Self Organizing Maps (SOM)
Duration: 8 min
This video lesson is available to enrolled students.
Inside: a video lesson and guided study material.
Module outline
- Paper - 1 | Unit - 1 | Teaching Aptitude: Concept and Objectives of Teaching / शिक्षण की अवधारणा एवं उद्देश्य, Levels of Teaching / शिक्षण के स्तर, Learner's Characteristics / शिक्षार्थी की विशेषताएँ, Learning: Nature and Theories / अधिगम: प्रकृति एवं सिद्धांत, Cognition, Memory and Metacognition / संज्ञान, स्मृति एवं अधिसंज्ञान, Factors Affecting Teaching / शिक्षण को प्रभावित करने वाले कारक, Effective Teaching and the Teacher / प्रभावी शिक्षण एवं शिक्षक, Instructional Objectives and Lesson Planning / अनुदेशनात्मक उद्देश्य एवं पाठ नियोजन, Methods of Teaching / शिक्षण विधियाँ, Offline and Online Teaching Methods / ऑफ़लाइन एवं ऑनलाइन शिक्षण विधियाँ, Teaching Support System / शिक्षण सहायक प्रणाली, Evaluation Systems / मूल्यांकन प्रणाली, Biological Basis of Emotion / संवेग का जैविक आधार, Central and Peripheral Nervous Systems / केन्द्रीय और परिधीय तंत्रिका तंत्र
- Paper - 1 | Unit - 2 | Research Aptitude: Research: Meaning, Features and Scientific Method / अनुसंधान: अर्थ, लक्षण व वैज्ञानिक विधि, Research Paradigms and Approaches / अनुसंधान के प्रतिमान एवं उपागम, Types of Research / अनुसंधान के प्रकार, Variables and Measurement / चर एवं मापन, Methods of Research / अनुसंधान की विधियाँ, Steps of Research / अनुसंधान के चरण, Sampling / प्रतिचयन, Tools and Methods of Data Collection / आँकड़ा संग्रह के उपकरण एवं विधियाँ, Data Analysis and Statistics in Research / आँकड़ा विश्लेषण एवं शोध सांख्यिकी, Thesis and Article Writing / शोध-प्रबंध एवं लेख लेखन, Application of ICT in Research / अनुसंधान में ICT का अनुप्रयोग, Research Ethics / शोध नैतिकता
- Paper - 1 | Unit - 3 | Comprehension: Literal Comprehension, Vocabulary and Language in Context, Inferential Comprehension, Critical Comprehension, Comprehension / Reading Comprehension / Unseen Passages (Critical Reasoning) (Paragraph Questions)
- Paper - 1 | Unit - 4 | Communication: Communication: Meaning, Nature and Process / संचार: अर्थ, प्रकृति एवं प्रक्रिया, Types and Levels of Communication / संचार के प्रकार एवं स्तर, Verbal and Non-verbal Communication / मौखिक एवं अमौखिक संचार, Semiotics and Meaning / संकेत विज्ञान एवं अर्थ, Models and Theories of Communication / संचार के मॉडल एवं सिद्धांत, Effective Communication / प्रभावी संचार, Barriers to Communication / संचार की बाधाएँ, Classroom Communication / कक्षा संचार, Mass Media: Types and Evolution / जनसंचार माध्यम: प्रकार एवं विकास, Mass Media and Society / जनसंचार एवं समाज, Digital and New Media / डिजिटल एवं नव माध्यम, General Awareness (Legacy Paper 1) / सामान्य जागरूकता (पुराना पेपर 1)
- Paper - 1 | Unit - 5 | Mathematical Reasoning and Aptitude: Number System and Simplification / संख्या पद्धति एवं सरलीकरण, Algebra and Ages / बीजगणित एवं आयु, Percentage / प्रतिशतता, Ratio, Proportion, Partnership and Mixtures / अनुपात, समानुपात, साझेदारी एवं मिश्रण, Averages / औसत, Profit, Loss and Discount / लाभ, हानि एवं बट्टा, Simple and Compound Interest / साधारण एवं चक्रवृद्धि ब्याज, Time and Work / समय एवं कार्य, Speed, Time and Distance / चाल, समय एवं दूरी, Mensuration and Geometry / क्षेत्रमिति एवं ज्यामिति, Series / श्रेणी, Coding-Decoding / कूटलेखन-कूटवाचन, Relationships, Directions and Ranking / संबंध, दिशा एवं क्रम, Arrangements, Puzzles, Clock and Calendar / व्यवस्था, पहेलियाँ, घड़ी एवं कैलेंडर, Mathematical Foundations, जीवनी, Philosophy of the Constitution / संविधान का दर्शन, Analysis, Indian Polity and Governance (Legacy Unit 10) / भारतीय राजव्यवस्था और शासन (पुराना यूनिट 10)
- Paper - 1 | Unit - 6 | Logical Reasoning: Structure of Arguments / युक्ति की संरचना, Terms, Definitions and Uses of Language / पद, परिभाषा एवं भाषा के उपयोग, Categorical Propositions / निरुपाधिक प्रतिज्ञप्तियाँ, Categorical Syllogism / निरुपाधिक न्यायवाक्य, Venn Diagrams / वेन आरेख, Deduction, Induction and Analogy / निगमन, आगमन एवं सादृश्यता, Fallacies / तर्कदोष, Indian Logic: Pramanas / भारतीय तर्कशास्त्र: प्रमाण, Anumana and Vyapti / अनुमान एवं व्याप्ति, Hetvabhasa / हेत्वाभास, Non Verbal Reasoning (Spatial Aptitude) (Spatial Reasoning) (Visual Reasoning), Aristotle / अरस्तू, Western Schools of Philosophy / पाश्चात्य दर्शन की विचारधाराएँ, Kant / कांट, Sadhana Paada, Vaiśeṣika / वैशेषिक
- Paper - 1 | Unit - 7 | Data Interpretation: Data and Graphical Representation / आँकड़े एवं आलेखीय निरूपण, Data Interpretation: Tables / आँकड़ा निर्वचन: तालिका
- Paper - 1 | Unit - 8 | Information and Communication Technology: Computer Fundamentals and Hardware, Memory, Storage and Data Representation, Computer Software, Office Applications, Multimedia and File Formats, Computer Networks, Internet and World Wide Web, Email and Online Communication, Cyber Security, Digital Ethics, IPR and Society, Cloud and Distributed Computing, Emerging Technologies, ICT in Education and Governance, Cyber Threats and Malware Attacks, Role of Internet and Web Services, Electronic Data Interchange and E-Commerce, Internet Fundamentals, Web Design & Development, Web Publishing & Hosting, Emerging Technologies, Terms & Abbreviations, Society, Law & Ethics, Keyboard Shortcuts, Website, Browser & Services, Protection of Geographical Indications / भौगोलिक संकेतों का संरक्षण
- Paper - 1 | Unit - 9 | People Development and Environment: Ecosystems and Biodiversity / पारितंत्र और जैव विविधता, Human and Environment Interaction / मानव और पर्यावरण की अंतःक्रिया, Development and Environment / विकास और पर्यावरण, Natural Resources – Forests, Water and Soil / प्राकृतिक संसाधन: वन, जल और मृदा, Energy Resources / ऊर्जा संसाधन, Air Pollution / वायु प्रदूषण, Water Pollution and Treatment / जल प्रदूषण और उपचार, Noise Pollution / ध्वनि प्रदूषण, Waste Management / अपशिष्ट प्रबंधन, Environmental Health and Toxicology / पर्यावरणीय स्वास्थ्य और विषविज्ञान, Climate Change and Global Environmental Issues / जलवायु परिवर्तन और वैश्विक पर्यावरणीय समस्याएँ, Natural Hazards and Disaster Management / प्राकृतिक प्रकोप और आपदा प्रबंधन, Indian Environmental Laws and Policies / भारतीय पर्यावरण कानून और नीतियाँ, International Environmental Agreements / अंतर्राष्ट्रीय पर्यावरण समझौते, Environment / पर्यावरण, Geography / भूगोल, Factory and Industry Systems / कारखाना और उद्योग व्यवस्थाएँ, Earth Materials, Surface Features and Processes, Communicable Diseases and Immunization / संक्रामक रोग और प्रतिरक्षण
- Paper - 1 | Unit - 10 | Higher Education System: Education in Ancient India / प्राचीन भारत में शिक्षा, Ancient Centres of Higher Learning / प्राचीन भारत के उच्च शिक्षा केंद्र, Colonial Education Policies and Commissions / औपनिवेशिक काल की शिक्षा नीतियाँ और आयोग, Colonial Colleges, Universities and Reformers / औपनिवेशिक कॉलेज, विश्वविद्यालय व सुधारक, Education Commissions and Policies after Independence / स्वतंत्र भारत में शिक्षा आयोग और नीतियाँ, National Education Policy 2020 / राष्ट्रीय शिक्षा नीति 2020, Types of Higher Education Institutions / उच्च शिक्षा संस्थानों के प्रकार, Learning Programmes and Academic Credits / अधिगम कार्यक्रम और अकादमिक क्रेडिट, Professional, Technical and Skill-Based Education / व्यावसायिक, तकनीकी और कौशल आधारित शिक्षा, Value Education and Environmental Education / मूल्य शिक्षा और पर्यावरण शिक्षा, Governance, Administration and Financing / शासन, प्रशासन और वित्तपोषण, Regulation, Accreditation and Ranking / उच्च शिक्षा का नियमन, प्रत्यायन और रैंकिंग
- Paper 2 | Unit 1 | Discrete Structures and Optimization: Propositional and Predicate Logic, Set Theory, Relations, Functions, Permutation, Combination and Probability / क्रमचय, संचय एवं प्रायिकता, Graph Theory, Group Theory, Digital Systems & Boolean Basics, Boolean Expression, Boolean Minimization, Optimization, Markov Chains
- Paper 2 | Unit 2 | Computer System Architecture: Logic Gates & Hardware, Combinational Circuit, Sequential Circuits, Number System, Number Representation, Floating Point Rep, Basics of COA, Register Transfer and Microoperations, Programming the Basic Computer, Instr Formats & Modes, Control Unit Design, Pipelining, Input Output Organisation, Cache Memory Organization, Multiprocessors
- Paper 2 | Unit 3 | Programming Languages and Computer Graphics: Language Design, C Fundamentals, Control Flow, Functions, Arrays & Pointers, Storage Classes, Structures & Enums, DMA, Macros, Scoping & File Handling, HTML Basics, XML, JavaScript-Basics, Java, Basics of Computer Graphics, 2-D Geometrical Transforms and Viewing, 3-D Object Representation, Geometric Transformations and Viewing, OOPS with C++, Java Fundamentals, Array, String, IO & References, OOPS with Java
- Paper 2 | Unit 4 | Database Management Systems: Basics of DBMS, ER Diagram, Relational Model & Functional Dependencies, Keys & Integrity Constraints, Normalization (1NF - BCNF), Decomposition Properties & 4NF, File Organization & Indexing, Relational Algebra, SQL, Relational Calculus, Transaction Management, Concurrency Control, Database Recovery, ORDBMS, Database Security & Authorization, Query Processing & Optimization, Enhanced Data Models, Data Warehousing & Mining, Big Data Systems, NoSQL
- Paper 2 | Unit 5 | System Software and Operating System: Introduction to OS, Process Management, CPU Scheduling, Process Synchronization, Threads & Process Creation, Deadlock, Memory Management, Virtual Memory, Disc Scheduling, File Management, Windows OS, Linux OS, Security, Distributed Systems, Virtual Machines
- Paper 2 | Unit 6 | Software Engineering: Fundamentals of Software Engineering, Software Requirements and Quality Assurance, Software Design, Estimation and Metrics, Software Testing, Software Maintenance and Configuration Management
- Paper 2 | Unit 7 | Data Structures and Algorithms: Introduction to DS, Array, Stack, Queue, Linked List, Tree, Graphs, Hashing, Algorithm Analysis, Time Complexity Analysis, Sorting Algorithms, Greedy Algorithms, Dynamic Programming, Minimum Spanning Trees, Shortest Path Algos, Advanced Algorithms
- Paper 2 | Unit 8 | Theory of Computation and Compilers: Introduction to TOC, Deterministic FA (DFA), Non-Deterministic FA, Regular Expressions, Grammar, Regular Language Properties, Moore & Mealy Machines, Pushdown Automata & CFG, Turing Machines, Complexity Theory, Intro to Compilers, Lexical Analysis, Grammar & CFG, Syntax Analysis: Top-Down, Syntax Analysis: Bottom-Up, Semantic Analysis & SDT, Intermediate Code Gen, Code Optimization, Run Time Environment
- Paper 2 | Unit 9 | Data Communication and Computer Networks: Introduction to CN, Data Communication, DLL: Access Control, DLL: Flow Control, DLL: Error Control, DLL: Framing, Data Link Layer - Ethernet, Net Layer: IPv4 & Proto, Net Layer: IP Addressing, Net Layer:Routing Protocol, Transport Layer Services, TL: Congestion & UDP, Application Layer, Hardware basics, Network Security, Cloud Computing, Mobile Computing
- Paper 2 | Unit 10 | Artificial Intelligence: Approaches to AI, Search Algorithms, Game Playing, Knowledge Representation, Planning, Multi Agent Systems, Fuzzy Sets, Natural Language Processing, Artificial Neural Networks, Genetic Algorithms
- Full Notes: Paper 1 Full Notes
- Paper 1 | Full Mock Tests:
- Paper 2 | Full Mock Tests:
- Paper 1 | Previous Year Papers:
- Paper 2 | Previous Year Papers:
AI summary & chapters
AI Summary
An AI-generated summary of this video lecture.
The lecture introduces Self Organizing Maps (SOM), also known as Self-Organizing Feature Maps (SOFM), which are a type of artificial neural network (ANN) trained using unsupervised learning. The primary goal is to produce a low-dimensional, typically two-dimensional, discretized representation of the input space, effectively serving as a method for dimensionality reduction. The instructor emphasizes that SOMs differ from other neural networks by applying competitive learning instead of error-correction learning methods like backpropagation with gradient descent. The session defines competitive learning as a process where output neurons compete to be activated, resulting in a single 'winning neuron' or 'winner-takes-all' outcome. The lecture also touches upon the historical context, noting the method was introduced by Teuvo Kohonen in the 1980s and is sometimes called a Kohonen feature map or topology preserving map.
Chapters
0:00 – 2:00 00:00-02:00
The video begins with a slide titled 'Self Organizing Maps(SOM)'. The text defines SOM as a type of artificial neural network (ANN) trained using unsupervised learning to produce a low-dimensional representation of the input space. The instructor underlines 'unsupervised learning' and 'map' to highlight the core function. She explains that this process is a method for dimensionality reduction. A key distinction is made in the second bullet point: SOMs apply competitive learning as opposed to error-correction learning. The instructor underlines 'competitive learning' and 'error-correction learning'. The third bullet point defines competitive learning, stating that output neurons compete amongst themselves to be activated, with the result that only one is activated at any one time. This activated neuron is called a winner-takes-all neuron or simply the winning neuron.
2:00 – 5:00 02:00-05:00
The instructor elaborates on how competition is implemented, mentioning lateral inhibition connections (negative feedback paths) between neurons. She draws a diagram showing input units connecting to a grid of output units, labeling it as a 2D map. The text explains that neighborhood constraints are imposed on the output units. The instructor notes that in SOM, we update not only the weights of the winning neuron but also the weights of its neighbors in the neighborhood around it. The size of the neighborhood generally decreases slowly with each iteration. The slide mentions that SOM was introduced by Finnish professor Teuvo Kohonen in the 1980s. The diagram shows a simple SOM with 2 inputs ($x_1$ and $x_2$) and 49 outputs. The instructor writes '1982' and 'Hope' on the side, likely referring to the year and the concept of hope or topology.
5:00 – 7:58 05:00-07:58
The final segment details the algorithm steps. A formula for the square of the Euclidean distance ($D_j$) is shown: $D_j = \sum_{i=1}^{n} \sum_{j=1}^{m} (x_i - w_{i,j})^2$. Step 3 is to find the winning unit index $j$ so that $D_j$ is minimum. Step 4 provides the weight update formula for units $j$ within a specific neighborhood: $w_{ij}( ext{new}) = w_{ij}( ext{old}) + \eta(x_i - w_{ij}( ext{old}))$. The learning rate is updated as $\eta(t+1) = 0.5 * \eta(t)$. The instructor then presents a worked example to construct KSOM to cluster four given vectors: $[0, 0, 1, 1]$, $[1, 0, 0, 0]$, $[0, 1, 1, 0]$, and $[0, 0, 0, 1]$. The number of clusters is two, and the learning rate is 0.5. She initializes weights randomly and calculates the Euclidean distance for the first input vector $X = [0, 0, 1, 1]$. The calculation shows $D_1 = 0.4$ and $D_2 = 2.04$. Since $D_1 < D_2$, cluster 1 is identified as the winning cluster.
The video provides a comprehensive overview of Self Organizing Maps, starting with their definition as unsupervised ANNs for dimensionality reduction. It clearly distinguishes SOMs from other networks by focusing on competitive learning and the winner-takes-all mechanism. The instructor explains the role of lateral inhibition and neighborhood constraints in organizing neurons. The lesson transitions into the mathematical algorithm, detailing the Euclidean distance calculation and weight update rules. Finally, a concrete numerical example demonstrates the application of these rules, guiding students through the process of clustering vectors and identifying winning neurons. This structured approach ensures a clear understanding of both the theory and practice of SOMs.

