Book excerpt: The concept of soft computing is still in its initial stages of crystallization. Presently available books on soft computing are merely collections of chapters or articles about different aspects of the field. This book is the first to provide a systematic account of the major concepts and methodologies of soft computing, presenting a unified framework that makes the subject more accessible to students and practitioners. Particularly worthy of note is the inclusion of a wealth of information about neuro-fuzzy, neuro-genetic, fuzzy-genetic and neuro-fuzzy-genetic systems, with many illuminating applications and examples.