Bayesian Reasoning and Machine Learning

Machine learning methods extract value from vast data sets quickly and with modest resources. They are established tools in a wide range of industrial applications, including search engines, DNA sequencing, stock market analysis, and robot locomotion, and their use is spreading rapidly. People who know the methods have their choice of rewarding jobs. This hands-on text opens these opportunities to computer science students with modest mathematical backgrounds. It is designed for final-year undergraduates and master's students with limited background in linear algebra and calculus. Comprehensive and coherent, it develops everything from basic reasoning to advanced techniques within the framework of graphical models. Students learn more than a menu of techniques, they develop analytical and problem-solving skills that equip them for the real world. Numerous examples and exercises, both computer based and theoretical, are included in every chapter. Resources for students and instructors, including a MATLAB toolbox, are available online.

Table of Contents:
Preface; Part I. Inference in Probabilistic Models: 1. Probabilistic reasoning; 2. Basic graph concepts; 3. Belief networks; 4. Graphical models; 5. Efficient inference in trees; 6. The junction tree algorithm; 7. Making decisions; Part II. Learning in Probabilistic Models: 8. Statistics for machine learning; 9. Learning as inference; 10. Naive Bayes; 11. Learning with hidden variables; 12. Bayesian model selection; Part III. Machine Learning: 13. Machine learning concepts; 14. Nearest neighbour classification; 15. Unsupervised linear dimension reduction; 16. Supervised linear dimension reduction; 17. Linear models; 18. Bayesian linear models; 19. Gaussian processes; 20. Mixture models; 21. Latent linear models; 22. Latent ability models; Part IV. Dynamical Models: 23. Discrete-state Markov models; 24. Continuous-state Markov models; 25. Switching linear dynamical systems; 26. Distributed computation; Part V. Approximate Inference: 27. Sampling; 28. Deterministic approximate inference; Appendix. Background mathematics; Bibliography; Index.

About the Author :
David Barber is Reader in Information Processing in the Department of Computer Science, University College London.

Review :
'This book is an exciting addition to the literature on machine learning and graphical models. What makes it unique and interesting is that it provides a unified treatment of machine learning and related fields through graphical models, a framework of growing importance and popularity. Another feature of this book lies in its smooth transition from traditional artificial intelligence to modern machine learning. The book is well-written and truly pleasant to read. I believe that it will appeal to students and researchers with or without a solid mathematical background.' Zheng-Hua Tan, Aalborg University, Denmark 'With approachable text, examples, exercises, guidelines for teachers, a MATLAB toolbox and an accompanying website, Bayesian Reasoning and Machine Learning by David Barber provides everything needed for your machine learning course. Only students not included.' Jaakko Hollmén, Aalto University 'The chapters on graphical models form one of the clearest and most concise presentations I have seen … The exposition throughout uses numerous diagrams and examples, and the book comes with an extensive software toolbox - these will be immensely helpful for students and educators. It's also a great resource for self-study.' Arindam Banerjee, University of Minnesota 'I repeatedly get unsolicited comments from my students that the contents of this book have been very valuable in developing their understanding of machine learning … My students praise this book because it is both coherent and practical, and because it makes fewer assumptions regarding the reader's statistical knowledge and confidence than many books in the field.' Amos Storkey, University of Edinburgh