#techhistory

13 posts · Last used 26d

John Tukey the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) inventor, who coined both "bit" and "software" died exactly 26 years ago today. The Fast Fourier Transform (FFT), one of the most important algorithms in signal processing and data analysis, was introduced by Tukey & Cooley in 1965. In 1805, Gauss - studying the orbits of asteroids Pallas and Juno - came up with a method to interpolate their trajectories from discrete samples. What he came up with was mathematically very close to the modern FFT but Gauss never published that work, and didn’t analyze its computational complexity. It predated even Fourier’s 1822 work on heat diffusion - but without the framing or generalization that Cooley & Tukey would bring 160 years later. In 1965, Cooley & Tukey published their now-famous algorithm that reduced the cost of computing a Discrete Fourier Transform from 𝑂(𝑛²) to 𝑂(𝑛 log⁡𝑛). This leap made real-time signal processing and digital media compression feasible. From radio telescopes to JPEGs, from audio codecs to quantum mechanics - the FFT is everywhere. It’s one of the most important (and elegant) algorithms of the 20th century - rooted in the genius of Gauss, but brought to life in the computer age. #JohnTukey #FastFourierTransform #FFT #SignalProcessing #ComputerScience #Mathematics #Algorithm #DataScience #DigitalSignalProcessing #FourierTransform #ComputationalScience #ScientificComputing #HistoryOfScience #Innovation #CarlFriedrichGauss #JosephFourier #JamesCooley #STEM #Engineering #ArtificialIntelligence #MachineLearning #QuantumComputing #ImageProcessing #AudioProcessing #Statistics #TechHistory #Computing #Science #InnovationLegacy #OnThisDay
27
0
25
0
Many technologies in modern computing have been influenced by BSD. Part 2 of this Andrew Oram series explores BSD’s contributions to email and BSD’s impact on operating systems and programmer tools through BSD Jails, Berkeley Packet Filter (BPF), and other innovations! Explore: https://lpi.org/1v8r @FreeBSDFoundation@mastodon.social #FreeBSD #BSD #Linux #opensource #TechHistory #freebsdfoundation #unix #freesoftware #linux #OS #Berkeley #LPI
4
0
4
0
A fascinating look back at 1994: Bud Tribble explaining the pivotal alliance between NeXT and Sun Microsystems. It’s incredible to read how OpenStep was pitched as the "mature" object-oriented solution back then—laying the groundwork for the architecture we still use today in macOS. Real engineering history. #RetroComputing #NeXTSTEP #SunMicrosystems #TechHistory #Unix #OpenStep #Apple
16
0
6
0