Laws@SRI-AI.ARPA@sri-unix.UUCP (07/22/83)
From: Ken Laws <Laws@SRI-AI.ARPA>
Here are a few definitions taken from a Teknowledge/CEI ad:
Artificial Intelligence
That subfield of Computer Science which is concerned with
symbolic reasoning and problem solving by computer.
Knowledge Engineering
The engineering discipline whereby knowledge is integrated
into computer systems in order to solve complex problems
normally required [sic] in a high level of human expertise.
Knowledge/Expert Systems
Computer systems that embody knowledge including inexact,
heuristic and subjective knowledge; the results of knowledge
engineering.
Knowledge Representation
A formalism for representing facts and rules about a subject
or specialty.
Knowledge Base
A base of information encoded in a knowledge representation
for a particular application.
Inference Technique
A methodology for reasoning about information in knowledge
representation [sic] and drawing conclusions from that knowledge.
Task Domains
Application areas for knowledge systems such as analysis of
oil well drilling problems or identification of computer
system failures.
Heuristics
The informal, judgmental knowledge of an application area
that constitutes the ``rules of good judgement'' in the field.
Heuristics also encompass the knowledge of how to solve problems
efficiently and effectively, how to plan steps in solving
a complex problem, how to improve performance, and so forth.
Production Rules
A widely-used knowledge representation in which knowledge
is formalized into ``rules'' containing an ``IF'' part and
a ``THEN'' part (also called a condition and an action).
The knowledge represented by the production rule is applicable
to a line of reasoning if the IF part of the rule is satisfied:
consequently, the THEN part can be concluded or its
problem-solving action taken.
-- Ken Laws