K-mean clustering and Soft K-means clustering (octave)

Overview

1. Hard K-means clustering, demonstrated in two dimensions. Introductory simple examples; then examples where the results do not look so good, showing a need for a probabilistic approach.

2. Soft K-means clustering. Radii of Gaussians visualized. Several versions of Soft K-means, and various pathological data sets.

Requirements

To run the demonstration:

1. get the demonstration files (41K) by clicking here http / ftp
2. unpack thus:

          tar zxvf kmeans.tar.gz

   This unpacks a load of files into a directory called kmeans and another directory called kmeansoft. [If there are any complaints about the clock time use tar zxvfm kmeans.tar.gz]

3.        cd kmeans

4. (optional) modify your X windows defaults so that the gnuplot colours and fonts come out right. (Execute this command on the machine running X windows.)

          xrdb -load Xdefaults.gnu
          

5.  octave
          

   (Works fine with octave-2.0 but not with octave-2.1.33, which seems to have plotting bugs.)
6. To run the demo:

          load 'DEMO'
          

   Select from a range of demonstrations. If you keep hitting return you will be taken through the sequence
7. To run soft K-means, change to directory kmeansoft and run octave there.

Commentary