...www.elsevier.com/locate/atoures Annals of Tourism Research, Vol. 32, No. 1, pp. 93–111, 2005 Ó 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Printed in Great Britain 0160-7383/$30.00 doi:10.1016/j.annals.2004.05.001 MARKET SEGMENTATION A Neural Network Application Jonathan Z. Bloom University of Stellenbosch, South Africa Abstract: The objective of the research is to consider a self-organizing neural network for segmenting the international tourist market to Cape Town, South Africa. A backpropagation neural network is used to complement the segmentation by generating additional knowledge based on input–output relationship and sensitivity analyses. The findings of the self-organizing neural network indicate three clusters, which are visually confirmed by developing a comparative model based on the test data set. The research also demonstrated that Cape Metropolitan Tourism could deploy the neural network models and track the changing behavior of tourists within and between segments. Marketing implications for the Cape are also highlighted. Keywords: segmentation, SOM neural network, input–output analysis, sensitivity analysis, deployment. Ó 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. ´ ´ Resume: Segmentation du marche: une application du reseau neuronal. Le but de la ´ ´ recherche est de considerer un reseau neuronal auto-organisateur pour segmenter le marche ´ ´ ´ touristique international a Cape Town, en Afrique du Sud. On utilise un reseau neuronal de ` ´ retropropogation pour...
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...technical specification to customer satisfaction. III. To present with the aid of slides (6 to 10) about the study conducted above to the rest of the class in about 10 minutes with the use of print for information and slides for graphs, pictures, images, video and animations etc. Note to teachers: • A teacher may guide only 6 to a maximum of ten students per year. This is to ensure active participation of each learner. • All 96 hours need NOT be contact hours by the teacher. Students may be encouraged to do activities on their own with peer group to ensure higher level of participation. • There are ten different tasks to be completed in the course of 96 hours. On completion of each task, record the result and the marks along with the initials of the learner for future reference, inspection and evaluation. • A few activities are suggested under each task. Teachers can improvise on the list and add more activities as they progress from one batch to another. • Students should not be compared with each other; instead they must be compared to the standards given against each task. • The standard suggested is minimum requirement,...
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...the stronger trend. In this paper we investigate the use of the Hurst exponent to classify series of financial data representing different periods of time. Experiments with backpropagation Neural Networks show that series with large Hurst exponent can be predicted more accurately than those series with H value close to 0.50. Thus Hurst exponent provides a measure for predictability. KEY WORDS Hurst exponent, time series analysis, neural networks, Monte Carlo simulation, forecasting In time series forecasting, the first question we want to answer is whether the time series under study is predictable. If the time series is random, all methods are expected to fail. We want to identify and study those time series having at least some degree of predictability. We know that a time series with a large Hurst exponent has strong trend, thus it’s natural to believe that such time series are more predictable than those having a Hurst exponent close to 0.5. In this paper we use neural networks to test this hypothesis. Neural networks are nonparametric universal function approximators [9] that can learn from data without assumptions. Neural network forecasting models have been widely used in financial time series analysis during the last decade [10],[11],[12]. As universal function approximators, neural networks can be used for surrogate predictability. Under the same conditions, a time series with a smaller forecasting error than another is said to be more predictable. We study the Dow-Jones...
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...2 CHAPTER 2.1 2.2 2.3 Decision Making and Business Processes Why Do I Need To Know This LEARNING OUTCOMES Explain the difference between transactional data and analytical information, and between OLTP and OLAP. Define TPS, DSS, and EIS, and explain how organizations use these types of information systems to make decisions. Understand what AI is and the four types of artificial intelligence systems used by organizations today. Describe how AI differs from TPS, DSS, and EIS. Describe the importance of business process improvement, business process reengineering, business process modelling, and business process management to an organization and how information systems can help in these areas. This chapter describes various types of business information systems found across the enterprise used to run basic business processes and used to facilitate sound and proper decision making. Using information systems to improve decision making and re-engineer business processes can significantly help organizations become more efficient and effective. ? 2.4 2.5 As a business student, you can gain valuable insight into an organization by understanding the types of information systems that exist in and across enterprises. When you understand how to use these systems to improve business processes and decision making, you can vastly improve organizational performance. After reading this chapter, you should have gained an appreciation of the various kinds of information systems employed...
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...500/2591/0 QAN 500/2587/9 Contents 1 About these Qualifications 4 1.1 6 The Four-Unit Advanced GCE 6 1.3 Qualification Titles and Levels 6 1.4 Aims 7 1.5 2 The Two-Unit AS 1.2 Prior Learning/Attainment 8 9 2.1 AS Units 9 2.2 3 Summary of Content A2 Units 10 12 3.1 AS Unit G451: An introduction to Physical Education 12 3.2 AS Unit G452: Acquiring, developing and evaluating practical skills in Physical Education 24 3.3 A2 Unit G453: Principles and concepts across different areas of Physical Education 31 3.4 4 Unit Content A2 Unit G454: The improvement of effective performance and the critical evaluation of practical activities in Physical Education 55 62 4.1 AS GCE Scheme of Assessment 62 4.2 Advanced GCE Scheme of Assessment 63 4.3 Unit Order 64 4.4 Unit Options (at AS/A2) 64 4.5 Synoptic Assessment (A Level GCE) 64 4.6 Assessment Availability 64 4.7 Assessment Objectives 65 4.8 5 Schemes of Assessment Quality of Written Communication 66 Technical Information 67 5.1 Making Unit Entries 67 5.2 Making Qualification Entries 67 5.3 Grading 68 5.4 Result Enquiries and Appeals 69 5.5 Shelf-Life of Units 69 5.6 Unit and Qualification Re-sits 69 5.7 Guided Learning Hours 69 5.8 Code of Practice/Subject Criteria/Common...
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...NEURAL NETWORKS by Christos Stergiou and Dimitrios Siganos | Abstract This report is an introduction to Artificial Neural Networks. The various types of neural networks are explained and demonstrated, applications of neural networks like ANNs in medicine are described, and a detailed historical background is provided. The connection between the artificial and the real thing is also investigated and explained. Finally, the mathematical models involved are presented and demonstrated. Contents: 1. Introduction to Neural Networks 1.1 What is a neural network? 1.2 Historical background 1.3 Why use neural networks? 1.4 Neural networks versus conventional computers - a comparison 2. Human and Artificial Neurones - investigating the similarities 2.1 How the Human Brain Learns? 2.2 From Human Neurones to Artificial Neurones 3. An Engineering approach 3.1 A simple neuron - description of a simple neuron 3.2 Firing rules - How neurones make decisions 3.3 Pattern recognition - an example 3.4 A more complicated neuron 4. Architecture of neural networks 4.1 Feed-forward (associative) networks 4.2 Feedback (autoassociative) networks 4.3 Network layers 4.4 Perceptrons 5. The Learning Process 5.1 Transfer Function 5.2 An Example to illustrate the above teaching procedure 5.3 The Back-Propagation Algorithm 6. Applications of neural networks 6.1 Neural networks in practice 6.2 Neural networks in medicine 6.2.1 Modelling and Diagnosing the Cardiovascular...
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...widely used for complex problem-solving and decision-support techniques in real-time business applications. The business applicability of AI techniques is spread across functions ranging from finance management to forecasting and production. In the fiercely competitive and dynamic market scenario, decision-making has become fairly complex and latency is inherent in many processes. In addition, the amount of data to be analyzed has increased substantially. AI technologies help enterprises reduce latency in making business decisions, minimize fraud and enhance revenue opportunities. Definition of AI AI is a broad discipline that promises to simulate numerous innate human skills such as automatic programming, case-based reasoning, neural networks, decision-making, expert systems, natural language processing, pattern recognition and speech recognition etc. AI technologies bring more complex data-analysis features to existing applications. There are many definitions that attempt to explain what Artificial Intelligence (AI) is. I like to think of AI as a science that investigates knowledge and intelligence, possibly the intelligent application of knowledge. Knowledge and Intelligence are as fundamental as the universe within which they exist, it may turn out that they are more fundamental. One of the aims of AI is said to be the investigation of human cognition and AI is part of Cognitive Science. AI is really an investigation into the creation of intelligence...
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...2D1432 Artificial Neural Networks and Other Learning Systems ! Plasticity vs. Stability Dilemma Plasticity: Network needs to learn new patterns Stability: Network needs to memorize old patterns Human brain: face recognition Adaptive Resonance Theory (ART) ! ! ! Plasticity vs. Stability Dilemma Backpropagation ! ART Characteristics Goal: Design a neural network that preserves its previously learned knowledge while continuing to learn new things. Biologically plausible: ART has a selfregulating control structure that allows autonomous recognition and learning no supervisory control or algorithmic implementation. ! ! ! New patterns require retraining of the network No Stabilization Stabilization achieved by decreasing learning rate Decreasing learning rate reduces plasticity ! ! Kohonen maps (SOM) ! ! other Neural Networks ART Online learning Self-organizing (unsupervised) Maintains permanent plasticity Learn in approximate match phase Non-stationary world Other ANN (BP) Offline learning supervised Plasticity regulated externally Learn in mismatch phase (error based) Stationary world ART Terminology STM : Short term memory ! ! Refers to the dynamics of neural units (recognition, matching) Refers to the adaptation of weights (learning) control structure to activate/deactivate search and matching ! LTM : Long term memory ! ! Gain control : ! 1 ART Basic Architecture F2 gain + ! ART Basic Architecture ...
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...BIO INSPIRED NEURAL NETWORKING AMONG MULTI-ROBOTS CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION Transportation is one of the most important economic activities of any country. Among the various forms of transport, road transport is one of the most popular means of transportation. Transportation has an element of danger attached to it in the form of vehicle crashes. Road crashes not only cause death and injury, but they also bring along an immeasurable amount of agony to the people involved. Efforts to improve traffic safety to date have concentrated on the occupant protection, which had improved the vehicle crash worthiness. The other important area where research is currently being done is collision avoidance. Technological innovations have given the traffic engineer an option of improving traffic safety by utilizing the available communication tools and sophisticated instruments. Using sensors and digital maps for increasing traffic safety is in its infancy. Systems are being developed to utilize the available state of the art facilities to reduce or possibly prevent the occurrence of crashes. Total prevention of crashes might not be possible for now, but the reduction of crashes could easily be achieved by using the collision avoidance systems. 1.1 NEED FOR COLLISION AVOIDANCE The development of collision avoidance systems is motivated by their potential for increased vehicle safety. Half of the more than 1.5 million rear-end crashes that occurred in 1994 could have been prevented by...
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...Anchor Activity: Brown Bear Activities for the story: Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do you see? By Bill Martin, JR. The anchor activities will be: matching picture to picture, re-telling the story, and tile animal puzzles. Grade: Early Childhood Special Education (3-5 years old) Curriculum Focus: These activities are related to the concept or concepts being learned. They are activities that everyone in the class will be able to do, providing differentiation because students have a choice of activities. Outcome- • Extend and review skills and demonstrate understanding of content and skills that students need to acquire. Designed to teach color vocabulary, animal names and/or sounds and matching picture to picture. Different students can have different anchor activities so their process of reviewing content will be different depending on what activity they do. The expected outcome(s) : • Students will take an active role in learning classroom routines. • Students will be able to complete the file folder game of matching the correct animal to the correct picture. Students will complete the tile puzzles. • Students will retell the story, Brown Bear Brown Bear by Bill Martin using the flannel board pieces. Procedure(s): I will give verbal directions for each activity. I will demonstrate and model how to do each one as well. I will make sure that each student knows where the materials are kept and are clear on the expectations. I will make sure that the...
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...what was done during our class session. It involved us participating in various activities that would require us to rely on the knowledge and expertise of the other members of the group that we were randomly assigned to. This training session however would be different because of the various cultures, backgrounds, and personalities represented. | The first team training exercise was a game called charades. It required us to learn how to converse with others without the use of words or sounds. We had to compete against the other team, and whoever guessed the most words correctly won the game. This particular exercise teaches the value of clear communication between team members and aids in building relationships. Trusting our ability to read body language was the next challenge and it was the most difficult. We would not only have to guess which person of the opposite team held a coin in their hand but which hand specifically. During this game, we did not trust in one of our members’ judgments and as a team, we should consider everyone’s opinion within the group. If one person has the ability to read body language, we should follow the advice of that team member since they have used their expertise to guess correctly. This is where trust is developed within the group members and is displayed in the support of the final decision. The last challenge took us uphill. During this activity, we had to strategize a way of allowing our team members to fit into a circle that...
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...resource needs and issues they currently face as basis for staffing decisions. Pat Hartlake, the operations manager recognized the importance of the establishment of a separate and experienced human resource unit and developing good relations with the HR staff to achieve efficiency in addressing human resource problems. Second change is the performance of human resource functions. One activity is staffing or obtaining qualified employees through advertisements and interviewing applicants and looking at application papers to determine work stability. has a background in sales so she is confident in her ability to select qualified employees. Another activity is investing in employee motivation. Previously, the store has a high turnover rate primarily attributed to the inconsistencies in discipline procedures. introduced a performance assessment procedure that considers the quality and quantity of work performed by employees as basis of disciplinary action, possibly dismissal after incurring three valid disciplinary actions, and annual salary increases. Still another activity is employee development through the...
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...helps with staying organized, eliminating idle time and allows for planning ahead. The creation and use of a schedule reduces the stress about what task an individual must do next. By having time designated for certain activities, a schedule helps prevent forgetting tasks as well as rushing through other tasks. A schedule helps allot time for school work and business activities and leaves an individual in charge of what they want to do and when they want to do it. As a student, one should be reasonable about business growth by prioritizing and designating only a few hours a week for business activities. It is practical to begin by establishing a small scaled business while in school, with the intention of expanding later when more time is available. Ways to Create a Schedule There are a number of different ways a schedule can be created and many tools that make it a simple task. Many online websites can generate a schedule once input is entered such as Google Calendars which can instantly create a schedule that manages your time. If you are an owner of a Smartphone, applications, such as Tungle Me and Smart Time, can also be useful. However, the most effective schedules are made personally by an individual since they have consideration of activities that take place in their own lives. Research on working effectively shows that most people work best by working intensely for...
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...Never Enough Time A day consists of 24 hours. Somehow this is never sufficient amount of time to complete all task or activities needed to be done in a person’s life. Some of these task and activities include work, school, personal lives, and just everyday life duties. It is these activities that can lead a person to stress and anxiety because not everything can be accomplished in a daily basis. Time management can be the answer to help complete daily activities and eliminate stress brought on by this. Time management is a discipline that sometimes accompanied by many failures. When taken seriously, the rewards will be found and worth the effort (Repak). Time consist of taking care of a family by a single parent or parents, maintaining a home, working a full-time job, and attending college to maintain a degree. Within trying to take care of these tasks, there are still smaller task that must be done. However, besides attending to these particular matters, a person must also find time relax and get sleep. To resolve the problem of finding time to do all the activities that are required to be completed daily, a person must have good time management skills. The struggle of time management is not simply a case of cutting back or acquiring new skills because the exhaustion and fatigue that a person feels has a connection on so many areas of life – our relationships, disposition, availability, etc (Repak). Time management skills can help aid in keeping a person on schedule...
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...Katherine Lund Unit 5 Assignment PA350 Social Security and Disability Law April 1, 2014 Step 1: Work Test-Is the claimant working and earning more than substantial gainful activity? Johnny Superton is working for his brother’s lawn mower shop and getting paid $320.00 per week which equals $1,376.00 per month. This is over the $1070.00 amount that Social Security has set in place for substantial gainful activity. Therefore, he would be denied benefits in step 1 of the SSA’s five step Sequential Evaluation Process for Determining Disability. Step 2: Severity Test- Does the claimant have a severe impairment that significantly limits his or her ability to do basic work activities and that also meets the duration requirements? Johnny Superton does have a severe impairment that significantly limits his ability to do basic work activities. Because of his accident, the doctors had to amputate his right leg just below the knee due to an uncontrollable MRSA infection, amputate his left foot due to gangrene. Although he has prosthetics, he is unable to use them because they do not fit well. The injury occurred on March 1, 2013 which also means he is within the duration requirements. Step 3: Medical Listing Test-Does the condition meet the SSA’s medical listings, or is the condition equal in severity to one found on the medical listings? Section 1.04 of the Disability Evaluation Under Social Security is disorders of the spine. In his accident Johnny’s L5-S1 disc burst and...
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