Artificial neural networks and genetic algorithms are both areas of research which have their origins in mathematical models constructed in order to gain understanding of important natural processes. By focusing on the process models rather than the processes themselves, significant new computational techniques have evolved which have found application in a large number of diverse fields. This diversity is reflected in the topics which are the subjects of contributions to this volume. There are contributions reporting successful applications of the technology to the solution of industrial/commercial problems. This may well reflect the maturity of the technology, notably in the sense that "real" users of modelling-prediction techniques are prepared to accept neural networks as a valid paradigm. Thoretical issues also receive attention, especially in connection with the radial basis function neural network. Contributions in the field of genetic algorithms reflect the wide range of curent applications, including, for example, portfolio section, filter design, frequency assignment and tuning of nonlinear PID controllers.
These techniques are also used extensively for combinatorial optimization problems.