Machine Learning, from my perspective

When you hear about Machine Learning, what do you think first? Is it about learning a machine? Well, if you guess that, then it’s not correct. Machine Learning is about how a machine learns. As one of the topics in AI, Machine Learning is used and applied in many aspect of life, such as automation, face recognition, and many more. So, how this machine learns? There are 3 types of learning, which are supervised learning, unsupervised learning, and reinforcement learning. supervised learning, as the word suggest, it is one of the learning where there is a “teacher”. It is usually guided, in form of what the machine will get and what is the desired output. Unsupervised learning, is a way of learning where computer only given data, without giving any specific input and output. This kind of learning usually finds the pattern in the given data. Lastly, reinforcement learning. This usually done dynamically, which means that the data is varies and usually have a specific goal to achieve, such as driving a car.

Machine learning has been widely used for many things nowadays, mostly that I know is autonomous system. If we see systems like Tesla’s Autopilot, Google’s self-driving car, and lately, Nissan’s Piloted Drive, it is the product of Machine Learning. These technologies enable computer to self-drive itself, bringing benefits to user and road safety. They can almost control everything and do the same thing as human drivers do. If people thinks that autonomous systems like this are too advanced and might be not able to be used here, in Indonesia, well there are few technologies that able to used here, though it is a semi-autonomous system, more like an additional safety feature. Few examples that I can give are Lane Keeping Assist (where this system warns and able to make corrections based on the lane mark, which literally keeping the car in a lane) and Autonomous Emergency Braking (where this system reads or sense vehicles or barrier in front of them and tries to warn the driver if there are impending danger or crash. If there are no action, then the system will take over and brake the car into full stop).
An interesting idea about Machine Learning that might be created is autonomous flight system for commercial aircraft. The basic concept is almost the same like autonomous driving, but in commercial aircraft, it is like an enhancement to the current autopilot system. I do realize that current plane autopilot system able to guide itself into destination and even lands itself. But this one with enhancement in safety and reducing pilot workload. How? Plane able to take sufficient manoeuvre while in emergency situations such as 2 aircraft being too close, failure on control, and even few situations that might able resulting in a crash. Taking data from the current aircraft safety features, such as TCAS (Traffic Collision Avoidance System) and GPWS (Ground Proximity Warning System). Data from two avionics system able to be used for computer decision making in emergency situations, which, supposedly, help pilots to manoeuvre and avoid crash.

HTTP (HIMTI Togetherness and Top Performance)

On the 12th September 2015, I participated at an event held by HIMTI, called HTTP, short for HIMTI Togetherness and Top Performance. It’s located at BPPT II Building, at Central Jakarta. HIMTI provided us with the transportation to the location, which was very nice. The transportation divided into two groups, the one that depart at 6.30 am, and another one that depart at 7.45 am. I got the first group that depart at 6.30 am. It was a quick trip. When I reached the place, I was directed to the registration area, where I should inputted my NIM. Then, I went to the app showcase, where apps that created by current or alumni SoCS student were displayed. It was amazing and made me wanted to be like them, able to make an application that was very good. After that, I went inside to the auditorium. Because I arrived too early, the displayed a film to watched, for waiting until 9 am, when the event started. The event started with a show from HIMTI Got Talent 2015. After that, MC started the event and before it was started, there were speeches from HTTP Chairwoman, HIMTI Chairman and Presidents, SCDC manager, and Dean of SoCS. The dean also introduce to the attendant himself and lecturers. After that, it was continued with a show from HIMTI band that brought two songs. The band brought the songs very well, I enjoyed it. After the band, MCs held a game, which forces all of the audience to dance. After that, it’s break time. On that break time, there were a free milk distributed by bear brand.  But I should do some challenges from them. After that, I had lunch. The lunch was great. The event continued to talk show session. In this talk show, there were two speakers that were experts at technopreneur. I learned a lot from them, from their motivation, pros and cons, and many more. After that, HIMTI display us a visualization about being a SoCS student and SPAH, short for Seleksi Penerimaan Aktivis HIMTI. And there was a break again. After the break, the event continued with a dance performance. The dance was good and energetic. After that, there was a guest star, which was Rianti Duke. After the guest star perform, there was a special performance which was a DJ play. I danced and enjoyed it a lot. The event finished at 6 pm, and I went back with the provided transport from the organizer.

Academic Orientation

After the GO, the next step of FEP was AO, or Academic Orientation. AO is a simulation of a university life, so I can adjust for university study and life. It was started from 7th September until 18th September, although the schedule didn’t tell me to go to the campus every day. On the first day, it was started with an introduction to algorithm session, brought by Mr. Derwin Suhartono, CCC of Intelligence System. In this session, Mr. Derwin introduce the class to algorithm, how to use it, and how will algorithm help us while coding. After that, the lab assistant teaches us about C language, a programming language that we will used mostly while studying computer sciences. On the second day, Ms. Evawaty Tanuar, Deputy Head of School of Computer Science. She taught the class about presentation, writing, reading, and mind mapping skills. On this session, we should research a topic, and present it in front of the class. It utilizing what Ms. Evawaty had taught us, which was very useful. On 10th September, I had another algorithm class. This time, I learned about pseudocode. It was taught by Ms. Zulvany. Here, I leaned about the If function, loop (do while / for), and many more. I also give it a try on the computer, so I can understand better and know how to apply it. On 12th September, I attend the HIMTI organized event, which was HTTP. I wrote this event on another post. The AO starts back at 14th September, with an algorithm class again. This time, I learned about C language deeper.  I also get a chance to practice it in the lab also. Firstly, I thought that coding will be hard and not understandable, but, I was wrong. It was fun and interesting. The next day, it was a theory class about IT, where I learned about what is IT, the history about it, and terms common in IT. Then, on the next day, I have a curriculum class, which was very interesting. From there I can know a lot of things that might happened in the next 4 years. And there was another introduction again from HIMTI, and explaining about their programmes and activities that already been held or will be held. Then, there were an Academic Advisory session, where Mr. Rhio and Ms. Rini give me details about the AA and its function. The next day, there was a quiz for us, to test what I had learned. The test wasn’t really hard, but I didn’t manage my time well, so, I think that I screw up my test. Then, there were a support centre session. We were explained everything that could help and support our learning and achieving our dreams and future.

Organizational Skill

Organizational skill is one of the important skills that we need in real life, after graduated from university. This skills cannot be instantly come to us, but it should be trained, so it can grow inside us and give us advantage while applying for a job.

Organizational skill consists of time management, planning, and even, organizing itself. This skills can be easily trained or developed by joining an organization or become one of the officials when there are an event.

The easiest way for doing this, is to join an organization, like HMJ or UKM. HMJ, short for Himpunan Mahasiswa Jurusan, is an organization that contains students from one faculty or school, for example, HIMTI, contain peoples from School of Computer Science. In the other hand, UKM, short for Unit Kegiatan Mahasiswa, is an organization that contains students that have an interest or hobby about something. It doesn’t limited from any faculty, so everyone can join them.

By joining organization, we can get a lot of things, like friends, experience, life skills, and many more, we also can improve ourselves easily.

General Orientation

Tuesday, 18th August 2015, it’s a date that I’m waiting for. The first day of the orientation in BINUS University. In BINUS, it is called FEP, short for Freshmen Enrichment Programme. I came to Syahdan Campus at 8.30 AM, for the FEP briefing. It is located at room K3B, at class DBN02. Surrounded by a lot of other new students, and though about the seniors that might be cruel, made me rather nervous. The briefing started at 9.00 AM. It was started by introduction of BC, short for Buddy Coordinator, and continued by introduction of the new students. After that, BCs briefed us about the uniform, rules, and what we would do in the next 4 days.  They also taught us Mars Bina Nusantara and Mars Binusian. With only this session, I can felt that the seniors were very kind and friendly, thus, eliminate my nervousness and fear. Before the briefing ends, we were given a handbook and a schedule for the next 4 days. We also choose our Komti, and Wakomti.  The briefing ends at 1.00 PM.

The next day, I went to Anggrek campus at 7 am, because, at 8 am, for new boarders at Binus Square, We have another orientation, which was necessary for the activation of internet while we stay at Binus Square. The orientation would be divided into two days, the first day with the ops, and another day with the PDC. In this orientation, we were told and explained about rules, facilities, shuttle schedule, laundry, electricity, internet, etc. This session were brought by Mr. David (BS ops staff) and Mr. Baktiar (BS IT staff). After that, I went to auditorium to attend Binus Way session, which will be brought by Drs. Andreas Chang, Vice Rector 3 of Binus University. In this session, we were given information about the vision, mission, our responsibility as a university student and what will be expected after we graduated from Binus University. After that, I went to room 401, for Binusian Journey session, where our BC tell and explained us about it, which I forgot. It finished rather early, because it was rather clear and easily understand. With plenty of time left, we use it for making our yel – yel, though it didn’t finish in one day. It would be presented at the last session of GO. At least, we had a grand design for the yel – yel.

Thursday, at 8 am, I still had to attend Binus Square orientation. This time, it was brought by the PDC. They explained to us about PDC itself, its function, and its programme and staff. It was brought by Kak Tyas, and Kak Putri. After that, I went to the auditorium, to watch the performance or explanation about HMJ (Himpunan Mahasiswa Jurusan/Student Faculty Union) and UKM (Unit Kegiatan Mahasiswa/Student Activity Unit). It was very interesting and exciting. It made me wanted to join all of it and made me confuse which one should I choose. After that, we went to room 402, for an explanation session about exam, scores, and many more. Because it finished earlier, we tried to make, design, and rehearse the yel – yel. Our BC also told us to bring instant noodle and a kilo of sugar, for charity, and also told us to make letters for them.

Friday, I came to the campus earlier than the scheduled session, because I was told by our BC that today I will got our almamater, and gave the instant noodle and sugar to our BC. After that, there were a religion session. I went to the auditorium, where it will be held. There, I was introduced to KMBD, short for Komunitas Mahasiswa Buddhis Dhammavadana. After that, there were a guest speaker. The guest speaker was Victor Oesman, a hypnotherapist and a binusian alumni. After this session, we went to room 402, for a rules explanation session. In Binus, we were told that any kinds of forgery, infringement and cheating, will get a sanction, the heaviest one was expelled from Binus University. We also got tips and trick for a successful university life. After that, we have a Binusmaya session. Binusmaya is a website that we’ll going to use extensively, because it contains our class, material, and even information. I really enjoyed it. Because tomorrow we will present it at the last session. We rehearse, practice, and record it. We tried to give the best at practice, so it would be perfect for tomorrow.

Saturday, the last day of GO. I went to Syahdan campus, because it was held an expo of HMJ and UKM. Firstly, we gathered at the SoCS student union, to know the organization better. I also gave the BCs my letter that they told to make. There, we can apply to become their members, and got explanation more about each of the organization. I applied to become their members at few UKMs. After that, we have a last session, a session where all of the class at these GO gathered. There, we show our yel – yel, and watch others yel – yel. After it was finished, we take photos of the class as memories. It was a fun and memorable week.