Math's Silent Guardians: Protecting Digital Data From Noise
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Resources & Recommendations
Books
- "Algorithms for Toddlers" by Mary Wootters and Aviad Rubinstein - A simplified explanation of undergraduate algorithms condensed into 14 illustrated pages with rhyming couplets, self-published online.
- "Being and Nothingness" by Jean-Paul Sartre - A philosophical book mentioned as the inspiration for the video game "Bean and Nothingness."
People Mentioned
- Mary Wootters (Assistant Professor in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at Stanford) - Guest of the episode discussing error correcting codes, co-author of "Algorithms for Toddlers", and designer of the game "Bean and Nothingness".
- Aviad Rubinstein (Colleague at Stanford) - Co-author of "Algorithms for Toddlers" with Mary Wootters.
- Richard Hamming - Pioneer in the field of error correction, active in the late 40s/early 50s.
- Claude Shannon - Pioneer in the field of error correction, active in the late 40s/early 50s.
Organizations & Institutions
- Stanford - The university where Mary Wootters and Aviad Rubinstein are professors.
Websites & Online Resources
- Barnes & Noble (barnesandnoble.com) - The online platform where "Algorithms for Toddlers" is available for purchase.
- YouTube - Mentioned as a place to find Mary Wootters reading "Algorithms for Toddlers."
Other Resources
- CDs (Compact Discs) - Used as an initial example to explain error correcting codes, noting their ability to play even when scratched due to built-in error correction technology.
- Reed-Solomon Error Correction - A specific type of error correction based on polynomials, used in CDs.
- CSS Code - A type of quantum error correction code based on classical coding theory.
- Polar Codes - A newer class of error correcting codes invented around 2008, known for being close to theoretically optimal and currently used in wireless standards.
- DNA Storage - A proposed method for very long-term, efficient data storage using synthetic DNA molecules.
- "Bean and Nothingness" - A puzzle video game co-created by Mary Wootters, inspired by "Being and Nothingness," where players use a magic wand and recipes to turn beans into monsters to solve puzzles.