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In this article we look at the structure of the Encog Flat Network. The Encog flat network is how Encog represents most neural networks, at the lowest level. This allows Encog to process neural networks with maximum speed. It also keeps the neural networks in a form that they can easily be sent to a GPU.

In this article I will discuss some of the primary issues with GPU programming. This article will focus on how we implemented the first version of GPU support in the Encog Machine Learning Framework. This article focuses mainly on using OpenCL from Java or C#, however it is general enough to apply to any language that can commu icate with OpenCL.

The goal of this article is to help you understand what a neural network is, and how it is used. Most people, even non-programmers, have heard of neural networks. There are many science fiction overtones associated with them. And like many things, sci-fi writers have created a vast, but somewhat inaccurate, public idea of what a neural network is.

Future versions of Encog will support grid/cloud computing. The upcoming Encog 2.4 release will support limited cloud capabilities, for Encog to communicate status back to the "Encog Cloud". This will allow you to monitor training from anywhere, simply by logging into this web site. Encog 2.5 will add full "grid-based" training. You will be able to have more than one computer working on a problem.

Would you like to see Encog Silverlight in action? Silverlight works quite a bit like flash. Except you can program it in C#, without having to learn Flash. There is a version of Encog for Silverlight. You can see several examples, in full GUI, here.

http://www.heatonresearch.com/encog/benchmark.html

I am not as active in Second Life as I used to be. However, the one project I created that I am always asked about is my Ferris Wheel. You can see the ferris wheel here.

Given that we are now focusing more on neural network programming, than Second Life, we are scaling back our Second Life operations considerably. Heaton Research at one point had three islands in Second Life. We are dropping back to just a small area on "mainland" so that people can pick up the examples from our books. You can see the new Heaton Research home here.

You can access this area, and download any of our book examples, from the following URL.

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Venn/96/86/29

On Tuesday, June 2, 2009 I will do a presentation on Encog at the Gateway Java Users Group in St. Louis, MO at 6:00 PM. The information on this presentation can be found here. I will post the material for this presentation online after I complete it.

Implementing a Java Neural Network with the Encog Framework