Contents
Claude Shannon
Establishing the mathematical foundations of digital communication.
Switching-circuit thesis · A Mathematical Theory of Communication
- Born
- 30 April 1916
- Birthplace
- Petoskey, Michigan, United States
- Died
- 24 February 2001
More people
Claude Shannon
Claude Shannon was an American mathematician and engineer who showed how information could be measured and transmitted. His ideas helped supply the theoretical foundations for digital circuits and modern communications.
Early life
Michigan childhood
Grew up in Gaylord and enjoyed building mechanical and electrical devices.
Dual studies
Studied mathematics and electrical engineering at the University of Michigan.
Career
- 1936–1940
MIT research
Applied Boolean algebra to switching circuits and completed doctoral work.
- 1941–1956
Bell Labs
Worked on communication theory and wartime cryptography.
- 1956 onwards
MIT professor
Returned to academic research and inventive experiments.
Contributions
Switching-circuit thesis
Connected symbolic logic with electrical relay circuits.
A Mathematical Theory of Communication
Defined quantitative limits on reliable communication.
Theseus
Built an electromechanical mouse that could learn a maze.
Beyond work
Playful machines
Designed juggling devices and enjoyed riding a unicycle.
Research partnership
His wife Betty, a mathematician, assisted with calculations and technical projects.
Sources & photo credit
Biography ↗Life and work ↗Photo: Unknown author Unknown author. CC BY 2.0 · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
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