MASENO UNIVERSITY E-LEARNING CENTRE
SCS 437: INFORMATION SYSTEMS APPLICATIONS
Domains of AI
AI applications can be grouped under the three major areas of cognitive science, robotics, and natural interfaces.
Cognitive science
Deals with how human beings are able to be intelligent and aware. Studies human memory, learning, perception, and problem solving. Leads to the development of expert systems and other knowledge-based systems that add a knowledge base and some reasoning capability to information systems, adaptive learning systems that can modify their behaviors based on information they acquire as they operate. Fuzzy logic systems can process data that are incomplete or ambiguous, i.e., fuzzy data. Thus, they can solve unstructured problems with incomplete knowledge by developing approximate inferences and answers, as humans do.
Robotics
Produces robot machines with computer intelligence and computer-controlled, human-like physical capabilities: give robots the powers of sight, or visual perception; touch, or tactile capabilities, locomotion, or the physical ability to move over any terrain; and navigation, or the intelligence to properly find one’s way to a destination. Robotics can be widely applied in computer-aided manufacturing (CAM).
Natural Interfaces
The development of natural languages and speech recognition are major areas in natural interfaces. Developing computers and robots which are able to “talk” in conversational human languages and have them “understand” humans as easily as humans understand each other. Creation of Virtual reality which involves using multisensory human-computer interfaces that enable human users to experience computer-simulated objects, spaces, activities, and “worlds” as if they actually exist.
Virtual Reality
Virtual reality (VR) is computer-simulated reality. It has its origin in the efforts to build more natural, realistic, multisensory human/computer interfaces. So, VR relies on multisensory input/output devices such as a tracking headset with video goggles and stereo earphones, a data glove or jumpsuit with fiber-optic sensors that track your body movements, and a walker that monitors the movements of your feet. Then you can experience computer-simulated “virtual worlds” three-dimensionally through sight, sound, and touch. Thus, VR is also called telepresence. It allows you to interact with computer-simulated objects, entities, and environments as if they actually exist.
Current applications of VR are wide ranging and include computer-aided design (CAD), medical diagnostics and treatment, scientific experimentation in many physical and biological sciences, flight simulation for training the pilots and astronauts, product demonstrations, employee training, and entertainment, esp. 3-D video games. VR designers are creating everything from virtual weather patterns and wind tunnels to virtual cities and security markets. Application in the field of information technology includes development of 3-D models of telecommunications networks and databases. These virtual graphic representations of networks and databases makes it easier for IS specialists to visualize the structure and relationships an organization’s telecommunications networks and corporate databases, thus improving their design and maintenance.
VR becomes telepresence when users that can be anywhere in the world use VR systems to work alone or together at a remote site.
Intelligent Agents
An intelligent agent is a software surrogate for an end user or a process that fulfills a stated need or activity. An intelligent agent uses its in-built and learned knowledge about a person or process to make decisions and accomplish tasks in a way that fulfills the intentions of the user. Sometimes, an intelligent agent is given a graphic representation or persona, such as Einstein for a science advisor, Sherlock Holmes for an information search agent, and so on. Thus, intelligent agents (also called intelligent assistants or Wizards) are special purpose knowledge-based information systems that accomplish specific tasks for users.
The major types of intelligent agents are: -
1. User interface agents 2. Management information agents
User Interface Agents
• Interface Tutors: Observe user computer operations, correct user mistakes, and provide hints and advice on efficient software use. • Presentation Agents: Showing information in a variety of reporting and presentation forms and media based on user preferences. • Network Navigation Agents: Discover paths to information and provide ways to view information that are preferred by a user. • Role-Playing Agents: Play what-if games and other roles to help users understand information and make better decisions.
Information Management Agents
• Search Agents: Help users find files and databases, search for desired information, and suggest and find new types of information products, media, and resources. • Information Brokers: Provide commercial services to discover and develop information resources that fit the business or personal needs of a user. • Information Filters: Receive, find, filter, discard, save, forward, and notify users about products received or desired, including E-mail, voice-mail, and all other information media.
