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Neural Networks Demystified [Part 1: Data and Architecture]

Welch Labs · 838.6K views · 2014-11-04 · 3:07

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Overview

The first of a short series by Welch Labs on building a complete neural network in Python. It introduces the data and the architecture of a simple network before later parts cover forward propagation, gradient descent, and backpropagation.

On Hacker News

HN commenters point beginners to this series as one of the clearest short walkthroughs of how neural networks and backpropagation work.

Recommended by 3 HN people across 3 months · HN mentions 2015–2018

Topics

Machine learning & deep learning
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neural networksbackpropagationpythonmachine learningwelch labs

What people said

film42 · 2015-02 · Strong recommendation

The gist of this is really the Backpropagation algorithm [1]. It appears as though everything else is a means to detect when to stop. One of the clearest walkthroughs I've seen online is a short series of very short videos by Stephen C Welch [2] [3]. If you're interested in this space, start with him. [1]: [LINK] [2]: [VIDEO] [3]: [LINK]

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max_ · 2016-06 · Recommendation

Hello, my background is just like yours. Assuming you are a total noob I learned that AI is not like programming, where anyone with basic knowledge of computation can dive in. You can NOT just learn AI by reading other people's code. Its like Physics, there are solid principles you need to understand before you get in. The point: AI does not come with the "batteries included". If you are in deed a noob you MUST learn the prerequisites. Follow these steps in order and I guarantee you will be competent with AI in six months tops.(from my past experience) - 1. Know what AI actually is [VIDEO] - 2. Write basic Machine Learning code [LINK] - 3. Understand the Mathmatics involved [LINK] - 4. Get some important concepts, [LINK] - 5. Finnish off. [LINK]

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josso · 2016-04 · Recommendation

I also recommend Welch Labs’ Neural Network Demystified-series[0]. It is a combination of the Coursera course and the YouTube videos. It get’s into some of the math, while still keeping it basic. [0]: [VIDEO]

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Sources

Video by Welch Labs, played through YouTube.

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