CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the study
A computer is digital electronic machine capable of accepting input data, processing and producing an output (information) (kiprop 2007). The computer is an important tool that plays a good role in the analysis of any subject that is to be programmed. Though before a computer can be successfully programmed and utilized, it must be studied Hence, “computer Science” which is the study of computer and its programming is mainly about the design and analysis, modeling and application of computer related system.
An expert system is design to solve complex problems by reason through bodies of knowledge represented mainly through convention procedural code (Jacson, 1998).
In artificial intelligence, an expert system is a computer system that emulates the decision–making ability of a human expert. Expert systems can perform routine expert tasks such as the regular analysis of information or routine diagnosis of symptoms (Kunze 1989). The expert, relieved of these tasks can spend more time on the difficult analyses. Providing a useful way for experts to develop and test ideas and theories. Examples of Expert Systems
MYCIN: It was based on backward chaining and could identify various bacteria that could cause acute infections.
DENDRAL: Expert system used for chemical analysis to predict molecular structure.
PXDES: Expert system used to predict the degree and type of lung cancer.
Advantages of Expert System
- Enhance decencies quality.
- Reduces the costof consulting an expert for solving the problem.
- Provide a quick and efficient solution to a problem.
- Offers higher reliability.
- It can tackle a very complex problem that is difficult for a human expert to solve.
Computer Science has enabled the development of expert system which in turn improved human performance in their related field in life. The most important applied area of AI is the field of expert systems. An expert system is a knowledge-based system that employs knowledge about its application domain and uses an inference (reason) procedure to solve problems that would otherwise require human competence or expertise.
The development of experts system that capture skills and expertise of a human expert has not been easy and date back to the Second World War, where experts of computer tried relentlessly to develop technique or systems that would allow act more intelligently than human. But recently, experts system have proven their value by aiding for example, medical professionals in diagnosing diseases and scheduling task as well mechanics in trouble shooting locomotive problems and configuring complex computer hardware (J de kleer,1992).
Hence, this project harnesses the abilities of experts on system to develop an expert system on malaria diagnostic system that will aid medical professional or personnel (e.g. Doctors, paramedics) in the diagnosis of malaria and its associated symptoms.
1.2 Statement of the problems
In the past, diagnosis has been plague by several factors based on the current manual process:
- File and record about patients are not properly kept : it is important for the doctors and medical establishments to properly maintain the records scientifically(computerized) because it’s the only way to prove that the treatment was carried out properly
- Drugs prescription is hardly ever done with the right age of the patient in mind: with the computerized method of administering drug
iii. Error are easily made and hardly detected: keeping the records computerized will help eliminate the problem of keeping records manually.
- Information is not well maintained: with the computerized process information can be maintained because its cant be accessed by an unauthorized person
1.3 Aim and Objectives
The aim of this study is to provide reasoned advice at a comparable level to that provided by a human expert and objectives are stated below.
- To help fight malaria mostly in Africa and in the world at large.
- To appraise the contributions of an expert system in medicine.
iii. To inform the medical practitioner that they can enjoy prolific alliance with computer systems.
- A Flexible and relatively easily maintained systems.
- An improvement to quality by providing a consistent source of reliable expert guidance.
- It reduces the amount of wastage in terms of time and human resource
vii. The containment of medical diagnosis by substituting software systems for skilled people to help in assistance.
1.4 Significance of the study
- The significance of expert systems in the diagnosis of malaria are too numerous to mention but a few has been listed out below;
- It takes a long time to train medical experts to know the symptoms of malaria and be able to give out the right drugs but with the proposed new system, only what is needed is the skills of operating the new system which requires entering patients information and their symptoms into the system and in turn the system brings out the type of malaria and the drugs to combat it.
iii. Consistent solution: Computers do not suffer some of the weaknesses of humans, such as getting tired or ill and they are more easily access than human experts.
- More time to evaluate decision result: Advice is obtained from the experts system quickly, leaving more time to weigh the possible result before action is taken.
- Human expert development is a continuous exercise but an expert system is built only once and updated continuously with new technologies.
1.5 SCOPE OF THE STUDY
Expert system on malaria diagnostic is a software designed to assist doctors and medical professional in diagnosis and prescription of different ailment as a result of malaria. This system will simulate expert reasoning, taking into consideration the clinical sign and test result. It generates accurate treatment, advice addressing and prescriptions to possible drugs.
1.6 Limitation of the study
During this research work, below are the limitation that were encountered:
- Inadequate information from expert in expert system.
- Lack of electricity to browse more on expert system
- Lack of equipment for research
1.7 Definition of Terms
DIAGNOSTIC: This is concerned with diagnosis; used for furthering diagnosis or can be defined as characteristic or indicative of a disease.
A.I: Known as artificial intelligence in full and can be defined as the branch of computer science that deal with writing computer programs that can solve problems creatively.
PARAMEDICS: A person trained to assist medical professionals and to give emergency medical treatment
MALARIA: An infective disease caused by sporozoan parasites that are transmitted through the bite of an infected Anopheles mosquito; marked by paroxysms of chills and fever
HOSPITAL: A medical institution where sick or injured people are given medical or surgical care.
MEDICATION: The act of treating with medicines or remedies
PHYSICIAN: A licensed medical practitioner
AILMENT: An often persistent bodily disorder or disease; a cause for complaining
SOFTWARE: These written programs or procedures or rules and associated documentation pertaining to the operation of a computer system and that are stored in read/write memory
MICRO STROKE: Is a prototype expert system designed to categorize and diagnose stroke
types based on clinical information. The knowledge base of micro stroke includes
information from large stroke registries.
COMPUTER: is a machine that can be instructed to carry out sequences of arithmetic or logical operations automatically via computer programming. Modern computers have the ability to follow generalized sets of operations, called programs. These programs enable computers to perform an extremely wide range of tasks.
MICROSOFT VISUAL BASIC: Visual basic generation is third-generation event-driven programming language and integrated development environment from Microsoft for it COM programming model first released in 1991.
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