Putting Theory Into Practice
Claude Shannon (1916-2001)
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Claude Elwood Shannon was born in Petoskey, Michigan. He didn't actively pursue mathematics, however he did have a natural talent for it. His grandfather, an inventor, also encouraged him to pursue scientific studies. As a result, he ended up constructing multiple devices when he was young. In 1936, he graduated from the University of Michigan with degrees in both engineering and mathematics. Afterwards, he began his studying at Massachusetts Institute of Technology for graduate studies.
At MIT, Claude Shannon and Vannevar Bush studied an analog computer called the Differential Analyzer, developed by Bush and another engineer. Shannon noticed that the relay switches only had two states of being, on and off. This reminded Shannon of George Boole's theories about boolean algebra; on represented the number 1, and off represent the number 0. Thus, he wondered what would happen if boolean logic was applied to relay switches. Thinking upon it, he realized it would work and it'd open up a vast new realm of possibilities. This discovery ended up being his master degrees thesis paper called, A Symbolic Analysis of Relays and Switching Circuits, and is arguably the start of computer sciences.
At MIT, Claude Shannon and Vannevar Bush studied an analog computer called the Differential Analyzer, developed by Bush and another engineer. Shannon noticed that the relay switches only had two states of being, on and off. This reminded Shannon of George Boole's theories about boolean algebra; on represented the number 1, and off represent the number 0. Thus, he wondered what would happen if boolean logic was applied to relay switches. Thinking upon it, he realized it would work and it'd open up a vast new realm of possibilities. This discovery ended up being his master degrees thesis paper called, A Symbolic Analysis of Relays and Switching Circuits, and is arguably the start of computer sciences.
What Does This All Mean?
With the discovery of boolean logic and application to digital circuitry, digital computing became a large step closer to modern times. Now the logic gates used in Boole's System, AND/OR/NOT, can be combined to process far more complex equations using on/off switches. There are a huge amount of new possibilities now, and many new discoveries to be made. Shannon himself helped improve communications by using boolean logic to lower the amount of noise during a transmission, and as a result creating more high quality messages.
Within the next few decades, there will be many more developments with technology. In the past, punched cards were used as ways of storing data and programs for a computer. Soon, with digital circuitry, information and program instructions can be stored electronically.
Within the next few decades, there will be many more developments with technology. In the past, punched cards were used as ways of storing data and programs for a computer. Soon, with digital circuitry, information and program instructions can be stored electronically.