of 1009/27/2011 Communication, Computing & Technology: MSR@20 1
Communication, Computing, & Technology
Madhu Sudan MSR New England
of 10
Communication vs. Computation Interdependent technologies: Neither can exist without other
Technologies/Products/Commerce developed (mostly) independently.
Early products based on clean abstractions of the other. Later versions added other capability as afterthought. Today products … deeply integrated.
Deep theories:
09/27/2011 Communication, Computing & Technology: MSR@20 2
Time for the theoretical wall to come down?
Well separated … and have stayed that way
Turing ‘36Shannon ‘48
of 10
Consequences of the wall
Computing theory: Fundamental principle = Universality You can program your computer to do whatever you want.
Communication principle: Centralized design (Encoder, Decoder, Compression, IPv4, TCP/IP). You can NOT program your device!
Contradiction! But does it matter?
09/27/2011 Communication, Computing & Technology: MSR@20 3
of 10
Role of theory?
Ideally: Foundations of practice!
09/27/2011 Communication, Computing & Technology: MSR@20 4
Theory layer
Application
of 10
Option 1
Communication vs. Computing
09/27/2011 Communication, Computing & Technology: MSR@20 5Communication
Computing
of 10
Option 2
Communication vs. Computing
09/27/2011 Communication, Computing & Technology: MSR@20 6Communication
Computing
of 10
Option 3
Communication vs. Computing
09/27/2011 Communication, Computing & Technology: MSR@20 7Communication
Computing
of 10
Good News/ Bad News
Good: We are mostly practicing option 2 or 3!
Bad: Lost opportunities. Vulnerabilities. Inefficiency. Incompatibilities.
09/27/2011 Communication, Computing & Technology: MSR@20 8
of 10
Sample problems:
Digital library: Data that lives forever (communication across
time), while devices change!
Projecting from your laptop: Machines that learn to communicate, and learn
to understand each other
09/27/2011 Communication, Computing & Technology: MSR@20 9
of 10
A new theory?
09/27/2011 Communication, Computing & Technology: MSR@20 10Communication
Computing