1. of 10 09/27/2011Communication, Computing & Technology: MSR@201 Communication, Computing, & Technology Madhu Sudan MSR New England

2. of 10 Communication vs. Computation Communication vs. Computation Interdependent technologies: Neither can exist without other Interdependent technologies: Neither can exist without other Technologies/Products/Commerce developed (mostly) independently. Technologies/Products/Commerce developed (mostly) independently. Early products based on clean abstractions of the other. Early products based on clean abstractions of the other. Later versions added other capability as afterthought. Later versions added other capability as afterthought. Today products … deeply integrated. Today products … deeply integrated. Deep theories: Deep theories: 09/27/2011Communication, Computing & Technology: MSR@202 Time for the theoretical wall to come down? Well separated … and have stayed that way Turing 36 Shannon 48

3. of 10 Consequences of the wall Computing theory: Computing theory: Fundamental principle = Universality Fundamental principle = Universality You can program your computer to do You can program your computer to do whatever you want. whatever you want. Communication principle: Communication principle: Centralized design (Encoder, Decoder, Centralized design (Encoder, Decoder, Compression, IPv4, TCP/IP). Compression, IPv4, TCP/IP). You can NOT program your device! You can NOT program your device! Contradiction! But does it matter? Contradiction! But does it matter? 09/27/2011Communication, Computing & Technology: MSR@203

4. of 10 Role of theory? Ideally: Foundations of practice! Ideally: Foundations of practice! 09/27/2011Communication, Computing & Technology: MSR@204 Theory layer Application

5. of 10 Option 1 Option 1 Communication vs. Computing 09/27/2011Communication, Computing & Technology: MSR@205 Communication Computing

6. of 10 Option 2 Option 2 Communication vs. Computing 09/27/2011Communication, Computing & Technology: MSR@206 Communication Computing

7. of 10 Option 3 Option 3 Communication vs. Computing 09/27/2011Communication, Computing & Technology: MSR@207 Communication Computing

8. of 10 Good News/ Bad News Good: We are mostly practicing option 2 or 3! Good: We are mostly practicing option 2 or 3! Bad: Bad: Lost opportunities. Lost opportunities. Vulnerabilities. Vulnerabilities. Inefficiency. Inefficiency. Incompatibilities. Incompatibilities. 09/27/2011Communication, Computing & Technology: MSR@208

9. of 10 Sample problems: Digital library: Digital library: Data that lives forever (communication across time), while devices change! Data that lives forever (communication across time), while devices change! Projecting from your laptop: Projecting from your laptop: Machines that learn to communicate, and learn to understand each other Machines that learn to communicate, and learn to understand each other 09/27/2011Communication, Computing & Technology: MSR@209

10. of 10 A new theory? 09/27/2011Communication, Computing & Technology: MSR@2010 Communication Computing