Neural NetworksA neural network also known as an artificial neural network provides a unique computer architecture whose potential is only beginning to be realized. They are used to solve problems that are unsolvable or tedious with traditional methods. These new computer architectures are radically different from the computers widely used today. ANNs are massively parallel systems that rely on dense arrangements of interconnections and surprisingly simple processors (Cr95, Ga93). Artificial neural networks get their name from the networks of nerve cells in the brain. Although much of the biological detail is eliminated in these computational models, ANNs retain enough structure observed in the brain to provide insight into how biological neural processing works (He90). Neural networks provide an effective approach for a broad spectrum of applications. Neural networks excel at problems involving patterns, including pattern mapping, pattern completion, and pattern classification (He95). Neural networks can be applied to translate images into keywords or even translate financial data into financial predictions (Wo96). processing structure comprising a large number of processors and numerous interconnections between them. These processors are much simpler than traditional central processing units (He90). In a neural network, each processor is linked to many of its neighbors, so there are many more interconnections than processors. The power of the neural network lies in the very large number of interconnections (Za93). ANNs attract a lot of interest among engineers and scientists. Artificial neural network models contribute to our understanding of biological patterns. They also provide a new type of parallel processing that has powerful capabilities and potential for creative hardware implementation, meets the demand for fast computing hardware, and offers the potential to solve application problems (Wo96). Neural networks excite our imagination and our incessant desire to understand. the self, and in addition, equip us with an assemblage of unique technological tools. But what sparked the most interest in the middle of the article...... "When Computers Mimic How the Brain Works", Boston Business Journal, Vol. 14 (June 10, 1994), pp 24. [Vo94] Vogel, William, "Minimally Connective, Auto-Associative, NeuralNetworks", Connection Science, Vol. 6 (January 1, 1994), pp 461. [Wo96] Internet Information. http://www.mindspring.com/~zsol/nnintro.html http://ourworld.compuserve.com/homepages/ITechnologies/ http://sharp.bu.edu/inns/nn.html http://www .eeb.ele.tue.nl/neural/contents/neural_networks.html http://www.ai.univie.ac.at/oefai/nn/ http://www.nd.com/welcome/whatisnn.htm http ://www.mindspring.com/~edge/neural.html http://vita.mines.colorado.edu:3857/lpratt/applied-nnets.html[Za93] Zahedi, F. Intelligent Systems for Business: Systems experts with NeuralNetworks, Wadsworth Publishing Company, California, 1993..