An active learning algorithm based on existing training data

A multilayer percoptron is usually considered a passive learner that only receives given training data. However, if a multilayer perceptron actively gathers training data that resolve its uncertainty about a problem being learnt, sufficiently accurate classification is attained with fewer training data. Recently, such active learning has been receiving an increasing interest. In this paper, we propose a novel active learning strategy. The strategy attempts to produce only useful training data for multilayer perceptrons to achieve accurate classification, and avoids generating redundant training data. Furthermore, the strategy attempts to avoid generating temporarily useful training data that will become redundant in the future. As a result, the strategy can allow multilayer perceptrons to achieve accurate classification with fewer training data. To demonstrate the performance of the strategy in comparison with other active learning strategies, we also propose an empirical active learning algorithm as an implementation of the strategy, which does not require expensive computations. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm improves the classification accuracy of a multilayer perceptron with fewer training data than that for a conventional random selection algorithm that constructs a training data set without explicit strategies. Moreover, the algorithm outperforms typical active learning algorithms in the experiments. Those results show that the algorithm can construct an appropriate training data set at lower computational cost, because training data generation is usually costly. Accordingly, the algorithm proves the effectiveness of the strategy through the experiments. We also discuss some drawbacks of the algorithm.