Soft computing covers similar topics of computational
intelligence, natural computing, and organic computing -- Y. Jin.
A Definition of Soft Computing - adapted from L.A. Zadeh
What Is Soft Computing?
Soft computing differs from conventional (hard) computing in that, unlike
hard computing, it is tolerant of imprecision, uncertainty, partial truth,
and approximation. In effect, the role model for soft computing is the human
mind. The guiding principle of soft computing is: Exploit the tolerance
for imprecision, uncertainty, partial truth, and approximation to achieve
tractability, robustness and low solution cost. The basic ideas underlying
soft computing in its current incarnation have links to many earlier influences,
among them Zadeh's 1965 paper on fuzzy sets; the 1973 paper on the analysis
of complex systems and decision processes; and the 1979 report (1981 paper)
on possibility theory and soft data analysis. The inclusion of neural computing
and genetic computing in soft computing came at a later point.
At this juncture, the principal constituents of Soft Computing (SC) are
Fuzzy Logic (FL), Neural Computing (NC), Evolutionary Computation (EC)
Machine Learning (ML) and Probabilistic
Reasoning (PR), with the latter subsuming belief networks, chaos theory
and parts of learning theory. What is important to note is that soft computing
is not a melange. Rather, it is a partnership in which each of the partners
contributes a distinct methodology for addressing problems in its domain.
In this perspective, the principal constituent methodologies in SC are complementary
rather than competitive. Furthermore, soft computing may be viewed as a
foundation component for the emerging field of conceptual intelligence.
Importance of Soft Computing
The complementarity of FL, NC, GC, and PR has an important consequence:
in many cases a problem can be solved most effectively by using FL, NC,
GC and PR in combination rather than exclusively. A striking example of
a particularly effective combination is what has come to be known as "neurofuzzy
systems." Such systems are becoming increasingly visible as consumer
products ranging from air conditioners and washing machines to photocopiers
and camcorders. Less visible but perhaps even more important are neurofuzzy
systems in industrial applications. What is particularly significant is
that in both consumer products and industrial systems, the employment of
soft computing techniques leads to systems which have high MIQ (Machine
Intelligence Quotient). In large measure, it is the high MIQ of SC-based
systems that accounts for the rapid growth in the number and variety of
applications of soft computing.
The conceptual structure of soft computing suggests that students should
be trained not just in fuzzy logic, neurocomputing, genetic programming,
or probabilistic reasoning but in all of the associated methodologies, though
not necessarily to the same degree.
At present, the BISC Group (Berkeley Initiative on Soft Computing) comprises
close to 600 students, professors, employees of private and non-private
organizations and, more generally, individuals who have interest or are
active in soft computing or related areas. Currently, BISC has over 50 Institutional
Affiliates, with their ranks continuing to grow in number.
At Berkeley, BISC provides a supportive environment for visitors, postdocs
and students who are interested in soft computing and its applications.
In the main, support for BISC comes from member companies.
A Glimpse Into The Future
The successful applications of soft computing and the rapid growth of BISC
suggest that the impact of soft computing will be felt increasingly in coming
years. Soft computing is likely to play an especially important role in
science and engineering, but eventually its influence may extend much farther.
In many ways, soft computing represents a significant paradigm shift in
the aims of computing - a shift which reflects the fact that the human mind,
unlike present day computers, possesses a remarkable ability to store and
process information which is pervasively imprecise, uncertain and lacking
in categoricity.
For activities in this field, please refer to
Journal of Soft Computing
The
World Federation of Soft Computing Homepage and its journal
Applied Soft Computing