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Soft computing
{{Expert-subject|computer science|date=July 2009}}
{{Distinguish|soft microprocessor}}

'''Soft computing''' is a term applied to a field within computer science which is characterized by the use of inexact solutions to computationally hard tasks such as the solution of [[NP-complete]] problems, for which there is no known algorithm that can compute an exact solution in [[polynomial time]]. Soft computing differs from conventional (hard) computing in that, unlike hard computing(contracted; show full)lity is used when we don't have enough information to solve a problem but soft computing is used when we don't have enough information about the problem itself. These kind of problems originate in human mind with all its doubts, subjectivity and emotions; an example can be determining a suitable temperature for a room to make people feel comfortable.<br />
Components of soft computing include:
* [[Neural network]]s (NN)
** [[Perceptron]]
* [[Support Vector Machine]]s (SVM)
* [[Fuzzy logic]]
s (FL)
* [[Evolutionary computation]] (EC), including:
** [[Evolutionary algorithm]]s
*** [[Genetic algorithm]]s
*** [[Differential evolution]]
** [[Metaheuristic]] and [[Swarm Intelligence]]
*** [[Ant colony optimization]]
*** [[Particle swarm optimization]]

* Ideas about [[probability]] including:
** [[Bayesian network]]
* [[Chaos theory]]

Generally speaking, soft computing techniques resemble biological processes more closely than traditional techniques, which are largely based on formal [[logical system]]s, such as [[sentential logic]] and [[predicate logic]], or rely heavily on computer-aided numerical analysis (as in [[finite element analysis]]). Soft computing techniques are intended to complement each other.  

Unlike hard computing schemes, which strive for exactness and full truth, soft computing techniques exploit the given tolerance of imprecision, partial truth, and uncertainty for a particular problem. Another common contrast comes from the observation that [[inductive reasoning]] plays a larger role in soft computing than in hard computing.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.softcomputing.es EUROPEAN CENTRE FOR SOFT COMPUTING]
* [http://www.helsinki.fi/~niskanen/bisc.html BISC SIG IN PHILOSOPHY OF SOFT COMPUTING]

[[Category:Scientific modeling]]
[[Category:Artificial intelligence]]
[[Category:Semantic Web]]
[[Category:Soft computing]]