Machine Learning Smackdown

Lynn Langit

May 7-9, 2014 | San Jose, CA

Agenda

Goal: Survey ML tools/methods that you can actually use on the Microsoft stack

• Definitions• Tools I – Understanding 3rd party Excel Machine Learning Add-ins• Tools II – Using the Microsoft SQL Server SSAS & Data Mining Add-

ins• Tools III – Using Predixion Software • Recap and Call To Action

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TermsGoal: Create common definitions of key terms

• Business Analytics• Query • Aggregation

• Predictive Analytics• Machine Learning

• Statistics• Unsupervised Data Mining• Supervised Data Mining• Other

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What does the market look like now?

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Regular AnalyticsUnsupervised DMSupervised DMMachine Learning

CRISP DM Lifecycle applied to ML

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Machine Learning – an Example

About 3rd party Excel Machine Learning Add-insWhat are they? Toolbars in Excel – many different offerings

• XLMiner• StatsMiner• XLStat• RExcel

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Important: All of these tools assume expert statistical knowledge

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An aside…about R Language

Viewing 3rd Party Add-ins XLMiner

About the Data Mining Add-ins For ExcelWhat is it? Free add-ins which add menus to use SSAS Analysis Services Data Mining

• Table Analysis Tools for Excel• Use mining models with Excel data or external data

• Data Mining Client for Excel• Create/test/explore/manage Mining Models

• Data Mining Templates for Visio• Render/share mining models as Visio Drawings

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Important: Use requires connection to SQL Server 2012 SSAS

Using the Data Mining Add-ins

for Excel

DEMO

Checking Understanding…

Data Mining Structures• Containers for cleansed source data

Data Mining Models• Child containers for source data

plus one mining algorithm• SSAS Algorithms - Clustering, Time

Series Prediction, Market-Basket Analysis, Text Mining and Neural Networks

Model Verification, Processing and Usage Tools• Model query, Model processing

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About Predixion SoftwareWhat is it? Suite of tools for predictive analytics

• Insight Now• Use mining models with Excel data or external data

• Insight Analytics• Create/test/explore/manage Mining Models

• Insight Workbench• Prepare data for model creation

• Web-based Viewers and Tools

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Important: Runs as EITHER connected to SSAS on premise OR Connected to Predixion’s cloud-based servers

Using Predixion Software

DEMO

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Understanding options…

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Add-inServer Required

Complexity of install

OtherCost of Add-in

Cost of Solution

XLMiner none easy Assumes stats expertise

$$ $$

RExcel none easy Assumes R expertise $ $

Data Mining Add-ins

SQL Server SSAS

medium Designed for single user

0 $$$

Predixion on premise

SQL Express easy Requires local R install 0 $$-$$$

Predixion on premise

SQL Server SSAS

medium Your data is stored locally

0 $$$$

Predixion cloud none easy Supports SSAS Data Mining AND R Language

0 $$-$$$

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Machine Learning Skills

Data Scientist

Store

Clean

Aggregate

ML Engineers

Selects Libraries

Applies Algorithms

Creates Solutions

ML ResearcherCreates Algorithms

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Learning Paths – ML Developers

Learn a language… DMX, PAX, R, Mahout, JuliaPick your IDE, tools… SSAS, Predixion, R-Studio, WekkaPick a problem space… Marketing, Health, FinancialFind (purchase)/gather/prepare some data…

GO!

(Visualize results)

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Call to Action – ML Decision Makers

• Pick one or more solutions

• Gather source data

• Prepare source data

• Try out some data mining algorithms

Evaluate it Understand it• Understand tooling costs

• Understand learning costs

• Understand data gathering costs

• Understand data preparation costs

• Understand data cleansing costs

• Understand value of results

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