Ever heard of Neural Networks?

Now, what is a neural network?

My feature a fortnight ago on the Bio-Robotic Prosthetic arm by the Kenyan inventor duo of David Gathu and Moses Kiuna got me thinking about neural technology and how it is and can be used in our wired societies, specifically in business.

FYI: A neural network is a type of computer program that learns. They are like super smart systems that help computers learn and make decisions, very much like how our brains work. They use methods that copy how brain cells work together. This helps the program find patterns, think about choices, and make decisions.

As such, neural networks are a type of artificial intelligence (AI) that can be used in society and particularly business to process data, learn, and make decisions. They are inspired by the structure of the human brain.

Consequently, neural networks are sometimes called artificial neural networks (ANNs) or simulated neural networks (SNNs). They are a subset of machine learning and at the heart of deep learning models.

There are different types of neural networks which are used for different use cases and data types.

2. Types of neural networks and their use cases

(i) Perceptron neural networks

The earliest known neural networks are the Perceptron neural networks created by Frank Rosenblatt in 1958. The perceptron, a foundational element in the history of neural networks. This pioneering algorithm was designed as a binary classifier, meaning it could learn to distinguish between two categories of input. Imagine it as a simplified model of a biological neuron, attempting to mimic the way our brains process information.