Visualization blackboard-visualizing optimization by multiple processors

Classification problems that involve finding a vector alpha whose direction is in some sense optimal are considered. To overcome the relative slowness of general-purpose approaches, multiple processors are used. To understand the rather complex behavior of the resulting algorithms, a visualization tool that shows (for the 3-D case) the function, the locations of its local and global minima, and the positions of the processors as they search through the space has been developed. The tool is applicable to any problem domain and any optimization algorithm. It is illustrated on an algorithm for a medical problem.<>