtual Reality (VR)

The purpose of VR is The purpose of VR is to engage a user in to engage a user in a computer-created a computer-created environment so that environment so that the user physically the user physically interacts with that interacts with that environment.environment.


VR Immersion

Sometimes the user is so absorbed Sometimes the user is so absorbed with the VR interaction that they are with the VR interaction that they are said to be immersed in it.said to be immersed in it.

VR alters perceptions partly by VR alters perceptions partly by appealing to several senses at once.appealing to several senses at once.

Sight, hearing, and touch are all Sight, hearing, and touch are all affected by images that respond to affected by images that respond to user movement.user movement.


VR Travel

VR allows users to travel VR allows users to travel to various places while to various places while staying put.staying put.

In addition, users can In addition, users can travel into places that travel into places that are not possible in the are not possible in the real world (e.g. inside real world (e.g. inside molecules).molecules).


Promises of VR

VR is very new technology. Practical VR is very new technology. Practical application of this branch of AI will application of this branch of AI will require improvement in:require improvement in:

• HeadsetsHeadsets• Data glovesData gloves


Headsets andData Gloves

HeadsetsHeadsets produce 3-D images for the produce 3-D images for the user to see. Position sensors in the user to see. Position sensors in the headset tell the VR system the headset tell the VR system the direction the user is looking.direction the user is looking.

Data glovesData gloves also have sensors that allow also have sensors that allow the user to interact with the computer-the user to interact with the computer-generated world.generated world.


Conclusion

The immediate prospects for expert The immediate prospects for expert systems, robots, and virtual reality systems, robots, and virtual reality systems are bright.systems are bright.

More research in artificial More research in artificial intelligence is needed to overcome intelligence is needed to overcome current limitations.current limitations.

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The Cutting Edge