Commercial Applications

In the previous chapters presenting fuzzy relational database models and other alternative models, we discussed certain aspects of implementations such as indexing schemes and file structures. However this chapter will focus on the commercialization possibilities of such approaches. In this chapter we will consider the current status of fuzzy databases as commercial products. First, the aspects of commercialization relevant to market issues that will dictate the future potential for fuzzy databases is discussed. Then a survey of the current systems that hold actual commercial or industrial promise are overviewed. The materials describing these systems are taken from various publications as well as product and marketing descriptions of some of these systems.