Book Summary
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Building a computer out of any technology requires a large supply of only two kinds of elements: switches and connectors.
The Pattern on the Stone
The majority of people are perplexed by how computers operate and believe they will never grasp them. What people don't know is that computers' supposedly complicated functions can be broken down into a few simple elements that do the same simple routines over and over again, as Daniel Hillis' brief book effectively explains.
Hillis, a computer guru, provides an easy-to-understand description of how data is handled, making computer operations appear as simple as riding a bicycle. The Pattern on the Stone avoids technobabble and sophisticated hardware talks in favor of clear explanations and colorful tales that get right to the core of what computers accomplish.
Hillis moves on to lucid definitions of programming languages, algorithms, and memory after providing an overview of fundamental reasoning. He then leads readers through the most intriguing breakthroughs in computing today, including quantum computing, parallel computing, neural networks, and self-organizing systems, in easy stages.
The Pattern on the Stone is a vital reference to understanding the workings of that most ubiquitous and significant of machines: the computer, written plainly and succinctly by one of the world's best computer scientists.
Building a computer out of any technology requires a large supply of only two kinds of elements: switches and connectors.
