Soft computing is a new, emerging discipline rooted in a group of technologies that aim to exploit the tolerance for imprecision and uncertainty in achieving solutions to complex problems. The principal components of soft computing are fuzzy logic, neurocomputing, genetic algorithms and probabilistic reasoning.This volume is a collection of up-to-date articles giving a snapshot of the current state of the field. It covers the whole expanse, from theoretical foundations to applications. The contributors are among the world leaders in the field.

This book comprises a selection of papers from IFSA 2007 on new methods and theories that contribute to the foundations of fuzzy logic and soft computing. Coverage includes the application of fuzzy logic and soft computing in flexible querying, philosophical and human-scientific aspects of soft computing, search engine and information processing and retrieval, as well as intelligent agents and knowledge ant colony.

This book comprises a selection of papers on theoretical advances and applications of fuzzy logic and soft computing from the IFSA 2007 World Congress, held in Cancun, Mexico, June 2007. These papers constitute an important contribution to the theory and applications of fuzzy logic and soft computing methodologies.

Every day decision making and decision making in complex human-centric systems are characterized by imperfect decision-relevant information. Main drawback of the existing decision theories is namely incapability to deal with imperfect information and modeling vague preferences. Actually, a paradigm of non-numerical probabilities in decision making has a long history and arose also in Keynes’s analysis of uncertainty. There is a need for further generalization – a move to decision theories with perception-based imperfect information described in NL. The languages of new decision models for human-centric systems should be not languages based on binary logic but human-centric computational schemes able to operate on NL-described information. Development of new theories is now possible due to an increased computational power of information processing systems which allows for computations with imperfect information, particularly, imprecise and partially true information, which are much more complex than computations over numbers and probabilities. The monograph exposes the foundations of a new decision theory with imperfect decision-relevant information on environment and a decision maker’s behavior. This theory is based on the synthesis of the fuzzy sets theory with perception-based information and the probability theory. The book is self containing and represents in a systematic way the decision theory with imperfect information into the educational systems. The book will be helpful for teachers and students of universities and colleges, for managers and specialists from various fields of business and economics, production and social sphere.

These two volumes consIstmg of Foundations and Applications provide the current status of theoretical and empirical developments in "computing with words". In philosophy, the twentieth century is said to be the century of language. This is mainly due to Wittgenstein who said: "The meaning of a word is its use in the language game". "The concept game is a concept with blurred edges". In the first phrase, "the language game" implies the everyday human activity with language, and in the latter, "game" simply implies an ordinary word. Thus, Wittgenstein precisely stated that a word is fuzzy in real life. Unfortunately this idea about a word was not accepted in the conventional science. We had to wait for Zadeh's fuzzy sets theory. Remembering Wittgenstein's statement, we should consider, on the one hand, the concept of "computing with words" from a philosophical point of view. It deeply relates to the everyday use of a word in which the meaning of a word is fuzzy in its nature.

Learn more about the history, foundations, and applications of fuzzy logic in this comprehensive resource by an academic leader Introduction to Fuzzy Logic delivers a high-level but accessible introduction to the rapidly growing and evolving field of fuzzy logic and its applications. Distinguished engineer, academic, and author James K. Peckol covers a wide variety of practical topics, including the differences between crisp and fuzzy logic, the people and professions who find fuzzy logic useful, and the advantages of using fuzzy logic. While the book assumes a solid foundation in embedded systems, including basic logic design, and C/C++ programming, it is written in a practical and easy-to-read style that engages the reader and assists in learning and retention. The author includes introductions of threshold and perceptron logic to further enhance the applicability of the material contained within. After introducing readers to the topic with a brief description of the history and development of the field, Introduction to Fuzzy Logic goes on to discuss a wide variety of foundational and advanced topics, like: A review of Boolean algebra, including logic minimization with algebraic means and Karnaugh maps A discussion of crisp sets, including classic set membership, set theory and operations, and basic classical crisp set properties A discussion of fuzzy sets, including the foundations of fuzzy sets logic, set membership functions, and fuzzy set properties An analysis of fuzzy inference and approximate reasoning, along with the concepts of containment and entailment and relations between fuzzy subsets Perfect for mid-level and upper-level undergraduate and graduate students in electrical, mechanical, and computer engineering courses, Introduction to Fuzzy Logic covers topics included in many artificial intelligence, computational intelligence, and soft computing courses. Math students and professionals in a wide variety of fields will also significantly benefit from the material covered in this book.

Soft computing is a new, emerging discipline rooted in a group of technologies that aim to exploit the tolerance for imprecision and uncertainty in achieving solutions to complex problems. The principal components of soft computing are fuzzy logic, neurocomputing, genetic algorithms and probabilistic reasoning.This volume is a collection of up-to-date articles giving a snapshot of the current state of the field. It covers the whole expanse, from theoretical foundations to applications. The contributors are among the world leaders in the field.