An interactive visualisation tool for case-based reasoners

Case-based reasoning (CBR) offers many opportunities for human interaction as part of its reasoning cycle. In particular, one of the main advantages of case-based methods is their use of real case data, the sort of data that humans are intrinsically comfortable with-this is typically in contrast to the rule-based and model-based knowledge of more traditional first-principles reasoning systems. As a result, human participation has been a key factor in a number of case-based systems, particularly when it comes to assisting in the retrieval and adaptation processes. In this article we consider the case authoring process and note that, although the authoring process has always been driven by human involvement, it is probably the least well developed CBR process when it comes to offering real-time assistance to the human author. Many conventional CBR authoring tools provide editing and auditing facilities only. In this article we describe the innovative approach behind the CASCADE authoring system, which allows case authors to interact with, and be guided by, a model of case competence through a variety of novel visualisation tools. We argue that this mode of interaction facilitates the more rapid development of high quality case bases.