In order to avoid the usual set of obstacles that make it difficult for novice programmers to become proficient, we developed a list of easy-to-use tools available on the web that aim to create a more accessible and agnostic environment for students. One such tool is “TensorFlow Playground”, an interactive console where you can build neural networks without even touching code. People with no experience in machine learning can now use TensorFlow’s powerful machine intelligence algorithms without any prerequisite knowledge about programming—opening up a whole new world of opportunity for millions.
“TensorFlow Playground” was developed by the team at Google Brain, who have been using deep learning for a wide variety of applications. The first prototype of “TensorFlow Playground” was released in March 2016, but it wasn’t until the following year that the tool finally gained popularity amongst researchers and students. Today, “TensorFlow Playground” is used by over 90k users from around the world.
Students at ETH Zurich have recently started using “TensorFlow Playground” as well. They are particularly interested in using it as a mean of creating a simple, yet powerful AI that can be used to aid in the sequencing process of DNA and RNA.
The sequencing process has always been rather difficult due to the large amounts of data it produces. Up till recently, there have been no algorithms that can intuitively understand the interrelationships between different variables such as those involved in genome sequencing. While “TensorFlow Playground” does not provide algorithms for understanding complex mathematics, it does offer students and researchers with an easy-to-use tool for making machine learning accessible for everyone.
