The communicative power of expert systems

'Expert Systems' or intelligent knowledge-based computer systems can be expected to have a considerable impact in the near future on the dissemination and use of technical expertise in practical situations. The potential benefits of such an approach to decision-making in applied science domains, for example, in anti-corrosive coating selection, are considerable. This paper argues, therefore, that a premium must be placed on such a system's performance as a communicator.
The structure and behaviour of a classical 'production system' are briefly described, and the communicative ability of such a system is analysed. This critical examination of a production system's question-answering capabilities highlights the inherent restrictions which the structure of this kind of system places on its explanatory and justificatory powers. An outline design for a less inhibitive structure is presented.
It is argued that the form in which the system provides 'answers' after the completion of a problem-solving session, may not yield sufficient appropriate information to the user, and a possible alternative view of a 'solution schema' is proposed.