(Berkeley Initiative in Soft Computing)

The purpose of this SIG is to research soft computing to better understand and apply anticipatory mechanisms. This BISC-SIG is dedicated to the investigation of the ways in which computation with perception, in particular, implementation of computation involving precisiated natural language (PNL), granularity, and definability can support computations having anticipatory characteristics.

Quantum computation and DNA computation will also preoccupy the members of this BISC-SIG. Since the mind is the model for soft computing and the locus of anticipatory processes, it is only normal that this BISC-SIG will focus on mind processes.

Members of this SIG will integrate soft computing means and methods with the aim of better understanding the role and function of anticipation. Areas of application: transaction mechanisms and methods, knowledge acquisition, molecular biology, risk assessment, human-computer interaction. Research themes in which soft computing and/or anticipation can together make a difference: a) Navigation, e.g., in automotive industry b) Search engines with anticipatory features c) Fuzzy controllers with anticipatory features d) Transaction optimization mechanisms e) Risk evaluation/Homeland security Professor Lotfi Zadeh has accepted to act as advisor to this SIG. Current members include: Mihai Nadin (University of Wuppertal), Jeffrey Nickerson (Stevens Institute of Technology), Alois Knoll (University of Munich) The Website www.anticipation.info serves as the portal for a knowledge community on anticipation, while the BISC-SIG Webpage serves as the portal for all researchers implementing anticipatory mechanisms based on soft computing. Publications of relevant results will be made available on the www.anticipation.info Website. A series of conferences on topics pertinent to the research agenda of this BISC-SIG will be organized in the near future.