A mathematical technique for dealing with problems that have many solutions. Although fuzzy logic is implemented in digital computers which make only yes-no decisions, it works with ranges of values, solving problems in a way that resembles human logic. See
fuzzy search and
fuzzy computer.
A type of AI, fuzzy logic is used in expert and real-time systems that deal with unpredictable conditions. It "smoothes the edges" so to speak, circumventing abrupt changes that can result from either-or logic. See
AI and
expert system.
A Matter of Degree
Fuzzy logic was conceived in 1964 by Lotfi Zadeh, former chairman of electrical engineering and computer science at UC Berkeley. Working on handwriting recognition, Zadeh expanded on traditional set theory by making membership in a set a matter of degree rather than a yes-no situation. See
set theory.