Available Now: Support Vector Book

[N Cristianini]

The Support Vector Book is now distributed and available
(see http://www.support-vector.net for details).


AN INTRODUCTION TO SUPPORT VECTOR MACHINES
(and other kernel-based learning methods)
N. Cristianini and J. Shawe-Taylor
Cambridge University Press, 2000 
ISBN: 0 521 78019 5 
http://www.support-vector.net

Contents - Overview 
    
1 The Learning Methodology 
2 Linear Learning Machines 
3 Kernel-Induced Feature Spaces 
4 Generalisation Theory 
5 Optimisation Theory 
6 Support Vector Machines 
7 Implementation Techniques 
8 Applications of Support Vector Machines 
Pseudocode for the SMO Algorithm 
Background Mathematics 
References 
Index 
 

Description 
    
This book is the first comprehensive introduction to Support Vector
Machines (SVMs), a new generation learning system based on recent advances
in statistical learning theory. The book also introduces Bayesian analysis
of learning and relates SVMs to Gaussian Processes and other kernel based
learning methods.  SVMs deliver state-of-the-art performance in real-world
applications such as text categorisation, hand-written character
recognition, image classification, biosequences analysis, etc. Their first
introduction in the early 1990s lead to a recent explosion of applications
and deepening theoretical analysis, that has now established Support
Vector Machines along with neural networks as one of the standard tools
for machine learning and data mining.

Students will find the book both stimulating and accessible, while
practitioners will be guided smoothly through the material required for a
good grasp of the theory and application of these techniques. The concepts
are introduced gradually in accessible and self-contained stages, though
in each stage the presentation is rigorous and thorough.

Pointers to relevant literature and web sites containing software ensure
that it forms an ideal starting point for further study. These are also
available on-line through an associated web site www.support-vector.net,
which will be kept updated with pointers to new literature, applications,
and on-line software.