|
In South Africa, people with
relatively low skills are expected to interact with highly
advanced processes and control systems. As operators they are
expected to run processes of high complexity using control systems
of a similar complexity. While they are able with time to build up
an intuitive concept of these systems, their knowledge is often
superficial and may cause them to take wrong decisions at crucial
moments. Expert technical training online is expected to improve
the understanding and productivity of these operators.
A computer-based system is to be
developed to interpret the behaviour of technical processes
on-line, in plain language, which will be understandable by
process operators. The system will use a new form of Artificial
Intelligence, called the Interpreting Expert System (IES). The IES
acts like an expert human who has direct access to the inner
dynamic details of a complicated technical process and who
explains all the associated issues in simple language for an
ordinary person. The explanations could be made in any South
African language and will be output as written messages or as
synthesized vocal messages via loudspeakers or headphones. This
will improve the understanding and training of inexperienced
people to make them more productive. |