Synopses & Reviews
This best-selling book is now available in an inexpensive softcover format. Imagine living during the Renaissance and being able to interview that eras greatest scientists about their inspirations, discoveries, and personal interests. The latter half of our century has seen its own Renaissance - informations technology has changed irrevocable the way we live, work, and think about the world. We are fortunate, therefore, that the authors of Out of Their Minds have been able to talk so candidly with the founders of computer science.
Synopsis
Imagine living during the Renaissance and being able to interview that era's greatest scientists about their inspirations, discoveries, and personal interests. The latter half of our century has seen its own Renaissance--informations technology has changed irrevocable the way we live, work, and think about the world. We are fortunate, therefore, that the authors of Out of Their Minds have been able to talk so candidly with the founders of computer science....
Synopsis
The 15 scientists whose work is profiled in the book have each made significant contributions to a part of the creation of modern computer science. Some are well-known: Donald Knuth, Alan Kay, Danny Hillis; others are not, although all of their contributions have been substantial and valuabel.
Synopsis
"Out of Their Minds" profiles 15 of the planet's foremost computer scientists, including eight winners of the Turing Award, computing's Nobel Prize. Based on recent interviews, the scientists are revealed in fascinating anecdotes about their early inspirations and influences, contributions, and thoughts on the field's explosive future. "A fascinating collection of profiles and interviews with some of the men . . . who brought us (to the computing age)".--"The New York Times". 56 illus.
Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION.- LINGUISTS: John Backus.- John McCarthy.- Alan Kay.- ALGORITHMISTS: Edsger Dijkstra.- Michael Rabin.- Donald Knuth.- Robert Tarjan.- Leslie Lamport.- Steve Cook and Leonid Levin.- ARCHITECTS: Fred Brooks.- Burton Smith.- Danny Hillis. SCULPTORS OF MACHINE INTELLIGENCE: Edward Feigenbaum.- Doug Lenat.- EPILOGUE.- POSTSCRIPT.- GLOSSARY.- REFERENCES.