1. A programming tool stored on a computer-readable medium and adapted for implementation by a computer for developing an artificial neural network as a model defined as a set of interconnected artificial neurons, the programming tool comprising: a network configuration module stored as a first set of instructions on a computer-readable medium that executes on a processor to provide a first display interface and to receive configuration data from a user via the first display interface, and which further executes on a processor to create model data defining a plurality of interconnected artificial neurons for the artificial neural network using the received configuration data and to store the model data in a computer readable memory; and a pattern data module stored as a second set of instructions on a computer readable medium that executes on a processor to provide a second display interface and to receive pattern data including a first pattern data set and a second pattern data set from the user via the second display interface, and which further executes on a processor to train the artificial neural network by changing the stored model data based on the first pattern data set and to test the artificial neural network based on the second pattern data set to thereby test the modeling accuracy of the changed stored model data.