Abstract

The paper begins with motivations, general and specific, for expert systems and simulation in the application areas of interest. The overall project is outlined from perspectives of its components, the research collaborators, the types of handheld devices envisioned, needs for explorations which are worked out on PCs first and then ported to PDAs and a rich collection of roles anticipated for simulation. Jess, an expert system shell written in Java, Java itself and a client-server set up in Java are fundamental in such studies. Past and continuing network explorations have employed PC networks and PC-workstation networks and provide systems knowledge about analogous complexes in which PDAs operate, in their own homogeneous network, or in heterogeneous networks in presence of PCs, workstations and other machines. Simulation examples worked out in PC and PC-workstation environments constitute test cases for networks where handhelds play a center role. Furthermore, simulation is integrated into several functions of the core PDA applications themselves.

Key Words

Handheld Devices, Personal Data Assistants, Hardware in the loop, Expert Systems, Emergency Responses