The Pattern On The Stone: The Simple Ideas That Make Computers Work (Science Masters)
by W. Daniel Hillis
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Book Summary Information
Author: W. Daniel HillisEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Original Language); English (Unknown); English (Published)
Published: 1999-10-07
ISBN: 046502596X
Number of pages: 176
Publisher: Basic Books
Book Reviews of The Pattern On The Stone: The Simple Ideas That Make Computers Work (Science Masters)
Book Review: Whether Vision or Primer: Worthy Introduction to Computing
Summary: 4 Stars
From my first examination of "The Pattern on the Stone..." I expected it to be a beginner's guide to understanding how computers work (read: not a how-to book, or manual, this is mostly "big-picture"/"theory" book). Through a lucid organization and several examples per chapter, Daniel Hillis indeed explains "the simple ideas that make computers work."
At 153 pages, this is not an all-inclusive journey into the micro-history and deep inner-workings of today's machines; instead Hillis's method was to pick several important points (Boolean Logic, the idea of Bits, algorithms, heuristics, to name a few) and give the computing novice a clear understanding and a general landscape of where the concepts stand in the engineer's world.
While Hillis does much (both in the text, and the diagrams) to make the concepts (and by extension, the examples) nice for the non-mathematical mind, a few parts may still be too left-brained. The quality that redeems the un-inspiring diagrams and harder portions is that the book's organizational fitness still allows the reader to achieve the goal of the book; one can read on only halfway "getting" the example and still come away with a grasp of the overall ideas.
The overall ideas in "The Pattern on the Stone" are part of what make the book fascinating; Mr. Hillis does not shy away from giving the reader his perspective (re: parallel processing, for example), on the topics covered. First published in 1998, Hillis's visions of the future are not uninteresting today, some have even occurred. Moreover, the nine (almost ten) years that have passed have seen many changes in computing, I am willing to recommend "The Pattern on the Stone" because, due to its strong premise and the foresight of the author, it has not aged much remaining relevant to those looking for an introduction to the world of computing.
p.s. - If you are looking for a companion book to "The Pattern on the Stone," that goes more into the history of computing as well as some of the ideas covered, read Howard Rheingold's "Tools for Thought: The History and Future of Mind-Expanding Technology" (ISBN: 0262681153). Note: It is available for free online.
Summary of The Pattern On The Stone: The Simple Ideas That Make Computers Work (Science Masters)
Most people are baffled by how computers work and assume that they will never understand them. What they don?t realize?and what Daniel Hillis?s short book brilliantly demonstrates?is that computers? seemingly complex operations can be broken down into a few simple parts that perform the same simple procedures over and over again. Computer wizard Hillis offers an easy-to-follow explanation of how data is processed that makes the operations of a computer seem as straightforward as those of a bicycle.Avoiding technobabble or discussions of advanced hardware, the lucid explanations and colorful anecdotes in The Pattern on the Stone go straight to the heart of what computers really do. Hillis proceeds from an outline of basic logic to clear descriptions of programming languages, algorithms, and memory. He then 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.
Daniel Hillis has made a career of puzzling over the nature of information and the mechanisms that put information to use. Now, he's distilled his accumulated knowledge of computer science into The Pattern on the Stone, a glorious book that reveals the nature of logical machines simply and elegantly.
Millions of times each second, to the drumbeat of a clock signal, electronic computers compare digital values. These comparisons, and the actions taken in response to them, are what computers are all about at their lowest levels, and, with the help of this book, they're not hard to comprehend. Moving on from the nature of logical circuits, the author deconstructs software and the mechanisms it employs to solve problems.
Hillis then stands atop the building blocks he's arranged into a sturdy foundation and discusses the future of computing. Parallel processors already are in use, and neural networks with limited abilities to learn and adapt have proved quite good at certain jobs. Hillis explores the potential of both these technologies. Then, he throws some light on quantum computing and evolving systems--emerging ideas that promise to make computers much more powerful, and thereby change the world. --David Wall
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