The Physics of Information Technology

by Neil Gershenfeld

The Physics of Information Technology explores the familiar devices that we use to collect, transform, transmit, and interact with electronic information. Many such devices operate surprisingly close to very many fundamental physical limits. Understanding how such devices work, and how they can (and cannot) be improved, requires deep insight into the character of physical law as well as engineering practice. The book starts with an introduction to units, forces, and the probabilistic foundations of noise and signaling, then progresses through the electromagnetics of wired and wireless communications, and the quantum mechanics of electronic, optical, and magnetic materials, to discussions of mechanisms for computation, storage, sensing, and display. This self-contained volume will help both physical scientists and computer scientists see beyond the conventional division between hardware and software to understand the implications of physical theory for information manipulation.

Genres: Science, Physics, Technology

388 pages, Hardcover

First published January 15, 2000

Reviews

[Dan Farmer]

Very interesting, more like course notes (well... because it was) than a proper book. It's a nice way to ground an otherwise applied background in tech (and unsuitable for anything if you don't have a pretty strong math background).

[Murali Behara]

most condensed. have to turn the time back or find elixir to get on this