Title:

Error Correcting Codes and the Hamming-Golay Priority Dispute

Abstract:

Error correcting codes are part of what has made possible such wondrous technologies as DVD-players, fax machines, MP3 players, and cell phones. The mathematics behind error correcting codes is surprisingly simple. Three pioneers in the development of such codes were Claude Shannon, Richard Hamming, and Marcel Golay. Shannon showed that error correcting codes exist but was unable to find explicit examples. Hamming and Golay found explicit examples of such codes. However, the dispute between Hamming and Golay over who deserves credit for what in the development of error correcting was in part the consequences of attitudes towards intellectual property at the time. Hamming delayed publication of his ideas while work was being done to patent engineering applications of his ideas.

Speaker:

Joseph Malkevitch

This talk requires no prior knowledge.

Refreshments will be served.