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- NATICK, Mass, May 11, 1992 - The MathWorks, Inc. today introduced the
- MATLAB Neural Network Toolbox, for the design and simulation of neural
- networks using MATLAB, a widely used technical computing environment for
- numeric computation and visualization.
-
- The Neural Network Toolbox includes learning rules, transfer functions, and
- training and design procedures required to implement neural networks.
- Neural networks are computing architectures inspired by biological nervous
- systems. The toolbox contains an extensive set of proven paradigms, which
- users can easily extend and customize to address specific needs using the
- underlying MATLAB programming environment.
-
- Unlike other options available for building neural networks - using
- "canned" software packages with limited flexibility or writing programs
- using traditional languages such as C or Fortran - the Neural Network
- Toolbox combined with the mathematical foundation, speed, graphics, and
- rapid algorithm development capabilities of MATLAB, provides the built-in
- functionality of advanced application software with the flexibility and
- extensibility of a high-level language. This integration provides a
- powerful and unique environment for the research and implementation of
- neural networks.
-
- Neural networks can be trained to solve problems previously not solvable
- using conventional methods due to insufficient knowledge of the dependent
- variables. Most computers and programming languages are dependent upon
- sequential instructions and operation; neural networks have built-in
- learning and adaptation capabilities and can be trained to respond in
- parallel to the inputs presented to them.
-
- With the Neural Network Toolbox and MATLAB, a wide range of users in
- engineering, science, business, and other disciplines can solve simple or
- complex practical problems in noise cancellation, pattern recognition,
- nonlinear control systems, and other application areas. Neural networks
- are implemented by organizations such as AMOCO Oil Company, Siemens
- Medical Electronics, and Stanford University to solve important problems
- that could not be solved previously in any practical way.
-
- The Neural Network Toolbox contains a textbook-quality User's Guide with
- information to educate novices and experts alike. This 350-page manual
- introduces and explains neural network architectures and paradigms, in
- general and in detail, and gives numerous examples with code to explain
- the strengths and weaknesses of each method.
-
- "The introduction of The MathWorks' Neural Network Toolbox represents a
- significant breakthrough in the field of neural networks, a technology
- whose breadth of applicability is just starting to become evident," said
- John N. Little, The MathWorks' president and chief executive officer. "The
- toolbox coupled with MATLAB enables users for the first time to work with
- neural networks within a high-level numeric computation environment that
- is customizable and easy-to-use. As a result, we expect both to stimulate
- neural network research and to expose more people to neural network
- techniques. This increased use will in turn lead to innovative
- applications of this exciting technology."
-
- Features of the Neural Network Toolbox
-
- The Neural Network Toolbox contains functions implementing three supervised
- learning rules: the perception learning rule, the Widrow-Hoff rule, and
- several variations of the backpropagation rule. Functions are provided to
- train the network with each supervised learning rule. Also included are
- unsupervised training functions that use associative learning rules for
- training competitive layers, feature map layers, and ART 1 networks.
-
- Unlike other neural network software packages, the Neural Network Toolbox
- allows an unlimited number of processing elements and interconnections in
- the network (up to operating system constraints).
-
- The toolbox's graphic and text notation introduces a new condensed method
- of drawing neural network architectures in clear summary form. It is
- intuitive, displays all of the information relevant to the network
- architecture, and is consistent across all paradigms contained in the
- toolbox.
-
- MATLAB users can interactively implement the numerous network paradigms in
- the toolbox or develop new ones in MATLAB's easy-to-use programming
- environment to take advantage of new paradigms as they are developed. The
- Neural Network Toolbox is open and extensible, enabling users to view and
- modify algorithms implemented in the toolbox.
-
- The toolbox is just one of many developed by The MathWorks that work in
- conjunction with MATLAB, one of the fastest, easiest-to-use, and most
- accurate environments in which to perform numeric computation, data
- analysis, and visualization.
-
- The MathWorks has the broadest array of application toolboxes in the
- industry to simplify problem-solving in disciplines from digital signal
- processing to control system design and analysis. Users can also use the
- toolboxes with SIMULINK, The MathWorks' software for modeling, analyzing,
- and simulating nonlinear dynamic systems.
-
- Configuration, Pricing, Availability
-
- The Neural Network Toolbox is available immediately for use with MATLAB on
- MS-DOS PCs, Apple Macintosh computers, and Digital Equipment Corp.,
- HP/Apollo, IBM, Silicon Graphics, and Sun workstations. It also is
- available on DEC VAX computers and Convex and Cray supercomputers. Prices
- start at $695.00 in the U.S. for a single microcomputer copy; quantity and
- education discounts are available.
-
- The MathWorks, Inc., based in Natick, Mass., develops and markets
- high-performance interactive engineering and scientific software for
- integrated numeric computation, system simulation, and visualization.
- MathWorks' products are distributed throughout North America, Europe, and
- the Pacific Rim.
-
- The MathWorks Inc
- Cochituate Place, 24 Prime Park Way, Natick, MA 01760
- 508-653-1415
-
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