Probabilistic Graphical Models About the Course What are Probabilistic Graphical Models? Uncertainty is unavoidable in real-world applications: we can almost never predict with certainty what will happen in the future, and even in the present and the past, many important aspects of the world are not observed with certainty. Probability theory gives us the basic foundation to model our beliefs about the different possible states of the world, and to update these beliefs as new evidence is obtained. These beliefs can be combined with individual preferences to help guide our actions, and even in selecting which observations to make. While probability theory has existed since the 17th century, our ability to use it effectively on large problems involving many inter-related variables is fairly recent, and is due largely to the development of a framework known as Probabilistic Graphical Models (PGMs). Course Syllabus Topics covered include: Introduction and Overview. The slides for the whole class can be found here.
Natural Language Processing Computer Security Information theory Overview[edit] The main concepts of information theory can be grasped by considering the most widespread means of human communication: language. Two important aspects of a concise language are as follows: First, the most common words (e.g., "a", "the", "I") should be shorter than less common words (e.g., "roundabout", "generation", "mediocre"), so that sentences will not be too long. Such a tradeoff in word length is analogous to data compression and is the essential aspect of source coding. Note that these concerns have nothing to do with the importance of messages. Information theory is generally considered to have been founded in 1948 by Claude Shannon in his seminal work, "A Mathematical Theory of Communication". Historical background[edit] The landmark event that established the discipline of information theory, and brought it to immediate worldwide attention, was the publication of Claude E. With it came the ideas of Quantities of information[edit] This is justified because . that , of
weka Design and Analysis of Algorithms I About the Course In this course you will learn several fundamental principles of algorithm design. You'll learn the divide-and-conquer design paradigm, with applications to fast sorting, searching, and multiplication. Course Syllabus Week 1: Introduction. Week 2: Running time analysis of divide-and-conquer algorithms. Week 3: More on randomized algorithms and probability. Week 4: Graph primitives. Week 5: Dijkstra's shortest-path algorithm. Week 6: Further data structures. Recommended Background How to program in at least one programming language (like C, Java, or Python); and familiarity with proofs, including proofs by induction and by contradiction. Suggested Readings No specific textbook is required for the course. Course Format The class will consist of lecture videos, generally between 10 and 15 minutes in length. Will I get a statement of accomplishment after completing this class?
Machine Learning Computer Science 101 UPDATE: we're doing a live, updated MOOC of this course at stanford-online July-2014 (not this Coursera version). See here: CS101 teaches the essential ideas of Computer Science for a zero-prior-experience audience. Computers can appear very complicated, but in reality, computers work within just a few, simple patterns. CS101 demystifies and brings those patterns to life, which is useful for anyone using computers today. In CS101, students play and experiment with short bits of "computer code" to bring to life to the power and limitations of computers. Here is another video Nick created for this class.
Doron Swade - Computing History Doron Swade An academic who masterminded an 18-year project to recreate a 19th Century computer, a dedicated nurse and an 84-year old volunteer are among Kingstonians rewarded in the UK 2009 New Year's Honours List. Dr Doron Swade, 64, is a leading academic in computer history and a world renowned expert on the work of English mathematician Charles Babbage and has been awarded an MBE for services to the history of computing. Dr Swade, a former curator at the London Science Museum, said: “I am hugely flattered and very, very grateful. “I've always said honours and acknowledgements are the result of good work and I just try to do good work.” Dr Swade masterminded a project to build a working replica of one of Babbage’s ‘calculating engines’ from the original 19th century plans and negotiated the acquisition of rare computers including a Russian Cold War supercomputer and the last working totalisator in the country for the National Computer Collection. Dr. Doron has curated many exhibitions.