[Nettime-nl] Workshop by Usman Haque and Robert Davis

[Nederlands Instituut voor Mediakunst <mailing@montevideo.nl>]

Build your own neural processor with two international acclaimed special 
guests!

Workshop by Usman Haque and Robert Davis
Friday May 11, 2007
10.00 - 17.00 h
euro 10,- (incl material costs + lunch)
Nederland Instituut voor Mediakunst
Keizersgracht 264, Amsterdam
Subscribe before April 25, 2007: anouk@montevideo.nl.

Usman Haque and Robert Davis are artists in residence at the Netherlands 
Media Art Institute from April -June 2007. Haque is an architect who 
specializes in reactive environments, interactive installations, digital 
interfaces and performances. Robert Davis is Systems Developer in the 
Psychology Department, Goldsmiths College. Their knowledge is expressed 
in both designing physical spaces and making software and systems that 
bring these spaces to life.

For more information about Usman Haque:
http://www.haque.co.uk/evolvingsonicenvironment.php
For more information about Robert Davis
http://homepages.gold.ac.uk/rdavis/

Workshop
Introduction to building neural nets with analog electronics

The purpose of the workshop will be to introduce participants to the 
concepts of neural networks and how to build them using simple analog 
electronics. Participants will be able to understand how
they might be applied in their own projects.

In the process, participants will be introduced to various types of 
learning, types of neural networks and types of neurons (e.g. those that 
are biologically plausible simulations and those that are not;
the differences between summation and integrate-and-fire models).

Participants will be provided with modular boards and analog components 
and will build, neuron by neuron, their own simple neural processor. At 
each stage they will be encouraged to understand exactly what is 
happening in their circuit and how this relates (or doesn't) to 
biological models.

Finally, towards the end of the day, all the neural processors will be 
connected, in order to create a much larger single neural net. At this 
point a variety of sensors (e.g. thermistors, light dependent
resistors, buttons) and actuators (LEDs, motors, buzzers) will be 
swapped around in order to speculate about how such a system might be 
useful in participants' own projects.

Participants should have some experience with electronics; if they know 
what a resistor and op-amp are, know how to use a voltmeter, and have 
soldered before then they will be OK. Those who don't have experience 
are welcome to join but will be paired with someone more experienced.

Participants should bring their own:
- soldering iron & solder
- voltmeter
- any sensors/actuators they would like to use for their neural net
(some will be provided, so this is not compulsory)


Nederlands Instituut voor Mediakunst
Montevideo/Time Based Arts
Keizersgracht 264
1016 EV Amsterdam
T 020 6237101
F 020 6244423
www.montevideo.nl

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