Retrieving information from computers

To assist in this retrieval, developers have turned to natural language processing. This type of processing uses everyday speech patterns, words and grammar for commands. Users are able to use such systems more quickly than the command systems currently in use, and the results of natural language processing are promising. There are drawbacks to the systems, however, and they are not yet in widespread use. This research examines natural language systems and their application.

The problem being considered is how to retrieve efficiently the vast amount of information which has been accumulated in computer databases. Currently, the most common method of retrieval involves Boolean logic. In order to conduct a search to find all exempt employees with wages

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processing results in powerful systems. For example, a query might request all individuals who make more than the average salary for male employees. The natural language processor is able to calculate the correct list even if the average salary for male employees is not a discreet value on the system. Instead, the system calculates the average for male employees, then compares that figure to the salaries for other workers. The end result is that the user is able to access data which the system does not necessarily have discreetly available (Pitta, 1990, p. 281). One of the significant advantages of natural language processing, then, is the ability of computers to act on user commands without requiring that the user know where the information is located. The user does not necessarily know that the computer does not have the average salary for male employees stored; nor does the user have to know in which database or data set individual salaries are stored. Through natural language processing, the computer is able to seek the information, retrieve it, manipulate it to the user's specifications, and output results that meet the user's criteria. This ability has far-reaching implications. Through the user of natural language
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Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 1963
Approximate Pages = 8 (250 words per page)

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