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Zusatztext ... an intelligent! well-written! well-organized and highly accessible introduction to a broad range of fascinating topics in modern science and mathematical modeling. Informationen zum Autor Iwo Bialynicki-Birula, Center for Theoretical Physics, University of Warsaw, PolandWarsaw University PhD in Theoretical Physics 1959University of Rochester, Research Associate 1959-1961University of Pittsburgh, Visiting Professor 1969-1971, 1985-1986University of Frankfurt, Visiting Scholar 1992-1993University of Ulm, Alexander von Humboldt Award Recipient 1994-1995Iwona Bialynicka-Birula, Galileo Galilei School, University of Pisa, ItalyMS in Computer Science from Warsaw University 2003 Klappentext The bookModeling Reality covers a wide range of fascinating subjects, accessible to anyone who wants to learn about the use of computer modeling to solve a diverse range of problems, but who does not possess a specialized training in mathematics or computer science. The material presented ispitched at the level of high-school graduates, even though it covers some advanced topics (cellular automata, Shannon's measure of information, deterministic chaos, fractals, game theory, neural networks, genetic algorithms, and Turing machines). These advanced topics are explained in terms of wellknown simple concepts: Cellular automata - Game of Life, Shannon's formula - Game of twenty questions, Game theory - Television quiz, etc. The book is unique in explaining in a straightforward, yet complete, fashion many important ideas, related to various models of reality and their applications.Twenty-five programs, written especially for this book, are provided on an accompanying CD. They greatly enhance its pedagogical value and make learning of even the more complex topics an enjoyable pleasure. Zusammenfassung This book is for everyone (college and high-school students, school teachers and the general public) who wants to learn about many fascinating ideas that have come to the fore with recent advances in the application of computers to real life situations. Inhaltsverzeichnis 1: From Building Blocks to Computers: Models and Modeling 2: The Game of Life: A Legendary Cellular Automaton 3: Heads or Tails: Probability of an Event 4: Galton's Board: Probability and Statistics 5: Twenty Questions: Probability and Information 6: Snowflakes: The Evolution of Dynamical Systems 7: The Lorenz Butterfly: Deterministic Chaos 8: From Cantor to Mandelbrot: Self-Similarity and Fractals 9: Typing Monkeys: Statistical Linguistics 10: The Bridges of Konigsberg: Graph Theory 11: Prisoner's Dilemma: Game Theory 12: Let the Best Man Win: Genetic Algorithms 13: Computers Can Learn: Neural Networks 14: Unpredictable Individuals: Modeling Society 15: Universal Computer: The Turing Machine 16: Hal, R2D2 and Number 5: Artificial Intelligence Epilog Programs Further Reading Index ...
