From the publisher ,
Computer wizard Daniel Hillis has written a much needed
guide to the world of computers and how they work. How do
computers perform their amazing feats? Avoiding technobabble
and discussions of advanced hardware, Hillis’ lucid
explanations and colorful anecdotes go straight to the heart
of what computers really do.
For people who are baffled by how computers work and
assume that they will never understand them, THE PATTERN ON
THE STONE offers an easy-to-follow explanation of how data is
processed, making the operations of a computer seem as
straightforward as those of a bicycle. Daniel Hillis proceeds
from an outline of basic logic to clear descriptions of
programming languages, algorithms, and memory. Then he takes
readers in simple steps up to the most exciting developments
in computing today—quantum computing, parallel
computing, neural networks, and self-organizing systems.
Written clearly and succinctly by one of the world’s
leading computer scientists, THE PATTERN ON THE STONE is an
indispensable guide to understanding the workings of that
most ubiquitous and important of machines: the computer.
Known as "The Genius" who helped developed the
modern super computer, DANIEL HILLIS is one of the hottest
computer scientists today. He was Cofounder and Chief
Scientist of Thinking Machines Corporation and the principal
architect of the company’s major project, the Connection
Machine. Currently, he is Vice President and Disney Fellow at
Walt Disney’s Imagineering.
