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More copies of this ISBN:This title in other formats:Noiseby Bart Kosko
Synopses & ReviewsPublisher Comments:From the well-known science commentator and bestselling author of Fuzzy Thinking comes a revelatory look at the phenomenon of noise. A celebrated maverick in the world of science, Bart Kosko introduced (and continues to popularize in print and television media) the revolutionary concept of fuzzy logic. In his latest book, he provides the first scientific history of noise aimed at the general reader. Noise is a social nuisance, a cause of deafness and high blood pressure, and an all-around annoyance. But what is noise really? As Kosko simply states, noise is a signal that you don't like. It occurs at every level of the physical universe, from the big bang to blaring car alarms. Today, noise is considered the curse of the information age, but, in fact, not all noise is bad. Debunking this and many other commonly held beliefs about noise, Kosko gives readers a vivid sense of how deeply noise permeates both the world around us and within us. Along the way he covers many compelling topics, from noise's possible role in the ice ages to noise pollution laws, the use of noise to generate synthetic speech, and Hedy Lamarr's contribution to noisy wireless communication. The result is a vastly entertaining and illuminating scientific journey that promises to do for noise what James Gleick did for chaos: make it vital, fascinating, and relevant. Review:"Noise, USC professor Kosko (Fuzzy Thinking) says, may be properly defined as 'a signal we don't like,' but as his book shows, there's much more to noise than idling buses and loud neighbors. The author makes the claims that the universe itself may be no more than noise, and that life might not have evolved without it. And though white may be the most widely recognized color of noise, Kosko describes others, including pink and black. Particularly informative are his passages on the development and use of noise-canceling technology (used as commonly by racecar drivers to block out engine noise as by physicians to listen to a fetus's heartbeat). Kosko's book will appeal mainly to science buffs; despite the author's accessible prose, swaths of the book assume an acquaintance with physics and electrical engineering. However, passages on topics such as actress Hedy Lamar's patent for a WWII-era 'secret communication system,' hold some attraction for a wider audience." Publishers Weekly (Copyright Reed Business Information, Inc.) Synopsis:Today, noise is considered the curse of the information age, but Kosko claims that not all noise is bad. Debunking this and many other commonly held beliefs about noise, the author gives readers a vivid sense of how deeply noise permeates both the world around us and within us. About the AuthorBart Kosko, a professor of electrical engineering at USC, holds degrees in law, philosophy, economics, mathematics, and engineering, and is the author of Fuzzy Thinking, Heaven in a Chip, Nanotime, and several textbooks. His writings appear in the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times, Scientific American, and many other popular venues. What Our Readers Are SayingBe the first to add a comment for a chance to win!Product Details
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