On The Relationship between Knowledge-based Systems Theory and Application Programs: Leveraging Task Specific Approaches

Abstract

The relationship between theories of knowledge-based problem solving and application-level programs is not well understood. The traditional view has been that given some knowledge-based systems theory, a successful application program built following the theory provides strong support for the theory. This viewpoint fails largely because the link between theory and application is totally through the human implementer of the application program. Insight for how to cope with this problem can be obtained from the Knowledge Level Hypothesis (KLH) of Newell. But in order for the KLH to be helpful, we must extend it to incorporate concepts of control knowledge. After describing the theory/application linkage problem, we go on to give an overview of the task specific approaches to knowledge-based system. We then discuss both Newell’s KLH and an extension to it that will help in solving the AI Theory/AI application linkage problem. We end with the recommendation that knowledge-based systems theory could be grouped with those disciplines in which theory verification by experimental inquiry is the norm.