Applied fuzzy systems theory as a basis for strategically enabling technologies in the 21st century

This study makes a future oriented assessment of the current and possible future technologies enabled by Fuzzy Systems Theory. The thesis is that Applied Fuzzy Systems Theory will in the next decade become an important basis for new strategically enabling technologies in the disciplines that include fields of study dealing with complexity and change.;Conclusions and positions reached in this study include: (1) fuzzy systems are becoming pervasive; (2) they are subtly changing our everyday lives; (3) they have enabled new technologies critical to competitive advantage in the global economy and will continue to do so; (4) in the future they may possibly change transportation and communications as we know them; (5) in the future they may change war as we know it; (6) fuzzy systems provide powerful tools for preserving scarce nonrenewable resources; (7) they enable more efficient use of existing electrical production; (8) they may provide technologies that will preserve millions of American jobs; (9) it appears that some newly enabled technologies are so advanced that society is unprepared to accept them and will likely remain so for many years; (10) and the cultural factors which have played a crucial role in resistance to fuzzy systems in the United States and in particular within academia will remain unchanged for many more years. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)...