IIZUKA '96, the 4th International Conference on Soft Computing, emphasized the integration of the components of soft computing to promote the research work on post-digital computers and to realize the intelligent systems. At the conference, new developments and results in soft computing were introduced and discussed by researchers from academic, governmental, and industrial institutions.This volume presents the opening lectures by Prof. Lotfi A. Zadeh and Prof. Walter J. Freeman, the plenary lectures by seven eminent researchers, and about 200 carefully selected papers drawn from more than 20 countries. It documents current research and in-depth studies on the conception, design, and application of intelligent systems.

Soft computing is the common name for a certain form of natural information processing that has its original form in biology, especially in the function of human brain. It is a discipline rooted in a group of technologies such as fuzzy logic, neural networks, chaos, genetic algorithms, probabilistic reasoning and learning algorithms. Today, soft computing has become an acknowledged concept; however, for a long time, such components of soft computing have been debated and individually developed.Since its beginning in 1990, the series of IIZUKA conferences has covered various kinds of technologies that constitute soft computing. This series has played a pioneering role in promoting the development of a symbiotic relationship between the various technologies of soft computing.At IIZUKA'98, the 5th International Conference on Soft Computing and Information/Intelligent Systems, new developments and results in this field were introduced and discussed by researchers from academic, governmental and industrial institutions around the world.This volume presents the opening lecture by Prof. Walter J Freeman, the keynote speech by Dr Gen Matsumoto, the plenary lectures by 5 eminent researchers and about 230 carefully selected papers drawn from more than 25 countries. It documents current research and in-depth studies on the fundamental aspects of soft computing and their practical applications.

We were very pleased to once again extend to the delegates and, we are pleased to th say, our friends the warmest of welcomes to the 8 International Conference on Knowledge-Based Intelligent Information and Engineering Systems at Wellington - stitute of Technology in Wellington, New Zealand. The KES conferences attract a wide range of interest. The broad focus of the c- ference series is the theory and applications of computational intelligence and em- gent technologies. Once purely a research field, intelligent systems have advanced to the point where their abilities have been incorporated into many conventional appli- tion areas. The quest to encapsulate human knowledge and capabilities in domains such as reasoning, problem solving, sensory analysis, and other complex areas has been avidly pursued. This is because it has been demonstrated that these abilities have definite practical applications. The techniques long ago reached the point where they are being exploited to provide commercial advantages for companies and real beneficial effects on profits. KES 2004 provided a valuable mechanism for delegates to obtain a profound view of the latest intelligent systems research into a range of - gorithms, tools and techniques. KES 2004 also gave delegates the chance to come into contact with those applying intelligent systems in diverse commercial areas. The combination of theory and practice represents a uniquely valuable opportunity for - preciating the full spectrum of intelligent-systems activity and the “state of the art”.