Neural nets and fuzzy logic provide a new systems view

Abstract

The modern technologies of fuzzy logic and neural networks have underpinnings in truth values, or degrees of class membership, or subjectively driven weighted links. Researchers believe the technologies are closer to operating in the modes that humans use for thought and control. For this reason neural, fuzzy, genetic algorithms and the like are being called "natural computing", or "soft computing". When a designer understands the underlying functionality, he/she can find ways to apply the technologies to difficult problems involving high levels of complexity and non-linearity. This paper attempts to provide some insight into the idea of renaming the problem space based on the accessibility of natural computing tools.