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From: ac007@cfn.cs.dal.ca (Wolodymyr Barabash)
Subject: Cox's Fuzzy Handbook
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Date: Thu, 30 Mar 1995 13:38:42 GMT
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Upon reflection: I ragged Earl Cox's Handbook a little too much.
I should emphasize that it is the only book available that discusses
the organization or system design of large systems incorporating
fuzzy logic in business and similar situations. When I implied that
it is useful for sales it is because you can write a proposal for a 
business systems contract using his ideas and his charts. There
is nowhere else that you can get these facts and experience. If
you have any intention of presenting a fuzzy based system or one
that uses fuzzy logic then this book is essential for your success.

So I concentrated on the usefulness of the book in contract
negotiations and presentations. I've been involved in a few before
the book came out and believe me, you cannot rely on the academic
text in other fuzzy books. You will die in front of results oriented
managers.

As its title says: it is for practitioners and it is not entirely fair to 
criticise it based on its code.

The book does have useful code and I apologise for insinuating that
it does not.


As for Welstead's book, several have asked me for a full reference:

Neural Network and Fuzzy Logic Applications in C/C++
Welstead, Stephen T.
John Wiley & Sons (pub)
ISBN 0-471-30974-5 (paper/disk)
1994

The GA's are used to optimize fuzzy sets and not discover them.
The code is very well laid out and written (Borland C/C++). It is largely
 in C with the interface  written in C++.
Neural nets have most treatment but the author puts Nets, Fuzzy and GA in
the latter chapters all together into a functioning system. The previous
chapters are referred to for foundation material. 
The author discusses interest rate forecasts among other things. 
An example of a 'broom balancing' control system is discussed as well.
 
Highly recommended.
Regards, Wolly
 

