The IEEE International Conference on Systems, Man and Cybernetics (SMC95) was held at the Waterfront Centre Hotel in Vancouver from October 22 to October 25, 1995. This is an annual conference conducted by the IEEE Society on Systems, Man and Cybernetics. 1995 was the 25th anniversary of the conference and the theme was Intelligent Systems for the 21st Century. The conference was attended by over a thousand delegates from 41 countries.
The first day of the conference featured 9 tutorials covering diverse topics such as computational intelligence, neural networks, genetic algorithms, fuzzy systems, virtual networks, bond-graph modelling, machine learning, multimedia technologies, intelligent control and pattern recognition. Over 800 technical papers were presented by leading researchers and practitioners throughout the world. There were 15 parallel sessions at the conference, with 16 exhibits from companies, universities and bookstores.
The conference theme was also highlighted during the four day programme with plenary addresses - Professor Thomas B. Sheridan from MIT presented a talk on the topic "Human-Centered Automation: Oxymoron or Common Sense?"; Professor Kaoru Hirota from Tokyo Institute of Technology gave an address on the topic "Fuzzy-Neuro-Chaos: Research and Industrial Applications in Japan"; and Professor Chelsea C. White III from the University of Michigan presented a talk on the topic "Intelligent Transportation Systems: Integrating Information Technology and the Surface Transportation System". There were 3 panel discussion: 1 . Intelligent systems: Issues and perspective; 2. Prospects and potential of new research in the neural networks and computational intelligence; 3. Systems engineering education issues for the 21st century. In addition, two invited lectures were presented; one by Prof. L. Zadeh (from the University of California, Berkeley) on "Computing with words: A paradigm shift", and the other by Prof. Madan Gupta (from the University of Saskatchewan) on "Fuzzy neutral networks and soft computing".
SMC95 was one of the most successful conferences sponsored by the IEEE Systems, Man and Cybernetics Society. A strong interest in intelligent systems and the technologies of computational intelligence was evident in the presentations. There were 171 papers on fuzzy systems, an increase of 391% from 1993. Similarly, there was an increase of 130% in the number of presentations dealing with neural networks, another important area of cybernetics.
There was a significant participation from the Faculty of Engineering, NUS in this conference. The programme chair for the conference was Prof. Clarence W. de Silva who was then a visiting professor in the Department of Mechanical and Production Engineering. A/P. A.N. Poo from the Department of Mechanical and Production Engineering served as the Vice-Chair of invited sessions and A/P T.H. Lee (EE Department) was a member of the programme committee. Technical papers were presented by A/P A.N. Poo, A/P T.H. Lee, and Dr H. Krishnan (MPE).
Reported by: Dr H Krishnan (Tel: 7726475, Fax: 7791459, Email: mpehk@nus.sg)