DISP-2003 Dr. Hugh Blanton ENTC 4600 TECH PRACTICUM Dr. Hugh Blanton ENTC 4600 Introduction to Digital Signal Processing

Dr. Blanton - ENTC 4307 - Introduction 2 / 30

There has been an alarming increase in the number of things I know nothing about! Dr. Blanton - ENTC 4307 - Introduction 3 / 30

Dr. Blanton - ENTC 4307 - Introduction 4 / 30 DISP-2003 Dr. Blanton - ENTC 4307 - Introduction 4 / 30 Introduction to Digital Signal Processing

Many predictions made in the past have proved to be dramatically wrong Many predictions made in the past have proved to be dramatically wrong ... ...even when made by experts with impeccable credentials... Dr. Blanton - ENTC 4307 - Introduction 5 / 30

Famous Quotations

Airplane “Heavier-than-air flying machines are impossible” Lord Kelvin famous physicists, 1897 1903: Wright traveled 37 m today: booming industry Dr. Blanton - ENTC 4307 - Introduction 7 / 30

Telephone (1) “Well informed people know it is impossible to transmit voice over wires and that, were it possible to do so, the thing would be of no practical value” Boston Post editorial, 1865 1896: Bell got the first patent today: booming industry Dr. Blanton - ENTC 4307 - Introduction 8 / 30

Telephone (2) “This ‘telephone’ has too many shortcomings to be seriously considered as a means of communications” Western Union (leading telegraph company), an internal memo, 1896 1896: Bell got the first patent 1998: >~750 M telephone lines, or ~13 lines / 100 inhabitants world average (source: ITU World Telecommunication Development Report 1998) Dr. Blanton - ENTC 4307 - Introduction 9 / 30

Computers (in general) “ I think there’s a world market for, maybe, 5 computers” Thomas Watson, Chairman of IBM, 1943 1998: >~750 M telephone lines, or ~13 lines / 100 inhabitants world average (source: ITU World Telecommunication Development Report 1998) Dr. Blanton - ENTC 4307 - Introduction 10 / 30

Personal computers (1) I “didn’t see anything useful” in building home computers Gordon Moore, co-founder of Intel, rejecting a 1970s proposal for a home computer Dr. Blanton - ENTC 4307 - Introduction 11 / 30

Personal computers (2) “There is no reason for any individual to have a computer in their home” Ken Olsen, Founder & President of Digital Equipment Corporation, 1977 1998: ~234 M PCs, or ~4 PCs / 100 inhabitants world average (source: ITU World Telecommunication Development Report 1998) Dr. Blanton - ENTC 4307 - Introduction 12 / 30

Cinema “Who the hell wants to hear actors talk?” H.M. Warner, famous film maker), 1927 1927: first talking picture today: booming industry Dr. Blanton - ENTC 4307 - Introduction 13 / 30

“Radio has no future” Radio Lord Kelvin, famous physicists, 1897 1896: Marconi - 1st transmission at 1.6 km distance Dr. Blanton - ENTC 4307 - Introduction 14 / 30

“Prediction is difficult - especially of the future” - Storm Petersen, Danish humorist Dr. Blanton - ENTC 4307 - Introduction 15 / 30

These portions are accumulated there during the years of studying. Every year a number of young people enter the University, each carrying a small portion of knowledge. These portions are accumulated there during the years of studying. That is the reason why the University became the center of knowledge. After Bernard Shaw Dr. Blanton - ENTC 4307 - Introduction 16 / 30

When a distinguished but elderly scientist states that something is possible he is almost certainly right. When he states that something is impossible, he is very probably wrong. Clarke's First Law Dr. Blanton - ENTC 4307 - Introduction 17 / 30

The only way of discovering the limits of the possible is by venturing a little way past them into the impossible. Clarke's Second Law Dr. Blanton - ENTC 4307 - Introduction 18 / 30

Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. Clarke's Third Law Any technology distinguishable from magic is insufficiently advanced. Gregory Benford's Corollary to Clarke's Third law: Dr. Blanton - ENTC 4307 - Introduction 19 / 30