Greetings from
NeuroDimension!
Makers of NeuroSolutions,
the Neural Network Simulation Environment.
This issue of the
newsletter includes an announcement of the release of TradingSolutions, an exciting new product from NeuroDimension that
allows you to analyze financial data using our state-of-the-art neural network
and genetic algorithm technologies.
In this issue you’ll find:
What’s News?
* Customer Quotes for Interactive Book Available
* TradingSolutions v1.0
* Selecting Inputs
Products and Events
of Interest
Note: You are receiving this newsletter because you requested to stay informed concerning new developments at NeuroDimension. If you would like to stop receiving these newsletters, please see the bottom of this newsletter for removal instructions.
=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=
What’s News?
Customer Quotes for
Interactive Book Available
Our interactive book, Neural and Adaptive Systems: Fundamentals Through Simulations, allows you to learn about neural networks through a clearly written text with over 200 interactive examples. But, don’t just take our word for it. We recently updated our web site to include many of the wonderful things other people have been saying about this book.
See what customers have to say about the book at:
http://www.nd.com/products/nsbook_quotes.htm
And find out more about the interactive book in general at:
http://www.nd.com/products/nsbook.htm
=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=
New Product Announcement
TradingSolutions (www.tradingsolutions.net)
is a new software product that helps you make better trading decisions by
combining traditional technical analysis with state-of-the-art artificial
intelligence technologies. You can use any combination of financial indicators
in conjunction with advanced neural networks and genetic algorithms to create
models that are remarkably effective, especially in today's volatile markets.
TradingSolutions'
user-friendly interface allows you to perform complex financial forecasting
without leaving you lost in the technology. Simple wizards guide you
step-by-step through each task, while optional advanced panels give you the
flexibility to adjust parameters behind the scenes.
This powerful trading
tool allows you to:
* Download
data directly from the Internet or import from a variety of other sources
* Get
up and running fast with animated demonstrations and step-by-step tutorials
* Perform
calculations on a single security or multiple securities at once
* Model
optimal actions and predict future prices with exclusive time-based neural
networks
* Implement
your own functions, systems, and complete trading solutions
* Evaluate
trading models for profit potential using historical backtesting
* Optimize
your models for maximum profit
Visit www.tradingsolutions.net for more information and download a FREE evaluation copy of TradingSolutions.
=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=
A very common question is “I have 100 possible inputs, how do I decide which to use in my network?” The most straightforward approach is to build and train a network with all 100 inputs and then do a sensitivity analysis.
What is Sensitivity Analysis?
Sensitivity analysis varies each input (holding all others at their mean) and determines the change in the output due to the change in the input. Important inputs will produce large changes in the output due to changes in the input. Therefore, the inputs with the largest sensitivity should be kept in the network. Inputs that do not affect the output should be removed since they will only create longer training times and possibly produce worse generalization. The sensitivity analysis, however, is based on the current neural network model (make sure you train it first!). Therefore, if your model is not good, your sensitivity data will be meaningless. Also, the sensitivity analysis may change from training run to training run (slightly different solutions). Therefore, we suggest averaging the sensitivity analysis over multiple training runs.
Limitations of Sensitivity Analysis
This methodology may not work if you are data limited. Since training a network with many inputs and few training exemplars may not be possible (due to the 10:1 training exemplars to weights rule-of-thumb), you may want to start with a linear correlation analysis. Another option is to train multiple networks with subsets of your inputs and then take the N best inputs from each subnetwork. Neither of these methods is ideal since you will be possibly losing nonlinear sensitivities or sensitivities due to the interaction of two inputs, but they may be the only reasonable method.
Performing Sensitivity Analysis
In NeuroSolutions for Excel, you can use the “NeuroSolutions->Test Network->Run Batch” menu and then select the sensitivity analysis batch. In NeuroSolutions, place a probe (like a bar chart) on the sensitivity access point on the L2 criterion (the last axon in the network). Next, open the inspector for the forward controller (yellow dials) and then click on the “perform” button that sits in the “sensitivity analysis” box on the bottom right side of the “static” page.
=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=
NeuroDimension supports the 2001 WSES International Conference on Neural Networks and Applications (NNA'01) that will be held in Puerto De La Cruz, Tenerife, Canary Islands -- February 11-15, 2001. Visit http://www.worldses.org/wses/nna or email to nna@worldses.org for more information.
Have an event or product you would like to announce? Contact us at submissions@nd.com.
=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=~=
We appreciate your feedback! Please send us your comments or
suggestions concerning this newsletter, our web site, or part of the
NeuroDimension product line. Write to us at: feedback@nd.com
Have questions about NeuroDimension products or training services? Send your questions to: info@nd.com
This issue and previous issues of this newsletter are available on the NeuroDimension web site at: http://www.nd.com/mailinglist.htm
If you would prefer not to receive these newsletters or subsequent product updates from NeuroDimension, please reply to this letter with the subject heading changed to the word REMOVE.
Thank you again for your support of NeuroDimension products!