BISC The Berkeley Initiative in Soft Computing Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences Department
Fuzzy Set: 1965 … Fuzzy Logic: 1973 … BISC: 1990 … Human-Machine Perception: 2000 - … Welcome to the BISC Program Summary of Principal Contributions Prior to publication of my first paper on fuzzy sets in l965—a paper which was written while I was serving as Chair of the Department of Electrical Engineering at UC Berkeley—I had achieved both national and international recognition.  My principal contributions were: development of a frequency-domain-based theory of time-varying networks; a generalization of Wiener's theory of prediction (with J.R. Ragazzini); initiation of system theory; a theory of nonlinear filtering; the z-transform method for the analysis of sampled-data systems (with J.R. Ragazzini); and most importantly, development of the state space theory of linear systems, published as a co-authored book with C.A. Desoer in l963. Publication of my first paper on fuzzy sets in l965 marked the beginning of a new phase of my scientific career.  From l965 on, almost all of my publications have been focused on development of fuzzy set theory, fuzzy logic and their applications. It should be noted that most of my papers published prior to 1977, and all papers published since then, are single-authored. My first paper entitled "Fuzzy Sets," got a mixed reaction.  My strongest supporter was the late Professor Richard Bellman, an eminent mathematician and a leading contributor to systems analysis and control.  For the most part, I encountered skepticism, derision and sometimes outright hostility. There were two principal reasons: the word "fuzzy" is usually used in a pejorative sense; and, more importantly, my abandonment of classical, Aristotelian, bivalent logic was a radical departure from deep-seated scientific traditions. What changed the situation was the enthusiastic response in Japan.  Starting in the early seventies, Japanese universities and industrial research laboratories began to play an active role in the development of fuzzy logic and its applications, especially in the realm of consumer products.  Today, almost all consumer products, among them cameras, washing machines, microwaves and automobiles, employ fuzzy logic in one form or another. But what is more significant is the wide-ranging impact of fuzzy logic within the basic sciences, the applied sciences and engineering. Optimized for Web browsers Version 5+. For optimal display use resolution-mode of 1600x1200 dpi. JavaScript and style sheets should be enabled in your browser.	Professor Lotfi A. Zadeh Short Curriculum Vitae Principal employment and affiliations Editorial affiliations Presentations Awards, fellowships, honors  Achievement and principal contributions Summary of principal contributions Primary publications Statistics on the impact of Fuzzy Logic
Fuzzy Set: 1965 … Fuzzy Logic: 1973 … BISC: 1990 … Human-Machine Perception: 2000 - …