3 ms·
The codes which the article hints at near the end are LDPC[1] codes, which are being rapidly deployed in nearly anything requiring storing or transmission of in
by wickedchicken 14y ago
The codes which the article hints at near the end are LDPC[1] codes, which are being rapidly deployed in nearly anything requiring storing or transmission of information. I recall speaking to a grad student working on integrating them into flash memory to reduce its cost.
[1] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low-density_parity-check_code http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Low-density_parity-check_code
- epistasis 14y agoIn addition to being discovered twice, by Gallagher and Glavieux & Berrou, LDPC codes have deep connections to the belief propagation algorithm, which was discovered in machine learning, and algorithms for spin glasses which were discovered in physics. There's a great temptation going here to say that this type of algorithm is at a sweet spot for understanding communication, learning, and some physical systems. The behavior of belief propagation at state transitions is quite fascinating, and it really feels as though there is a great discovery to be made there. I have the utmost respect for coding researchers; every time I read their papers I get new ideas. If you're a programmer interested in writing fast code or coming up with new algorithms, I'd recommend occasionally slipping a coding paper into your reading list.