Exhibit 2.3
1980Expert systems
Programs containing hundreds or thousands of “if… then…” rules enter business use. Digital Equipment’s XCON configures computer orders and is credited with major savings.
Why it is in the museum
Progress was not continuous. Periods of great expectations were followed by technical limits, disappointment and cuts in funding.
What supports this exhibit
Primary scientific paper
The operation and business use of XCON/R1 as an expert system.
Main source: McDermott, J. (1982), “R1: A Rule-Based Configurer of Computer Systems”, Artificial Intelligence.
What to keep in mind: Primary source.
Ask the exhibit
This small guide uses only the information documented on this exhibit page. If your question goes beyond that evidence, it will say so instead of inventing an answer.
Start with one of the suggested questions above, or type your own.