"Each of us, actually every animal, is a data scientist. We collect data from our sensors, and then we process the data to get abstract rules to perceive our environment and control our actions in that environment to minimize pain and/or maximize pleasure. We have memory to store those rules in our brains, and then we recall and use them when needed. Learning is lifelong; we forget rules when they no longer apply or revise them when the environment changes."
- Ethem Alpaydin, Machine Learning: The New AI
The purpose of this chapter is to provide a conceptual introduction to statistical machine learning (ML) techniques for those who might not normally be exposed to such approaches during their typical required statistical training. This chapter also aims to take a newcomer from having minimal knowledge of machine learning...