Backpropagation

I remember one meeting in our Artificial Intelligence class (CS 180) when the question was How do we make computers learn? The meeting ensued with a very detailed discussion of backpropagation, which I barely remember right now (Sorry, Prof Naval.)

Now, I assure you that I am no computer. I learn through my own experiences, not through a process called backpropagation...

I'm sorry abou this. A lot of things are going through my mind right now and I can't seem to get this blog entry any more coherent. It's just that sometimes, life pulls you aside and shows the way you've changed -- sometimes for the better, other times for the worse.

As humans, we know what is right from wrong. We learn from our mistakes and try our best not to repeat them in the future. Life shows us how we've changed because of those mistakes.

Today life showed me that I have changed -- I have learned from a past mistake. I surprised myself and acted with wisdom and strength. It made me happy and very proud. But I still can't stop thinking of what might have been...

I am comforted by the memory of the pain that the past mistake brought me. I am comforted by counting the months the past mistake hurt me. I am comforted by the thought that I did the right thing, as taught by my faith.

Yes, I did the right thing.

I did the right thing.

Backpropagation operates similarly. Once it knows what is right from wrong, it sends back the information. The computer remembers it and in turn, improves its future attempts in getting the perfect answer. In effect, the computer learns. It learns from the knowledge of right from wrong. It learns from its experiences.

It's only now that I realize that I operate like a computer running on backpropagation. I also realize that I remember more about backpropagation than I expected (Thanks, Prof Naval.)

~o~o~o~o~o~

Self control is Strength, Right thinking is Mastery, Correct Priority is Wisdom, Calmness is Power. May GOD grant us these virtues.

~o~o~o~o~o~