W. Wesley Peterson
Encyclopedia
William Wesley Peterson was an American
mathematician and computer scientist. He was best known for inventing the Cyclic Redundancy Check
(CRC), for which research he was awarded the Japan Prize
in 1999.
Peterson was born on April 22, 1924 in Muskegon, Michigan
and earned his Ph.D.
in 1954 from the University of Michigan
. Peterson was a professor of Information and Computer Science
s at the University of Hawaii at Manoa
, joining the faculty in 1964 . He started work at IBM in 1954. He authored the publication of algebraic coding theory Error Correcting Codes in 1961. He co-authored a number of books on the topic of error correcting codes, including the revised 2nd edition of Error Correcting Codes
(co-authored with E. J. Weldon). In the early 1950-ties he contributed significantly to the development of signal detection theory
through participation in the IRE Professional Group on Information Theory. He has also done research and published in the fields of programming language
s, systems programming
, and networks. As well as the Japan Prize
in 1999, he was awarded the Claude E. Shannon Award
in 1981, and the IEEE Centennial Medal
in 1984.
Dr. Peterson finished 16th in the 2005 Honolulu Marathon for males ages 80 to 84. He died May 6, 2009 in Honolulu, Hawaii
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
mathematician and computer scientist. He was best known for inventing the Cyclic Redundancy Check
Cyclic redundancy check
A cyclic redundancy check is an error-detecting code commonly used in digital networks and storage devices to detect accidental changes to raw data...
(CRC), for which research he was awarded the Japan Prize
Japan Prize
is awarded to people from all parts of the world whose "original and outstanding achievements in science and technology are recognized as having advanced the frontiers of knowledge and served the cause of peace and prosperity for mankind."- Explanation :...
in 1999.
Peterson was born on April 22, 1924 in Muskegon, Michigan
Muskegon, Michigan
Muskegon is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 38,401. The city is the county seat of Muskegon County...
and earned 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...
in 1954 from the University of Michigan
University of Michigan
The University of Michigan is a public research university located in Ann Arbor, Michigan in the United States. It is the state's oldest university and the flagship campus of the University of Michigan...
. Peterson was a professor of Information and Computer Science
Information and Computer Science
Information and Computer Science or Computer and Information Science is a field that emphasizes both computing and informatics, upholding the strong association between the fields of information sciences and computer sciences and treating computers as a tool rather than a field.-Computing...
s at the University of Hawaii at Manoa
University of Hawaii at Manoa
The University of Hawaii at Mānoa is a public, co-educational university and is the flagship campus of the greater University of Hawaii system...
, joining the faculty in 1964 . He started work at IBM in 1954. He authored the publication of algebraic coding theory Error Correcting Codes in 1961. He co-authored a number of books on the topic of error correcting codes, including the revised 2nd edition of Error Correcting Codes
(co-authored with E. J. Weldon). In the early 1950-ties he contributed significantly to the development of signal detection theory
Detection theory
Detection theory, or signal detection theory, is a means to quantify the ability to discern between information-bearing energy patterns and random energy patterns that distract from the information Detection theory, or signal detection theory, is a means to quantify the ability to discern between...
through participation in the IRE Professional Group on Information Theory. He has also done research and published in the fields of programming language
Programming language
A programming language is an artificial language designed to communicate instructions to a machine, particularly a computer. Programming languages can be used to create programs that control the behavior of a machine and/or to express algorithms precisely....
s, systems programming
System programming
System programming is the activity of programming system software. The primary distinguishing characteristic of systems programming when compared to application programming is that application programming aims to produce software which provides services to the user System programming (or systems...
, and networks. As well as the Japan Prize
Japan Prize
is awarded to people from all parts of the world whose "original and outstanding achievements in science and technology are recognized as having advanced the frontiers of knowledge and served the cause of peace and prosperity for mankind."- Explanation :...
in 1999, he was awarded the Claude E. Shannon Award
Claude E. Shannon Award
The Claude E. Shannon Award of the IEEE Information Theory Society was instituted to honour consistent and profound contributions to the field of information theory. Each Shannon Award winner is expected to present a Shannon Lecture at the following IEEE International Symposium on Information Theory...
in 1981, and the IEEE Centennial Medal
IEEE Centennial Medal
The IEEE Centennial Medal was a medal minted and awarded in 1984 to celebrate the Centennial of the founding of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers in 1884.The medal obverse shows 1884 in calligraphic writing and 1984 in an LCD font...
in 1984.
Dr. Peterson finished 16th in the 2005 Honolulu Marathon for males ages 80 to 84. He died May 6, 2009 in Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu, Hawaii
Honolulu is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Hawaii. Honolulu is the southernmost major U.S. city. Although the name "Honolulu" refers to the urban area on the southeastern shore of the island of Oahu, the city and county government are consolidated as the City and...
.