Granular computing

Granular computing is an emerging computing paradigm of information processing. It concerns processing of complex information entities called information granules , which arise in the process of abstraction of data and derivation of Knowledge from information; this process is called information granulation. Generally speaking, information granules are collection of entities, usually originating at the numeric level, that are arranged together due to their similarity, functional adjacency, indistinguishability, coherency or the like.

Although it is difficult to give a precise and uncontroversial definition of granular Computing, it can be described from several perspectives. Granular computing can be conceived as a category of theories, methodologies, techniques and Tools that make use of information granules in the process of problem solving. In this sense, Granular Computing is used as an umbrella term to cover these topics that have been studied in various fields in isolation. By examining all of these existing studies in light of the unified framework of granular computing and extracting their commonalities, it may be possible to develop a general theory for problem solving.

In a more philosophical sense, granular computing can be intended to describe a way of thinking that relies on the Human ability to perceive the real world under various levels of granularity, in order to abstract and consider only those things that serve a specific interest, and to switch among different granularities. By focusing on different levels of granularities, one can obtain different levels of knowledge, as well as a greater understanding of inherent knowledge structure. Granular computing is thus essential in human problem solving and hence has a very significant impact on the design and implementation of intelligent systems.

= References =

Bargiela, A. and Pedrycz, W. (2003) Granular Computing. An introduction , Kluwer Academic Publishers

Zadeh, L.A. (1997) Toward a Theory of Fuzzy Information Granulation and its Centrality in Human Reasoning and Fuzzy Logic , Fuzzy Sets and Systems , 90:111-127

Yao, Y.Y. (2004) A Partition Model of Granular Computing , Lecture Notes in Computer Science (to appear)