| Copyright (c) 2007 Dean Barnard | | | | also used in mines and restricted places for |
| The general perception of information technology | | | | operations which are dangerous for human beings. |
| and computers in particular has been that of a | | | | They are also used in conducting delicate surgeries |
| computing mechanism primarily used to manipulate | | | | in hospitals. |
| data and present it in various ways. The | | | | Other terms which are associated with artificial |
| comparison with human intelligence has been | | | | intelligence are neural network and fuzzy logic. |
| rather tenuous and in the realm of science fiction. | | | | Neural networks as the name suggests is a type |
| It may therefore come as a surprise to many | | | | of system which is designed to replicate human |
| that scientists and engineers have been working | | | | decision process. The tree like structure with |
| on systems which may replicate organic | | | | different path in the decision process forms the |
| intelligence in future. In fact, many algorithms and | | | | units of a neural network. It is evident that neural |
| software have already been designed to mimic | | | | networks are essentially hierarchical and follow a |
| real intelligence. | | | | definite pattern. |
| Artificial intelligence has found widespread use in | | | | As against a rule based approach, fuzzy logic |
| biometrics. Fingerprint readers are commonplace | | | | claims a more exalted place in the pantheons of |
| and are extensively deployed in access control | | | | artificial intelligence. Some scientists believe that |
| systems. Face and iris recognition have lately | | | | human intelligence is not pure logic and has an |
| become popular security devices. | | | | enormous amount of fuzziness. Two people under |
| Expert systems are a branch of artificial | | | | similar circumstances may very well behave in |
| intelligence where computers are used to play the | | | | different fashion. They therefore conclude that |
| role of experts. They are also known as decision | | | | true intelligence is actually fuzzy. However in |
| support systems and were first deployed by the | | | | practice, it is not easy to mathematically model |
| military. They are used to help military | | | | fuzziness. Probability and random number theory |
| commanders to take tactical decisions under | | | | have assumed importance and these concepts |
| battle conditions. Sometimes the amount of | | | | are used widely in designing systems with fuzzy |
| processing and calculations on the field can best | | | | logic. |
| be solved by expert systems. As the name | | | | The subset of artificial intelligence consists of |
| suggests, state of the art technology can at | | | | Expert systems with decision support systems |
| present only help in assisting people in taking | | | | and Robotics. These are implemented with neural |
| decisions. However, researchers in this field are | | | | networks or fuzzy logic. Human brain is too |
| confident in creating expert systems which will | | | | complex and the logic widely dispersed, to be |
| completely replace human interface. | | | | replicated in its entirety. Therefore those |
| Robotics is another exciting area under the | | | | mechanical activities which do not require much |
| umbrella of artificial intelligence. As of now, robots | | | | logic and are hierarchical in nature are best suited |
| are assisting humans in automating factory | | | | for present day applications .A day will certainly |
| operations. Computer aided design and computer | | | | come when human intelligence is fully replicated by |
| aided manufacture are already crafting complex | | | | artificial means, though it may not happen in the |
| mechanical devices with high accuracy. Robots are | | | | immediate future. |