Re: [Bug-gnubg] Neural Net Tutorials

[Ralph Moritz]

2009/3/9 Øystein Johansen (OJOHANS) <address@hidden>:
> Hi again,
>
> Sorry the delay. The weekends are .... (yeah, you know..)

NP. I spent most of the weekend on Play65 so I think I know what you mean :)

> Run to your library and get a book on linear algebra, any book will do. Then 
> learn the basics of linear algebra. Anton or Lay are good books, or maybe one 
> of those popular titles including words like "demystified", "dummies" or "24 
> hours".  Gilbert Strang is also fine, but it way over what you need to get a 
> basic understanding of neural networks.
>
> Matrix basics:
> - Adding/subtracting
> - Multiplying
> - Transposing
> - Determinants
> - Inverting
> - Identity matrices
> - Basic matrix expressions
>
> Things you _do_not_ need:
> - Eigenvector/eigenvalues
> - SVD
> - Hermittian matrices
> - Different decompositions (QR, Schur, Gram Schmidt etc).
> (stop reading before you reach any of these subjects)
>
> While you're at the library, try to find:
> "Understanding Neural Networks And Fuzzy Logic", by Kartalopous, 
> ISBN:8120316800
>
> It's small and well written, does not include hairy details, and give a nice 
> overview. (However, you need the basic linear algebra). Tell me if you find 
> this book and I can point out the important chapters.

Thanks. I'll try to find a book on & learn a little linear algebra.

> Next question: Are you a coder? Do you code anything? Do you want to learn 
> coding? Any simple experience with any programming language? Pascal in 
> pre-school?

No Pascal in pre-school, but I do write code for a living :) I've read
and written code in various incarnations of VB, Delphi, Perl, C, C++
and C#. I don't claim to be an expert though. In terms of algorithms &
data structures, I know how to implement the basic stuff like quick
sort, binary search, hash tables, linked lists, balanced binary search
trees (anderson, not the more complicated r/b trees) and simple finite
state machines.

Regards,
Ralph