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Expert systems

Computers can be programmed with rules to use to make simple decisions.

A more sophisticated example of this is an expert system. This is where computers are programmed to accept a large number of items of information and, based on rules set in the , make decisions, then further decisions.

The best-known examples of these are automatic pilots in aeroplanes and diagnosis applications used to help doctors. In both cases these systems are only as good as the rules programmed by the human computer programmer and cannot deal with the unexpected. They need to be used as aids to human decision making only. The actual doctor must confirm a diagnosis and treatment suggested by an expert system.

Magnified area of a cockpit demonstrating the autopilot function

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