A primitives-based generic approach to knowledge acquisition

A primitives-based generic approach to perform knowledge acquisition is proposed. The approach is generic in the sense that it enables the user to construct domain-specific knowledge acquisition tools for specific tasks. It is also primitives-based since the construction of specific knowledge acquisition tools is based on a primitives kernel that contains problem solving primitives, acquisition primitives, interaction primitives, representation schemas and knowledge verification primitives. A generic knowledge acquisition shell is developed on the basis of this approach. It facilitates the development of proper specific knowledge acquisition tools for specific tasks through the construction of experimental knowledge acquisition tools. Furthermore, the shell is developed as an open architecture (i.e. separating the generic knowledge acquisition structure from specific knowledge acquisition structures) so that further enhancement can be done readily.