Answers.Body: <p>In computer science, if you say &quot;A is a proxy for B&quot;, then it means that &quot;A replaces B&quot; (temporarily or not), or that &quot;A is used as an intermediary for B&quot;.</p>
  <p>The term &quot;proxy&quot; usually refers to a server, i.e. there are the so-called <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proxy_server" rel="nofollow noreferrer">proxy servers</a>, which intuitively do the same thing (i.e. they are used as intermediaries). The following picture is worth more than 1000 words.</p>
  <p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/SPDo7.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/SPDo7.png" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>
  <p>Let's go back to your context. In the following paragraph</p>
  <blockquote>
  <p>To develop DL techniques for synthesizing high-resolution realistic fundus images serving as proxy data sets for use by retinal specialists and DL machines.</p>
  </blockquote>
  <p>The deep learning techniques will be used to generate data that will be used as a replacement for real data for use by retinal specialists.</p>
  <p>In your second paragraph</p>
  <blockquote>
  <p>The advantage of the product state-based view is the focus on the product itself to structure the information and data involved throughout the process. Using the intermediate product states as proxy data for this purpose</p>
  </blockquote>
  <p>The word &quot;intermediate&quot; is even used, so there should not be any need for further explanation, although I admit that I have no idea of what &quot;product states&quot; are in this context, but they will be used as &quot;proxy data&quot; for other data.</p>
  <blockquote>
  <p>Does &quot;proxy data&quot; mean the same thing as &quot;proxy data sets&quot; does, if yes, I will go through that paper.</p>
  </blockquote>
  <p>I guess so, but bear in mind that &quot;data&quot; is more general than &quot;data set&quot;.</p>
  <p>I have found other slightly different uses of the expression &quot;proxy data&quot;, not in the context of computer science, but in the context of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proxy_(climate)" rel="nofollow noreferrer">paleoclimatology</a>. For example, have a look at this web article <a href="https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/news/what-are-proxy-data" rel="nofollow noreferrer">What Are Proxy Data?</a>.</p>
  <p>Just for completeness, here are <a href="https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/proxy" rel="nofollow noreferrer">some dictionary definitions of proxy</a>.</p>
  <blockquote>
  <p>authority given to a person to act for someone else, such as by voting for them in an election</p>
  <p>a person who you choose to do something officially for you</p>
  <p>a situation, process, or activity to which another situation, etc. is compared</p>
  </blockquote>
  
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Answers.CreationDate: 2020-04-06T14:10:20.720Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2020-04-06T14:10:20.720Z
Answers.LastEditDate: 2020-06-17T09:57:20.710Z
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Body: <p>The paper <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30629091" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Assessment of Deep Generative Models for High-Resolution Synthetic Retinal Image Generation of Age-Related Macular Degeneration</a> uses the term "proxy data sets" in this way</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>To develop DL techniques for synthesizing high-resolution realistic fundus images serving as <strong>proxy data sets</strong> for use by retinal specialists and DL machines.</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>I googled that term, but didn't find a definition of "proxy data sets". What are "proxy data sets" in machine learning?</p>
  
  <p>The paper <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/232657161_Analysis_of_Manufacturing_Process_Sequences_Using_Machine_Learning_on_Intermediate_Product_States_as_Process_Proxy_Data" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Analysis of Manufacturing Process Sequences, Using Machine Learning on Intermediate Product States (as Process Proxy Data)</a> mentions a similar term</p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>The advantage of the product state-based view is the focus on the product itself to structure the information and data involved throughout the process. Using the intermediate product states as <strong>proxy data</strong> for this purpose</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>Does "proxy data" mean the same thing as "proxy data sets" does?</p>
  
Tags: <machine-learning><datasets><terminology>
Title: What are "proxy data sets" in machine learning?
UserDisplayName: WXJ96163
ThreadText: # What are "proxy data sets" in machine learning?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2020-04-06)
  
  The paper [Assessment of Deep Generative Models for High-Resolution Synthetic Retinal Image Generation of Age-Related Macular Degeneration](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30629091) uses the term "proxy data sets" in this way
  
  > To develop DL techniques for synthesizing high-resolution realistic fundus images serving as **proxy data sets** for use by retinal specialists and DL machines.
  
  I googled that term, but didn't find a definition of "proxy data sets". What are "proxy data sets" in machine learning?
  
  The paper [Analysis of Manufacturing Process Sequences, Using Machine Learning on Intermediate Product States (as Process Proxy Data)](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/232657161_Analysis_of_Manufacturing_Process_Sequences_Using_Machine_Learning_on_Intermediate_Product_States_as_Process_Proxy_Data) mentions a similar term
  
  > The advantage of the product state-based view is the focus on the product itself to structure the information and data involved throughout the process. Using the intermediate product states as **proxy data** for this purpose
  
  Does "proxy data" mean the same thing as "proxy data sets" does?
  
  **Tags:** machine-learning, datasets, terminology
  
  ---
  
  ## 1 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_1 on 2020-04-06. Score: 5 | Accepted answer
  
  In computer science, if you say "A is a proxy for B", then it means that "A replaces B" (temporarily or not), or that "A is used as an intermediary for B".
  
  The term "proxy" usually refers to a server, i.e. there are the so-called [proxy servers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proxy_server), which intuitively do the same thing (i.e. they are used as intermediaries). The following picture is worth more than 1000 words.
  
  [![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/SPDo7.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/SPDo7.png)
  
  Let's go back to your context. In the following paragraph
  
  > To develop DL techniques for synthesizing high-resolution realistic fundus images serving as proxy data sets for use by retinal specialists and DL machines.
  
  The deep learning techniques will be used to generate data that will be used as a replacement for real data for use by retinal specialists.
  
  In your second paragraph
  
  > The advantage of the product state-based view is the focus on the product itself to structure the information and data involved throughout the process. Using the intermediate product states as proxy data for this purpose
  
  The word "intermediate" is even used, so there should not be any need for further explanation, although I admit that I have no idea of what "product states" are in this context, but they will be used as "proxy data" for other data.
  
  > Does "proxy data" mean the same thing as "proxy data sets" does, if yes, I will go through that paper.
  
  I guess so, but bear in mind that "data" is more general than "data set".
  
  I have found other slightly different uses of the expression "proxy data", not in the context of computer science, but in the context of [paleoclimatology](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proxy_(climate)). For example, have a look at this web article [What Are Proxy Data?](https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/news/what-are-proxy-data).
  
  Just for completeness, here are [some dictionary definitions of proxy](https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/proxy).
  
  > authority given to a person to act for someone else, such as by voting for them in an election
  >
  > a person who you choose to do something officially for you
  >
  > a situation, process, or activity to which another situation, etc. is compared
  
  
  ---
  
  