Andrew Odlyzko
Encyclopedia
Andrew Michael Odlyzko is a mathematician and a former head of the University of Minnesota
's Digital Technology Center.
In the field of mathematics
he has published extensively on analytic number theory
, computational number theory
, cryptography
, algorithm
s and computational complexity
, combinatorics
, probability
, and error-correcting codes. In the early 1970s, he was a co-author (with D. Kahaner and G.-C. Rota) of one of the founding papers of the modern umbral calculus
. He received his Ph.D.
from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
in 1975. In 1985 he and Herman te Riele disproved the Mertens conjecture
.
More recently, he has worked on communication networks, electronic publishing
, economics of security
and electronic commerce
.
In the paper "Content is Not King", published in First Monday
in January 2001, he argues that
Andrew Odlyzko argues that the incremental value of adding one person to network of n people is approximately the nth harmonic number, so the total value of the network is approximately n log n. Since this curves upward (unlike Sarnoff's law
), it implies that Metcalfe's conclusion – that there is a critical mass
in networks, leading to a network effect
– is qualitatively correct. But since this linearithmic function does not grow as rapidly as Metcalfe's law
, it implies that many of the quantitative expectations based on Metcalfe's law were excessively optimistic.
University of Minnesota
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
's Digital Technology Center.
In the field of mathematics
Mathematics
Mathematics is the study of quantity, space, structure, and change. Mathematicians seek out patterns and formulate new conjectures. Mathematicians resolve the truth or falsity of conjectures by mathematical proofs, which are arguments sufficient to convince other mathematicians of their validity...
he has published extensively on analytic number theory
Analytic number theory
In mathematics, analytic number theory is a branch of number theory that uses methods from mathematical analysis to solve problems about the integers. It is often said to have begun with Dirichlet's introduction of Dirichlet L-functions to give the first proof of Dirichlet's theorem on arithmetic...
, computational number theory
Computational number theory
In mathematics, computational number theory, also known as algorithmic number theory, is the study of algorithms for performing number theoretic computations...
, cryptography
Cryptography
Cryptography is the practice and study of techniques for secure communication in the presence of third parties...
, algorithm
Algorithm
In mathematics and computer science, an algorithm is an effective method expressed as a finite list of well-defined instructions for calculating a function. Algorithms are used for calculation, data processing, and automated reasoning...
s and computational complexity
Computational Complexity
Computational Complexity may refer to:*Computational complexity theory*Computational Complexity...
, combinatorics
Combinatorics
Combinatorics is a branch of mathematics concerning the study of finite or countable discrete structures. Aspects of combinatorics include counting the structures of a given kind and size , deciding when certain criteria can be met, and constructing and analyzing objects meeting the criteria ,...
, probability
Probability
Probability is ordinarily used to describe an attitude of mind towards some proposition of whose truth we arenot certain. The proposition of interest is usually of the form "Will a specific event occur?" The attitude of mind is of the form "How certain are we that the event will occur?" The...
, and error-correcting codes. In the early 1970s, he was a co-author (with D. Kahaner and G.-C. Rota) of one of the founding papers of the modern umbral calculus
Umbral calculus
In mathematics before the 1970s, the term umbral calculus referred to the surprising similarity between seemingly unrelated polynomial equations and certain shadowy techniques used to 'prove' them. These techniques were introduced by and are sometimes called Blissard's symbolic method...
. He received his Ph.D.
Ph.D.
A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private research university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts. MIT has five schools and one college, containing a total of 32 academic departments, with a strong emphasis on scientific and technological education and research.Founded in 1861 in...
in 1975. In 1985 he and Herman te Riele disproved the Mertens conjecture
Mertens conjecture
In mathematics, the Mertens conjecture is the incorrect statement that the Mertens function M is bounded by √n, which implies the Riemann hypothesis...
.
More recently, he has worked on communication networks, electronic publishing
Electronic publishing
Electronic publishing or ePublishing includes the digital publication of e-books and electronic articles, and the development of digital libraries and catalogues. Electronic publishing has become common in scientific publishing where it has been argued that peer-reviewed scientific journals are in...
, economics of security
Economics of security
The economics of information security addresses the economic aspects of privacy and computer security. Economics of information security includes models of the strictly rational “homo economicus” as well as behavioral economics...
and electronic commerce
Electronic commerce
Electronic commerce, commonly known as e-commerce, eCommerce or e-comm, refers to the buying and selling of products or services over electronic systems such as the Internet and other computer networks. However, the term may refer to more than just buying and selling products online...
.
In the paper "Content is Not King", published in First Monday
First Monday (journal)
First Monday is an open-access electronic peer-reviewed scientific journal for articles about the Internet.-Publication:First Monday is sponsored and hosted by the University of Illinois at Chicago...
in January 2001, he argues that
- the entertainment industry is a small industry compared with other industries, notably the telecommunications industry;
- people are more interested in communicationCommunicationCommunication is the activity of conveying meaningful information. Communication requires a sender, a message, and an intended recipient, although the receiver need not be present or aware of the sender's intent to communicate at the time of communication; thus communication can occur across vast...
than entertainmentEntertainmentEntertainment consists of any activity which provides a diversion or permits people to amuse themselves in their leisure time. Entertainment is generally passive, such as watching opera or a movie. Active forms of amusement, such as sports, are more often considered to be recreation...
; - and therefore that entertainment "content" is not the killer app for the InternetInternetThe Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
.
Network value
In the paper "Metcalfe's Law is Wrong",Andrew Odlyzko argues that the incremental value of adding one person to network of n people is approximately the nth harmonic number, so the total value of the network is approximately n log n. Since this curves upward (unlike Sarnoff's law
Sarnoff's law
Sarnoff's law states that the value of a broadcast network is directly proportional to the number of viewers. It is attributed to David Sarnoff.For example, a network with 100 members is 10 times as valuable as a network with 10 members.-See also:...
), it implies that Metcalfe's conclusion – that there is a critical mass
Critical mass (sociodynamics)
Critical mass is a sociodynamic term to describe the existence of sufficient momentum in a social system such that the momentum becomes self-sustaining and creates further growth....
in networks, leading to a network effect
Network effect
In economics and business, a network effect is the effect that one user of a good or service has on the value of that product to other people. When network effect is present, the value of a product or service is dependent on the number of others using it.The classic example is the telephone...
– is qualitatively correct. But since this linearithmic function does not grow as rapidly as Metcalfe's law
Metcalfe's law
Metcalfe's law states that the value of a telecommunications network is proportional to the square of the number of connected usersof the system...
, it implies that many of the quantitative expectations based on Metcalfe's law were excessively optimistic.
See also
- Odlyzko–Schönhage algorithm
- Digital mediaDigital mediaDigital media is a form of electronic media where data is stored in digital form. It can refer to the technical aspect of storage and transmission Digital media is a form of electronic media where data is stored in digital (as opposed to analog) form. It can refer to the technical aspect of...
- Metcalfe's lawMetcalfe's lawMetcalfe's law states that the value of a telecommunications network is proportional to the square of the number of connected usersof the system...
- Binomial type
- Reed's lawReed's lawReed's law is the assertion of David P. Reed that the utility of large networks, particularly social networks, can scale exponentially with the size of the network....
External links
- Andrew Odlyzko: Home Page
- Digital Technology Center at the University of MinnesotaUniversity of MinnesotaThe University of Minnesota, Twin Cities is a public research university located in Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota, United States. It is the oldest and largest part of the University of Minnesota system and has the fourth-largest main campus student body in the United States, with 52,557...
- Andrew Odlyzko, Tragic loss or good riddance? The impending demise of traditional scholarly journals
- Andrew Odlyzko, Content is Not King, First Monday, Vol. 6, No. 2 (5 February 2001).