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This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. How did Gregory Chaitin define random numbers?

2. What did Chaitin determine about most numbers?

3. What claim did Shannon make about the predictable redundancy of the English language?

4. What did the study of thermodynamics not state about the movement of energy?

5. What is the relationship between humans and memes?

Short Essay Questions

1. What makes a number "computable?"

2. What are "memes" as first proposed by Richard Dawkins in "The Selfish Gene"?

3. The connection of information with entropy and the physical realm was important to what physics discipline?

4. Norbert Weiner based his theory on what system of the human body?

5. When was the term "cybernetics" coined and what meaning was attached to it?

6. What are major differences between Wikipedia and the Encyclopedia Brittanica?

7. What was John von Neumann's theory on energy cost and how did Rolf Landauer disprove that concept?

8. How did Gregory Chaitin characterize random numbers?

9. What estimates did Seth Lloyd, a quantum engineer at MIT, make about the power of the universe?

10. What fundamental problem is inherent in the observation of quantum particles?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

Provides descriptions and the functionality of the "Differential Analyzer" and the "Principia Mathematica." How did early technological advancements lead to the merging of math and logic which lead to modern computing.

Essay Topic 2

What are some of the highlights of Claude Shannon's work on what he termed "information theory"? How did Shannon come to the conclusion that information needed to be separated into "bits" for the most effective transfer of information?

Essay Topic 3

Explain the evolution of the written language and its impact on knowledge sharing. What impact has the Internet had on the transference of information?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 671 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample