http://www.theprojectspot.com Lee Jacobson's portfolio. Artificial intelligence, genetic algorithms, web programming, startups, technology news, tutorials, and other insight. Content updated by Lee Jacobson http://www.theprojectspot.com/images/logo.png http://www.theprojectspot.com/ http://www.theprojectspot.com/post/interview-with-helpful-peeps/31 This week I was very happy to speak with Saf from the Bristol based startup Helpfulpeeps. http://www.theprojectspot.com/tutorial-post/ant-colony-optimization-for-hackers/10 Originally proposed in 1992 by Marco Dorigo, ant colony optimization (ACO) is an optimization technique inspired by the path finding behaviour of ants searching for food. ACO is also a subset of swarm intelligence - a problem solving technique using decentralized, collective behaviour, to derive artificial intelligence. http://www.theprojectspot.com/tutorial-post/solving-traveling-salesman-problem-using-google-maps-and-genetic-algorithms/9 An ideal way to explore the potential of genetic algorithms is by applying them to real world data. Perhaps one of the easiest ways to do this is by using the Google Maps API to implement a solution to the traveling salesman problem. http://www.theprojectspot.com/post/in-defence-of-the-pessimist/28 As someone who would describe themselves as naturally more pessimistic, I’ve never felt like it was a disadvantage in my life. I’ve always believed it made me more critical of my choices, and that doubt gives me the opportunity to prepare for what I fear my go wrong. http://www.theprojectspot.com/post/surveillance-and-internet-privacy/27 Freedom of speech is essential to any successful free democracy. Could it be that if government surveillance continues to increase it could reach a point where it's citizens no longer feel free to openly discuss or research controversial topics or opposing political views, in fear of being put on "the watch list"? http://www.theprojectspot.com/post/twenty-four-new-starts-and-updates/26 Twenty Four, New Starts and Updates - I suppose it's about time to dust this blog off with another annual update. So first off I'm now twenty four, which even after two months still scares the heck out of me. Where do I begin? http://www.theprojectspot.com/post/autobots-and-beyond/25 Record fast new technology derived from artificial intelligence has surfaced in every part of society, especially in the last year or so. http://www.theprojectspot.com/tutorial-post/introduction-to-artificial-neural-networks-part-2-learning/8 In this tutorial we will begin to find out how artificial neural networks can learn, why learning is so useful and what the different types of learning are. We will specifically be looking at training single-layer perceptrons with the perceptron learning rule. http://www.theprojectspot.com/post/workplace-automation/24 Workplace productivity has always been a top of the line priority for all types of industries throughout the job market. Potential employers interview potential employees with the hopes that these new prospects will provide a quality addition to the team and increase productivity for the company, as a whole. Many times workers will give 150% of their effort to the business, only to find out that what they are giving, and what is expected out of them, is not the same. These characteristics that I am describing can be attributed to being a human. http://www.theprojectspot.com/post/bionics-in-space/23 Space exploration in our current society, especially by humans, is quite minimal. Scientists have yet to discover even a fraction of the possibilities that space incurs. Researchers continually seek out, and create, new technologies that will fund the knowledge of outer space to a greater understanding than we know it. Artificial intelligence among the cosmos may be just the answer to finding numerous unknowns throughout the universe. http://www.theprojectspot.com/post/the-bionic-limb/22 Sparked by imagination and curiosity, human beings have ventured into the far depths of artificial technology like that of the movies. Generation upon generation of society have fought to find the authenticity in detailed stories of science fiction. Whether it was Robocop, or Johnny 5, the infatuation with these types of cyborgs eventually flowed into the factual scientific community where movie based reality became the truth. Researchers have found new ways to implement these ideas through the use of new prosthetics that allow amputees to live, as close to a normal life, as possible. http://www.theprojectspot.com/post/our-artificial-world/21 The commencement of Artificial Intelligence began during the Renaissance age with fascinating, unrealistic tales in Greek mythology. Legends within the culture told of artificially simulated beings, who had been manufactured by humans, with the intent to overtake the god’s. Currently, these stories are nothing more than mere words. However, scientific research is leading humanity into a whole new “artificial world”. http://www.theprojectspot.com/post/twenty-three/19 Twenty Three. I recently I turned twenty three and I thought it would be an ideal time to list some of the things I’ve learnt during the 23rd year of my life. http://www.theprojectspot.com/tutorial-post/introduction-to-artificial-neural-networks-part-1/7 This is the first part of a three part introductory tutorial on artificial neural networks. In this first tutorial we will discover what neural networks are, why they're useful for solving certain types of tasks and finally how they work. http://www.theprojectspot.com/tutorial-post/simulated-annealing-algorithm-for-beginners/6 Simulated Annealing algorithm for beginners. We take a look at what the simulated annealing algorithm is, why it's used and apply it to the traveling salesman problem. http://www.theprojectspot.com/post/no-pressure-have-fun/18 I heard a quote recently, “Don’t take life so seriously, no one gets out alive”. I’ve heard it 100 times before but this time it resonated with me. Lately while watching friends and myself grow into young adults, I’ve noticed a change in attitude from when we were younger. http://www.theprojectspot.com/tutorial-post/applying-a-genetic-algorithm-to-the-travelling-salesman-problem/5 An introduction to applying a genetic algorithm (GA) to the traveling salesman problem. Beginners Artificial intelligence guide to the travelling salesman problem. http://www.theprojectspot.com/post/maximising-happiness/17 You’ve probably already had to think about the difficult questions on my mind at moment such as, ‘what’s my purpose in life?’. It's time to put happiness first and live a live true to your dreams without regret. http://www.theprojectspot.com/post/optimising-the-hacker-news-community/16 We all love Hacker News for similar reasons. Let's try to be a bit more positive and give each other the help we need. http://www.theprojectspot.com/post/Is-the-UK-becoming-a-bad-place-for-internet-startups/15 The UK has been making some really bad decisions for encouraging internet entrepreneurship and tech startups to continue considering the UK an ideal place for starting a new internet company. http://www.theprojectspot.com/post/become-a-pirate/14 I have a proposal for the people (and robots!) of the internets. Stop downloading your music legally. http://www.theprojectspot.com/tutorial-post/nodejs-for-beginners-callbacks/4 Node.js for beginners, part 2. We take a look at what callbacks are and what makes them so useful for creating fast stable non-blocking code in Node.js. http://www.theprojectspot.com/post/consciousness-coming-to-a-machine-near-you/12 It's one of the biggest questions, what is consciousness? And it's a question that is becoming more relevant with increasing computational abilities and promises of ever more 'clever' robots. http://www.theprojectspot.com/tutorial-post/creating-a-genetic-algorithm-for-beginners/3 An introductory tutorial to genetic algorithms (GA) for beginners. Step by step guide of how to create a basic binary genetic algorithm (GA) in Java with example code. http://www.theprojectspot.com/tutorial-post/Node-js-for-beginners-part-1-hello-world/2 A beginners tutorial to create hello world and a bit extra with Node.js. Node.js is a server-side version of JavaScript. That means all the things all them cool things about JavaScript apply here. http://www.theprojectspot.com/post/I-quit-facebook/11 Today I quit Facebook. I've been getting annoyed at Facebook for a while, not because of the privacy concerns which many have expressed, but because of the way facebook wants it's users use the site. http://www.theprojectspot.com/post/im-a-web-designer/10 I create websites that work well and look good. Unlike you I understand the importance of not using popups, making a background repeatable and not playing your stupid music on every page. http://www.theprojectspot.com/tutorial-post/Binding+a+click+function+to+an+element+with+an+updating+class/1 Binding a click function in JQuery to an element with an updating class http://www.theprojectspot.com/post/Thank+you+Steve+Jobs/9 I've always been critical towards Steve Jobs but I thank him for the progresses he brought to technology http://www.theprojectspot.com/post/Developing+Athesyn/7 A quick update on the continued development of Athesyn, a new social news site. http://www.theprojectspot.com/post/UI+is+your+books+cover/5 Is your website judged by it's cover? http://www.theprojectspot.com/post/The+startup+mindset%3A+Will+I+ever+be+content%3F/3 Lately I've been thinking non-stop about creating a successful startup. I worry that I'm getting older and I have no clear path to success http://www.theprojectspot.com/post/%22Respond+with+innovation%2C+not+with+lawsuits%22/2 Apple have made a bad move in my opinion recently. They have acquired a patent that basically prevents competitors making decent smart phones. This kind of attitude towards competitors stop innovation. http://www.theprojectspot.com/post/A+good+CMS+saves+time+and+money./1 I've worked on way too many sites that have poor CMSs. The problem is if your CMS is impossible to use it becomes increasingly hard to add content!