An object-oriented framework for virtual diagnosis.

This paper presents an object-oriented approach to support, on the web, an integrated framework for diagnosis, investigation and treatment of disorders (diseases, computer faults, etc). In this framework, called Fuzzy Covering Theory (FCT), the knowledge is basically modeled through causal associations between objects and inference is abductive. In this new approach, it was necessary to specify the classes model using object - oriented methodology and the knowledge base model that was a flat file in Prolog. These models are discussed in this paper as well as the advantages and limitations of this new approach.