Most people are baffled by how computers work and assume that they will never understand them. What they dont realizeand what Daniel Hilliss short book brilliantly demonstratesis 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 todayquantum computing, parallel computing, neural networks, and self-organizing systems. Written clearly and succinctly by one of the worlds 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.
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About the Author
Daniel Hillis is one of the world's hottest computer scientists. He was co-founder and chief scientist of the Thinking Machines Corporation and principal architect of the company's major product, the Connection Machine. He is an Editor of several scientific journals, including Artificial Life and Future Generation Computer Systems and is currently Vice President and Disney Fellow at Walt Disney Imagineering. Adam Hart-Davis is a freelance photographer, writer and broadcaster. He won awards for the BBC 2 series, Local Heroes and his publications include Eurekaaarh!
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When I was a child, I read a story about a boy who built a robot out of parts he found lying around a junkyard. Read the first page
Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
When I was a child, I read a story about a boy who built a robot out of parts he found lying around a junkyard. Read the first page
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Front Cover | Copyright | Table of Contents | Excerpt | Index | Back Cover
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Hardcover
It's amazing that so many people use computers for hours every day without having the slightest ideas about the articulation within. At best, people may have changed a graphics card or added a hard drive. Maybe they installed something. Even without trying any of these things, there are some useful computer science concepts which really ought to be General Knowlege, but where would you learn them?
This short, easy to digest book is about the universal ideas behind computer and software design (so it won't go out of date for a while!). The stuff which operating systems try so hard to hide away from us, but which keeps popping up for no apparent reason. Why do the numbers 256 and1024 keep appearing? Why is compression less than pure magic?
I've been programming since the early 1980s, so I wondered how much I would learn from this book. I was thinking I could use it with my students (mostly artists and desingers). Actually, there are a lot of very elegant and simple descriptions here of stuff which I use all the time, plus many things I had no idea about (such as encryption). It's a voyage from the lowest levels of computer design - the nuts and bolts of switches and 'flow' up to entirely readable descriptions of parallel and quantum computing.
The only failing is that the people who should read this book probably wont, because they're scared it will go over their heads. (It wouldn't, but they might wonder why they need to bother with abstractions like these). Even if you think you know the basics, this book might surprise you with some refreshing perspectives and metaphors so you can explain yourself to others without their eyes glazing over.
Great for beginner programmers, curious tinkerers and an excellent little gift for a teenager with computer interests (if you're afraid your kid plays too many computer games, this book will make their game playing more meaningful).
This short, easy to digest book is about the universal ideas behind computer and software design (so it won't go out of date for a while!). The stuff which operating systems try so hard to hide away from us, but which keeps popping up for no apparent reason. Why do the numbers 256 and1024 keep appearing? Why is compression less than pure magic?
I've been programming since the early 1980s, so I wondered how much I would learn from this book. I was thinking I could use it with my students (mostly artists and desingers). Actually, there are a lot of very elegant and simple descriptions here of stuff which I use all the time, plus many things I had no idea about (such as encryption). It's a voyage from the lowest levels of computer design - the nuts and bolts of switches and 'flow' up to entirely readable descriptions of parallel and quantum computing.
The only failing is that the people who should read this book probably wont, because they're scared it will go over their heads. (It wouldn't, but they might wonder why they need to bother with abstractions like these). Even if you think you know the basics, this book might surprise you with some refreshing perspectives and metaphors so you can explain yourself to others without their eyes glazing over.
Great for beginner programmers, curious tinkerers and an excellent little gift for a teenager with computer interests (if you're afraid your kid plays too many computer games, this book will make their game playing more meaningful).
Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase
This book is on the recommended reading list for anyone considering doing a degree in computer science. An interesting book
Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta)
Amazon.com:
4.3 out of 5 stars
32 reviews
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
Henceforth, computers shall tremble before me!
8 Aug 2000
By Adam Rutkowski
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback
In this book, Hillis has managed to cover all of the basics of how computers operate, from theory like Boolean algebra and finite state machines, up to applications of the theory like multiprocessors and their limits. He even manages to find space to discuss Turing's Halting Problem, and Godel's Incompleteness Theorem.
To fit so much information into such a small book, Hillis has minimised his explanations, to the point that I think a true newcomer to these concepts would have difficulty in following a lot of the details. The text has been designed so that not understanding parts of it will not greatly affect the understanding of the rest, however I believe the reader would have much less appreciation for how all of the ideas mesh together in this case.
Hillis has crafted a beautiful book, one that provides excellent insight into the workings of computer technology, and a slightly different approach to that taken by standard textbooks. While I don't think this book would serve as a substitute to a standard text, it makes an excellent companion book for anyone who is already partly familiar with the concepts covered.
21 of 24 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good book, but the title is misleading
29 July 2002
By Boris S
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I believe the title is a bit misleading. If you want to buy this book to learn how computers work, STOP! and buy "Code: Hidden Language of Computer Hardware and Software" By Charles Petzold. (Because of the title/quotes on the book which suggested that this book will teach you "How Computers Work"... I gave it 4 stars--I almost made it 3! :) This book will cover how computers work only in the first two chapters.. and it covers the subject so abstractly and briefly--with a lot of gaps--that if you don't already know how it works, you probably will have a VERY hard time understanding...
Now, to the good stuff... this book is a GREAT intro for someone who has some fundamentals in CS, but would like to explore it a bit more.. or get interesting ideas--especially in the department of Artificial Intelligence.
Remmember one thing... althought it's meant to be a book for "newbies"... it really isn't... some of the concepts/terminology is complex... but as a whole it's a simple short book. To me it seems VERY simple because I already read a lot of books dealing with all this stuff beforehand... but I would imagine someone who hasn't had a lot of exposure may want to at the very least read CODE (as I've already stated). You will learn a lot from CODE! (BTW, I just read this book in about two days, after finishing CODE... so that can attest to it's simplicity... not too much depth.. but a nice intro to CS with a concentration on AI).
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great for the neophyte, fun for the geek
19 Nov 1999
By A Customer
- Published on Amazon.com
Format:Paperback
Danny Hillis is known for his child-like approach to things. This book is a good example. I think it's a definate must read for the computer neophyte of any age (I'm buying several for people ranging from a teenager to my father-in-law). He introduces the *real* workings behind computers. Forget about RAM, bits, bytes and all that. Think about information flowing like water and computation performed with little gears. The long-term computer lover will find this book a quick, light, but thouroughly enjoyable read.
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4.3 out of 5 stars
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