VISUALIZATION OF EXPERT-SYSTEM RULE BASES

Verification and internal validation of rule-based systems can be trou blesome without the ability to view the software execution process. Hi gh-level development shells provide a means for ensuring the internal validity of expert systems by permitting the evaluation of rule-base c onsistency and completeness. Such evaluations permit the elimination o f rule subsumption which can affect negatively the internal validity o f expert systems, and they improve efficiency through the identificati on of redundant rule linkages and knowledge islands. An example of the usefulness of such visualization in the development of an expert syst em is discussed.