Human-centric Computing Paradigms, Computing with Words, and Intelligent Decision Support Systems

Summary form only given. First, we briefly present the essence of some new computing paradigms that try to attain a synergy, and bridge the gap between the human user and computer systems, notably the so-called: human centric computing, human centered computing, human computing, etc. We present a brief account of modern approaches to real world decision making, emphasize the concept of a decision making process that involves more factors and aspects like: the use of explicit and tacit knowledge, intuition, individual habitual domains, non-trivial rationality, different paradigms, etc. We advocate the need for computer based decision support systems. After a short presentation of their history and classification, we indicate that decision support systems should incorporate some sort of "intelligence", and we first briefly mention some views of intelligence in an individual and collective perspective. We indicate possible advantages of using those new human-centered computing paradigms in the decision making and support context, and advocate soft computing, notably Zadeh's computing with words (and perceptions) as a tools that makes it possible to merge the ideas presented like: human centric computing, decision making processes, intelligent decision support, etc. Finally, we show an example of our own implementation of a data/document driven decision support system in which, first, Zadeh's computing with words and perceptions paradigm is employed via linguistic database summaries, elements of business intelligence and Web intelligence.