ALEX: automatic learning in expert systems

An environment for automatic learning (ALEX) has been designed and implemented in a modular fashion. The system consists of an example generation module (i.e., tutor software system representing the application domain); the learning subsystem; an analysis component; and the user interface and control structure integrating these components. As the core of the learning subsystem the incremental learning algorithm ID-H has been developed, based on the incremental application of hybrid clustering. To improve the overall performance of the learning environment, a feedback loop between the results of a learning step and the input of the next learning step has been introduced. The learning environment can automatically direct its learning strategy according to its assessment of its performance