This book highlights technical advances in knowledge management and their applications across a diverse range of domains. It explores the applications of knowledge computing methodologies in image processing, pattern recognition, health care and industrial contexts. The chapters also examine the knowledge engineering process involved in information management. Given its interdisciplinary nature, the book covers methods for identifying and acquiring valid, potentially useful knowledge sources. The ideas presented in the respective chapters illustrate how to effectively apply the perspectives of knowledge computing in specialized domains.

This book highlights technical advances in knowledge management and their applications across a diverse range of domains. It explores the applications of knowledge computing methodologies in image processing, pattern recognition, health care and industrial contexts. The chapters also examine the knowledge engineering process involved in information management. Given its interdisciplinary nature, the book covers methods for identifying and acquiring valid, potentially useful knowledge sources. The ideas presented in the respective chapters illustrate how to effectively apply the perspectives of knowledge computing in specialized domains.

This volume contains the ?nal proceedings of the 2004 Metainformatics Sym- sium (MIS 2004). The event was held during 15-18 September 2004 in Salzburg, Austria at Salzburg Research. MIS is an annual event focusing on ?nding common ground shared by - searchers and practitioners in many di?erent computer science areas who may use similar methods to achieve di?erent ends. The goal is to ?nd useful abstr- tions, notations, analytical frameworks, formalisms, and systems that improve ourunderstandingoftheunderlyingstructuresofvariousdisciplinesandfamilies of systems within computer science. Ideally these constructs should have usef- ness in conveying knowledge and understanding across disciplinary boundaries. The proceedings of previous MIS events were also published by Springer in the Lecture Notes in Computer Science series: LNCS 3002 (2003), LNCS 2641 (2002), LNCS 2266 (2001), and LNCS 1903 (2000). As with previous events in the MIS series, MIS 2004 attracted quality papers and brought together researchers from many di?erent ?elds within computer s- ence.WeexperiencedinterestingpresentationsandlivelydiscussionsinSalzburg. I hope that you will ?nd the papers contained in this volume as interesting as the other members of the Program Committee and I have. This volume would not have been possible without the help and assistance of many people. In particular, I would like to acknowledge the assistance of the Springereditors, AnnaKramerandChristineGun ] ther, andtheExecutiveEditor of the LNCS series, Alfred Hofmann.

This book comprehensively addresses computational intelligence, including the theories, methodologies and techniques underlying this evolving field, as well as its potential uses in various domains across the entire spectrum of the sciences (the natural sciences, health sciences, engineering, social sciences, and humanities) and in various types of business. Computational intelligence is rapidly spreading into all kinds of products and services. This calls for the adaptation of existing theories, methodologies and techniques - and the development of wholly new ones - to ensure the successful implementation of new intelligent products and services in various domains related to public organizations, businesses and everyday life. This book gathers contributions from various experts working on different aspects and implementations of computational intelligence, which address new developments in theory, analytical and numerical simulation and modeling, experimentation, deployment and case studies, results of laboratory or field operational tests, and ongoing advances in computational intelligence. It is intended for a broad audience, including researchers, engineers, policymakers, industry experts, and students, offering these readers essential information on and new inspirations regarding the potential of computational intelligence.

This book comprehensively addresses computational intelligence, including the theories, methodologies and techniques underlying this evolving field, as well as its potential uses in various domains across the entire spectrum of the sciences (the natural sciences, health sciences, engineering, social sciences, and humanities) and in various types of business. Computational intelligence is rapidly spreading into all kinds of products and services. This calls for the adaptation of existing theories, methodologies and techniques - and the development of wholly new ones - to ensure the successful implementation of new intelligent products and services in various domains related to public organizations, businesses and everyday life. This book gathers contributions from various experts working on different aspects and implementations of computational intelligence, which address new developments in theory, analytical and numerical simulation and modeling, experimentation, deployment and case studies, results of laboratory or field operational tests, and ongoing advances in computational intelligence. It is intended for a broad audience, including researchers, engineers, policymakers, industry experts, and students, offering these readers essential information on and new inspirations regarding the potential of computational intelligence.