GUI Independent Expert System Shell

Expert systems are widely used in the Air Force and have proven to be an excellent solution in a wide range of problems (e.g. diagnostic, fault isolation, preventive maintenance, help desks, repair assistance). However, to be implemented widely and effectively, expert systems need to be developed in a cost effective manner and integrated within existing programs through the user interfaces currently in place. Current expert system tools lack a generic approach to integration of developed applications into existing programs. Applications which have been tightly integrated have typically used a highly customized approach that both made the development of the expert system logic costly and resulted in such customized code that it could not be easily applied to other applications. This proposal is to create an expert system delivery environment that will allow applications, developed using easy to learn shells, to be integrated in a GUI-independent manner within a wise range of user interfaces and on a wide range of platforms. EXSYS Inc. is ideally suited to do this work due to its 11 year history of designing expert system shells and making complex technology approachable by the average user.