1.1 Introduction
Inkjet Printer troubleshooting is a form of problem solving, often applied to repair failed products or processes on a machine or a system. It is a logical, systematic search for the source of a problem in order to solve it, and make the product or process operational again. Troubleshooting is needed to identify the symptoms. Determining the most likely cause is a process of elimination - eliminating potential causes of a problem. Finally, troubleshooting requires confirmation that the solution restores the product or process to its working state (Study, 2021). Computer generates printed report for adequate circulation and communication. This underlines the importance of printers in computerized operations and environments.
As a prelude to other parts of this study, this chapter will discuss the background upon which this study was initiated, the statement of problems that led to this study, the Aim and Objectives of the study. Others are Significance of the study, Scope of work, Limitations of the Study and Definition of technical terms.
1.2 Background of Study
Since the beginning of 20th century man has tried to give acumen to its favourite servant i.e. The computer. This idea gave birth to the newest branch of science known as the “Artificial Intelligence” which has revolutionized the whole concept of thinking. By definition, Artificial Intelligence is the area of computer science focusing on creating machines that can engage on behaviours that humans consider intelligent. Broadly speaking, Artificial Intelligence is the combination of computer science, physiology and philosophy. The grounding principle of Artificial Intelligence is to make computers more useful and independent. In this way, computers will achieve the capability to imitate the human thinking process and will be able for strategic decisions-making.
Printers of any series are expensive and need proper and adequate maintenance so as to have long life span. Complex electronic devices that are neglected or not using correctly can result into serious and complex problems that will be difficult to solve for any investment. However, one can avoid the problem through proper setup, regular maintenance and consumables (Iromini, 2015).
Some of the most exiting areas of the information technology include: Just-in-time (J.I.T) production techniques to reduce cost and improve quality; electronic shopping and electronic funds transfer; office automation and computer publishing; computer controlled commuter train system; decision support system (DSS) that enhance real time control of making under the battle field condition typically characterized by uncertainty; computer aids instruction (CAI) and aided manufacturing; computer aids to the handicapped including intelligent implants and experts medical diagnosis.
Due to all these mentioned areas of computer application and more, computer has now been accepted and used by so many individuals and organizations for different purposes. It is accepted that computer is an agent which improves productivity and facilitates competition in our geographical environment. It is however worthy to note that 75% of all computer application generates documented information. This is why it is said that hard copy is the spice of information (Iromini, 2015).
Looking at the increasing number of malfunction ‘vis a vis’ the scanty availability of maintenance experts, these is no doubt that many important and urgent reports are either frustrated permanently or produced too late to serve their purpose. It has therefore become very imperative to develop this FARGO printer troubleshooting and maintenance expert system which will guide non-experts through a step by step approach to troubleshoot and maintain his/her FARGO printer.
Finally a better understanding of AI is gained by looking at the component areas of study, such as robotics, memory organization, knowledge representation, storage and recall, learning models, common sense reasoning, understanding natural language, speech recognition and synthesis and variety of AI tools. The most integral branch of artificial intelligence is known as the “Expert System”.
1.3 Statement of Problem
Investigation revealed that when printers malfunction, it is often difficult tracing the causes of such malfunctions with respect to identified symptoms. Often, some of these faults are so minor that virtually every user is supposed to be able to handle them effectively without having to undergo the rigours of finding maintenance experts. In many occasions, the defects are perfectly eliminated by clearing the edge connectors and resisting the plugs and printer interface cards. Some diagnostic software such as Qapuls could also help in locating the causes of the problem.
However, the need for a reliable maintenance service cannot be over emphasized.
Since it is necessary for effective performance of any printer; also it is pertinent to observe that there are many other preventive maintenance procedures that can be duly appreciate by the user which could minimize printer failure. This project has been designed and preventive maintenance in a “DO IT YOURSELF FASHION. It as well provides most of the salient information necessary to troubleshoot Epson printers.
1.4 Aim and Objectives of the Study
The aim of the study is to design and implement an Expert System on Troubleshooting and Maintenance of Inkjet Printer. In achieving this aim, the following specific objectives were laid out as follows to develop an application software that will:
- Assemble a knowledge base that is common to the trouble shooting and maintenance Epson printers of diverse models.
- Prevent this knowledge in a diagnostic format and enable non-expert identify and rectify minor problems of the printers especially when the maintenance experts are not handy.
- Provide a printer maintenance teaching aids on the basis of DO IT YOURSELF.
- Emphasize the concept of preventive maintenance, especially as it effects fragile electronic of the ink of computer and printers.
1.5 Significance of Study
This study will be of immense benefit to researchers who intend to know more on this study and can also be used by non-researchers to build more on their research work. This study contributes to knowledge and could serve as a guide for other study.
1.6 Scope of Study
The scope of the research is focused on the Design and Implementation of an Expert System on Troubleshooting and Maintenance of Inkjet Printer. The proposed system will be designed to focus on the most commonly found (the Epson dot – matrix printer). This option was chosen with the respect to the fact that this could be regarded as the (economy class) hence need as much guide as possible both in preventive and guide as possible both in preventive and corrective maintenance.
1.7 Limitations of the Study
During the course of this study, many things militated against its completion, some of which are:
- Time Constraint: The time frame given to accomplish this project was very short due to school academic calendar and it was carried out under pressure which made the researcher not to implement some necessary features.
- Establishment Policies: Establishment policies posed a serious limitation as most staffs are not ready to release information needed for this project work. There were lots of information needed from the staffs of this institution to enhance the study which took them time to release or they did not release at all for security purposes, hence the scope was reduced.
- Research material: availability of research material is a major setback to the scope of the study.
- Frequent power failure: This made the researcher append more money on fuel to ensure sustainable power.
- Financial Constraint: Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet).
1.8 Definition of Terms
Expert System (ES): The title of this work “expert system on trouble shooting and maintenance of Epson printer” presents a lot of computer words or term or jargon which need detailed explanation or definition for absolute comprehensive of this and topic and the intention of this work.
Knowledge-Base: The repository in a computer of an expert knowledge in a given domain is a knowledge base.
Database design: The process of creating a design that will support emprise mission statement and mission required database e system.
Software: These are program for computer which allows certain specific task to be accomplished e.g. word process etc.
Hardware: Computer equipment used to perform input processing and system output activates.
Troubleshooting: Is the act of detecting and mending faults be it a software or hardware facility. To be good trouble shooter one needed to understand a system better than average person.
Diagnosis: the identification of the nature of an illness or other problem by examination of the symptoms.
Inference Engine: The knowledge of an expert can be represented as a set of rules that allows the computer to make human like decision on the subject in other words, a knowledge – base can actually be in the form of rules and not only in the form of tables of information which can also be used as alternative approach.
Maintenance: Maintenance is the performance of preventive or remedial maintenance in order to prevent incipient hardware faults or to correct a hardware fault that has occurred.
