CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background to the Study
Chatbot, as described by Dharwadkar et al., (2018), is an entity which imitate human
discussion in its particular accepted set-up together with a text or vocal language with techniques
such as Natural Language Processing (NLP). Chatbots are built purposely to represent human
discussion. These are the software with artificial intelligence which allows them to understand
users input and provide meaningful response using predefined knowledge base. (Kulkarni et al.,
2017). Chatbot mimic the way human will respond to a particular question or query. It allows
user interfaces to send input and generate output for a particular discussion. A chat bot works by
a user asking a question or initiating a new topic. Chat bots can be called as software agents that
simulate an entity usually a human. Chatbots are also known as a chatterbot, Bot, IM bot,
talkbot, Interactive agent, or Artificial Conversational Entity. (Kowsher et al., 2019). Chatbot
take user’s input inform of text, voice, or combination of the two.
The applications of chatbots can be applied in various fields such as health, tourism,
business, customer confirmation and so on. (Kowsher et al., 2019). Chatbots are also used and
applied widely in education because it enables student to be self-dependent. Chatbots create
solution for tourism agency to satisfy the majority of customers. Whether its travel agency,
airline, hostel or other, a chatbot can serve as intelligent virtual agent. In business, chatbots are
used to attend to customers in other to reduce queue of customer waiting to be attended to. A
well trained chatbot will provide answers to most frequently asked question by the customers.
Medical Chatbots are used to provide prescriptions for patients, sending medical details,
offers immediate assistance to patient in emergency cases, and lots more.
Natural Language Processing (NLP) is a part of broader family of artificial intelligence
and it is concerned with the interaction between computers and human language, in particular,
how to program computers to process and analyze large amount of natural language data. The
goal is a computer capable of understanding the contents of documents, including the contextual
nuances of the language within them. The technology can then accurately extract information
and insights contained in the documents as well as categorize and organize the documents
themselves.
1.2 Statement of Problems
Health, according to the World Health Organization, is "a state of complete
physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity". The
state of health of human being is needed to be given a continuous and immediate attention when
needed.
Today’s people are more likely addicted to internet but they are not concern about their personal
health. (Dharwadkar et al., 2018). People are so busy nowadays in their place work to the extent
that for them to attend to their health when needed becomes a big concerns.
The development of a chatbot for improved personalized health information and health
care provisioning will provide instant health care and information about health that is needed for
people. This will also reduce number of patient queuing in other to see the doctor. As a result of
this, doctors and other medical workers will be maximally engaged in their specialized area.
1.3 Aim and Objectives
The aim of this study is to a chatbot for an improved personalized health information and
health care provisioning.
The research objectives are to:
i. design a model for the chatbot
ii. implement the model using PYTHON programming language
iii. Evaluate the performance of the developed chatbot.
1.4 Justification of Study
Health is one of the most important sectors of man which needs a quick attention once
needed. It’s a general belief that prevention is better than cure. Building a chatbot that will
handle most frequent existential challenges in health of human being and prevent such at earlier
stage. Immediate healthcare provisioning by chatbot will even eliminate rate of death because
some terminal diseases once attended to on time can be prevented by chatbot.
Development of heathcare provisioning chatbot will enables maximal engagement of
doctors and other health workers in their area of specialization once the general issue will be
handled by chatbot. Chatbot will also give immediate assistance to patient when needed.
1.5 Scope of the Study
Several research work has being carried out on healthcare provisioning. This research
work will be focusing on daily essential healthcare need such as headache, abdominal pain and
fever. This research work will result into development of a chatbot that will render quick
healthcare on the areas mentioned above.
1.6 Methodology
The project methodology used in the development of this chatbot is artificial intelligence
of which machine learning will be used.
Natural Language Process (NLP) which is a subfield of machine learning and comprises
of the following phases: Lexical Analysis, Syntactic Analysis, Semantic Analysis, Disclosure
Integration, Pragmatic Analysis will be used.
The researcher will be implementing this using PYTHON programming language.