Learn to work independently
An important objective for you is to learn
to work independently.
For the initial milestones, you have to implement
various HMM algorithms in software.
These problems are rather straightforward.
The advantage is that you
-
gain experience in understanding mathematical
descriptions of algorithms and coding them in software;
-
can compare your results with the outputs of
established HMM software packages;
-
create a basis for your future research,
which will be based on HMM algorithms and
their software implementation.
Note that it is important for you to learn
to solve these problem on your own - because that's what
you have to do in the near future anyway. When you are
doing research on a complex topic, you need to be
in the position to work independently. The standard situation is
that you can discuss problems about the general methodology
with colleagues, but when it comes to
modifying algorithms and implementing them in software,
you will be pretty much on your own.
The initial problems I am giving you
are sufficiently simple and
straightforward
that you should be able to solve them without any
help from anyone else. Tackling them on your own
is an important exercise for you.
Read the explanation of an algorithm
several times, using different articles.
Derive the algorithms on paper and compare your
derivations with the literature - to make sure you have
understood them thoroughly.
Design your software implementation properly,
starting, e.g., from flow or chart diagrams.
Think of strategies how you can test intermediate
results.
These are just a few practical tips I can give you
here. As you work on solving a problem independently,
you will come up with your own, new strategies.
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Last update: November 2003.