CSC 379 SUM2008:Week 5, Group 4

Decision Support Systems

Decision Support Systems (DSS) are computer-based information systems that aid in decision making. Ideally, a DSS is a piece of interactive software that provides raw data, documents, knowledge, and/or business models to make decisions or aid in a decision making process.

The different classifications of Decision Support Systems include:

• Model-Driven - emphasizes access to and manipulation of a type of model.
• Communications-Driven - includes more than one person working together.
• Data-Driven - emphasizes access to and manipulation of internal-company data or other external data.
• Document-Driven - emphasizes access to and manipulation of unstructured data in varying electronic formats.
• Knowledge-Driven - provides specialized information and problem-solving expertise.

DSS in the Military

The military is on the forefront of Decision Support Systems. Due to the critical life and death nature and the necessity for immediate response, DSS is ideal for assisting in tactical decisions that require limited yet key information at the correct instant. In particular, the United States military uses DSS in various forms and degrees in some of the following systems:

• Pilot display systems in aircraft
• Missile and targeting systems for various weaponry
• Battle commands stations (particularly Naval Battlegroups)
• Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
• Radar, Jamming, and Electronic Warfare vehicles

The most advanced forms of DSS uses in the military exist in the latest generation of tactical fighter aircraft. To reduce training cost and increase aircraft performance, the most advanced fighter aircraft use only one crew member (the pilot). Previous multi-role aircraft had at least two crew members to split the task of controlling the aircraft, monitoring the radar, handling weapons deployment, and maintaining communications. With only one pilot, an aircraft usually has too much information to process at any one time.

It was found that pilots were extremely overloaded with so much information that they were unable to make effective decisions, let alone fly the aircraft safely. It was decided to create a system that would limit the information and allow the aircraft to decide what information should be displayed to the pilot at certain times.

For example, the latest multi-branch multi-role fighter, the F-35, has only one huge primary screen for the cockpit as well as a high definition heads up display. Previously, aircraft were equipped with three or four multi-function displays as well as numerous analog displays an and cluttered heads up display. With a single display and a high definition heads-up-display screen, the pilot is able to customize the information displayed to his liking and the current mission. In addition, computer systems automatically determine certain information that is important to the pilot at given intervals during the mission (e.g. weapon information during the attack stage, navigation and landing information during approach, etc.)

A challenging and controversial, while also the most important, is the friend and foe identification system. Systems built into warplanes help determine and tell the pilot whether targeted and identified objects are friendly or enemy. In a battle, this is the most important information, and at times could be the most difficult to determine. The computer system does the best job possible based on radar cross section, visual identity through various frequency spectrums, and other data to determine identity. In the end, it should always be the decision of the pilot to fire weapons. However, newer systems are increasingly removing the control from the pilot to the computer by means of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles.

With the evolution of DSS in the hands of the military, it is important to improve logic and guarantee that the last critical decision is in the hands of decision making human beings.

DSS in Health Care

Decision support has been around for years for the health care industry in the form of the Physicians' Desk Reference (PDR). The PDR is a tool that doctors can use to look up treatment options to certain situations. The PDR has recently become electronic, allowing doctors to have the PDR on their hand held devices. Some health systems are using AI systems to help make diagnosis. You can find a full list here: [1]. DSS's are a great way for a hospital to ensure the quality of care by being able to monitor treatment and compare it to the expected treatment for a patient. Another way it assists is to speed up work flow by putting doctors on the right track faster.

People who are against DSS in health care say that a computer cannot process all of the complicated issues that go into treating a patient. There are several issues to take into account when treating a patient including finances and religious beliefs. Another reason that people are wary of clinical DSS is that the data behind the systems is not always accurate. Medical science changes often and the data that backs a DSS needs to be updated and verified on a constant basis. Also it is unknown where the sources of this data is. Recently the PDR came under attack for using information about drugs that were still in an experimental phase [2].

Other applications

Additionally, Decision Support Systems can be utilized in a large number of other disciplines. Some of the other uses include banking, economics, business and management, agriculture, and transit. However, DSSs can be applied to any situation that needs organization and decision making.

Assignment definition

As we become more willing to incorporate more complex software into our daily lives, we are able to solve problems with fewer people and less complex organizational structures. To allow one person to take the place of a decision group, decision-support systems have been developed. These systems distill expert knowledge and present it to the individual. Many decision-support systems are in use in medicine, to guide diagnoses, recommend treatments to practitioners, and assist with risk-assessment of procedures. Software also helps forestall medical emergencies through patient monitoring. In the military, decision support systems are everywhere, from the fast-paced environment of a fighter-jet cockpit to command-and-control centers. Other decision-support systems are used in business and government.

It is easy to see how decision-support systems could cause harm, as well as prevent it. Examine the ethical considerations raised in the design and use of decision-support systems (in general). What, if any ethical responsibilities apply to the software engineer in development of a decision-support system where errors in its design or use could result in serious harm? If a decision-support system is shown to reduce harm, improve quality of life, or otherwise provide a net-benefit to its users (fewer medical errors, battleground casualties, reduced costs of providing an essential public service, etc.), is it unethical to resist its adoption? Please explain your answers.

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decision_support_system
• http://www.openclinical.org/clinical.html
• http://www.cioinsight.com/c/a/Past-Opinions/DecisionSupport-Systems-Lessons-from-the-Military/