Constructing End-User Knowledge Manipulation Systems

Abstract The automation of knowledge acquisition for expert and decision support systems is concerned primarily with the development of more powerful tools and environments for knowledge engineers. We propose that the acquisition process might benefit from a more direct participation by the domain expert. An architecture and software toolkit, which supports the construction of end-user knowledge manipulation systems (EUKMS), is presented. EUKMS are strongly committed to an external knowledge representation at the interface which uses domain-familiar abstractions, language and objects, and maps them to an internal , computational representation which is hidden from the user. If given a predefined domain model, the implementation of elegant graphical user interfaces to knowledge bases, automatic operationalization of a user's rules as code, plus facilities to modify the rules, represent a significant advance in the development of systems which enable non-programming personnel to create and refine rules, without the mediation of a knowledge engineer. An application of the toolkit in the creation of an interface to a speech knowledge system is discussed. Our experience suggests that (i) EUKMS are achievable, (ii) may have a useful role in an integrated environment of complementary tools and techniques for knowledge acquisition, and (iii) the external knowledge representation employed in the user interface contributes to direct manipulation by the end-user and enhances computer-human communication.