Information theory is a branch of applied mathematics and electrical engineering involving the quantification of information. Information theory was developed by Claude E. Shannon to find fundamental limits on signal processing operations such as compressing data and on reliably storing and communicating data. Since its inception it has broadened to find applications in many other areas, including statistical inference, natural language processing, cryptography generally, networks other than communication networks — as in neurobiology, the evolution and function of molecular codes, model selection in ecology, thermal physics,quantum computing, plagiarism detection and other forms of data analysis.
A key measure of information is known as entropy, which is usually expressed by the average number of bits needed to store or communicate one symbol in a message. Entropy quantifies the uncertainty involved in predicting the value of a random variable. For example, specifying the outcome of a fair coin flip (two equally likely outcomes) provides less information (lower entropy) than specifying the outcome from a roll of a die (six equally likely outcomes).
Claude Elwood Shannon (April 30, 1916 – February 24, 2001) was an American mathematician, electronic engineer, and cryptographer known as "the father of information theory".
Shannon is famous for having founded information theory with one landmark paper published in 1948. But he is also credited with founding both digital computer and digital circuit design theory in 1937, when, as a 21-year-old master's student at MIT, he wrote a thesis demonstrating that electrical application of Boolean algebra could construct and resolve any logical, numerical relationship. It has been claimed that this was the most important master's thesis of all time. Shannon contributed to the field of cryptanalysis during World War II and afterwards, including basic work on code breaking.
Shannon was born in Petoskey, Michigan. His father, Claude Sr (1862–1934), a descendant of early New Jersey settlers, was a self-made businessman and for a while, Judge of Probate. His mother, Mabel Wolf Shannon (1890–1945), daughter of German immigrants, was a language teacher and for a number of years principal of Gaylord High School, Michigan. The first 16 years of Shannon's life were spent in Gaylord, Michigan, where he attended public school, graduating from Gaylord High School in 1932. Shannon showed an inclination towards mechanical things. His best subjects were science and mathematics, and at home he constructed such devices as models of planes, a radio-controlled model boat and a wireless telegraph system to a friend's house half a mile away. While growing up, he worked as a messenger for Western Union. His childhood hero was Thomas Edison, who he later learned was a distant cousin. Both were descendants of John Ogden, a colonial leader and an ancestor of many distinguished people.
Adam Schneider (born 12 May 1984) is an Australian rules footballer playing for the St Kilda Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). Schneider formerly played for the Sydney Swans.
Originally from the small town of Osbourne, Schneider spent most of his teenage years at St Francis De Sales Regional College in Leeton, then Kooringal High And Trinity High School in Wagga Wagga where he decided to pursue Australian rules football after also excelling in cricket.[citation needed]
Schneider was recruited from Osbourne and NSW-ACT U18 by Sydney Swans in the 2001 AFL Draft. He was Sydney's 4th Round selection and number 60 overall.
During his first season at the club, Schneider suffered minor injuries and illness which sidelined him for over three months.
However, in 2003, Schneider hit the ground running. Through the pre-season and practice matches he was in great form and earned his senior AFL debut. He debuted in Round 1 of the 2003 premiership season against Carlton. His form was good enough for him to hold his place in the seniors for all 24 matches as well as kicking 30 goals for the season.