TOPICS Rapid advances in infrastructure are enabling realization of "Virtual and Intelligent Measurement Systems" (VIMS) that until recently could only be imagined. New capabilities in computing and communication are challenging old and stimulating new ideas and approaches in all areas of instrumentation and measurement science. Since 1996 the VIMS symposium series has focused on recent developments, results, and practical experiences in soft computing technologies and virtual environments in support of measurement systems. Typical topics concerns all aspects of soft computing technologies and virtual environments related to instrumentation and measurement, from the points of view of both theory and practical applications. This includes but is not limited to: neural and fuzzy technologies for identification, prediction, and control of complex dynamic systems; neural and fuzzy signal/image processing; accuracy and precision of neural and fuzzy components; integration into composite (algorithmic and neural/fuzzy) systems; fuzzy and neural components for embedded systems; neural and fuzzy implementations; neural, fuzzy and genetic algorithms for system optimization and calibration; neural and fuzzy diagnosis of components and systems; reliability of fuzzy and neural components; fault tolerance and testing in fuzzy and neural components; neural and fuzzy techniques for quality measurement; adaptive and evolving technologies and systems; virtual measurement systems; virtual environments; sensors and transducers for virtual environment; sensor fusion; virtual and soft-computing technologies for robotics, manufacturing, and other industrial applications; virtual and soft computing technologies for medical and bioengineering applications; vision for virtual environments; image understanding and recognition for virtual systems, signal processing for virtual environment; integration of soft-computing technologies in virtual environments; quality assessment in virtual systems; precision and accuracy in virtual environments; prediction and control in virtual environment; human-computer interaction; distributed sensors; networked sensors; agents and measurement agencies. The interactive format of the symposium allows for in depth discussion and confrontation among attendees. The full papers will be available to the participants well in advance of the symposium, so presenting authors will need only to summarize their papers. Each brief formal presentation will be followed by a longer informal plenary discussion that can be expected to address broadly the specific approaches and results presented by the authors, the rationale underlying the particular methodologies employed, the experimental and theoretical approaches, the practical difficulties, any unanswered questions, key insights and lessons learned, and the possibility of extension to other problems of interest to the participants.