Level: Introductory Paul Meagher (paul@datavore.com), CEO, Datavore Productions
30 Dec 2003 Web site user modeling, a mathematical discipline, is easier than you might expect. In this tutorial, Paul Meagher shows you how to construct a user-modeling platform with PHP and MySQL -- technologies well suited for a species of user-modeling called Web site user modeling. Even small Web-development shops can use clickstream data to build Web site user models.
Prerequisites
This tutorial provides a brief review of the math used in an area of probability theory called the Markov process theory (or Markov chain theory). Basic familiarity with matrices and probability are useful, but the author provides introductory coverage of the relevant concepts and mathematics. This tutorial can be a good starting point to familiarize yourself with Markov process theory. Since it provides an interesting example application, namely Web site user modeling, it should make the mathematical concepts seem real and relevant. Mainly, you need a willingness to learn some mathematical concepts. These concepts are presented using examples and some math notation, but the primary focus on these concepts is in their implementation as PHP classes.
System requirements
You'll need JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Duration
Under two hours
Formats html, pdf
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