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The Discrete Charm of the Machine
Why the World Became Digital
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Book Hero Magic formatted this description to make it easier to read. While it's new and
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Description
A few short decades ago, we were informed by the smooth signals of analogue television and radio; we communicated using our analogue telephones; and we even computed with analogue computers. Today our world is digital, built with zeros and ones. Why did this revolution occur? The Discrete Charm of the Machine explains, in an engaging and accessible manner, the varied physical and logical reasons behind this radical transformation.
The spark of individual genius shines through this story of innovation: the stored program of Jacquard's loom; Charles Babbage's logical branching; Alan Turing's brilliant abstraction of the discrete machine; Harry Nyquist's foundation for digital signal processing; Claude Shannon's breakthrough insights into the meaning of information and bandwidth; and Richard Feynman's prescient proposals for nanotechnology and quantum computing.
Ken Steiglitz follows the progression of these ideas in the building of our digital world, from the internet and artificial intelligence to the edge of the unknown. Are questions like the famous travelling salesman problem truly beyond the reach of ordinary digital computers? Can quantum computers transcend these barriers? Does a mysterious magical power reside in the analogue mechanisms of the brain? Steiglitz concludes by confronting the moral and aesthetic questions raised by the development of artificial intelligence and autonomous robots.
The Discrete Charm of the Machine examines why our information technology, the lifeblood of our civilisation, became digital, and challenges us to think about where its future trajectory may lead.
Book Hero Magic summarised reviews for this book. While it's new and still learning, it may not be perfect - your feedback is welcome! HOW HAS THIS BEEN REVIEWED?
Ken Steiglitz's The Discrete Charm of the Machine is praised for its insightful examination of the shift from analogue to digital, highlighting the transformation's impact on various aspects of life. Reviewers commend its clear and witty explanation of complex concepts, making it accessible and engaging for those interested in digital technology and signal processing. It is lauded as a well-written and potentially classic exploration of modern digital advancements.
Book Details
INFORMATION
ISBN: 9780691229027
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Format: Paperback / softback
Date Published: 23 November 2021
Country: United States
Imprint: Princeton University Press
Illustration: 40 b/w illus.
Audience: General / adult
DIMENSIONS
Width: 156.0mm
Height: 235.0mm
Weight: 250g
Pages: 256
About the Author
Ken Steiglitz is professor emeritus of computer science and senior scholar at Princeton University. His books include Combinatorial Optimization, A Digital Signal Processing Primer, and Snipers, Shills, and Sharks (Princeton). He lives in Princeton, New Jersey.
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