Information and Coding Theory

Catalog description

Originally developed by C.E. Shannon in the 1940s for describing bounds on information rates across telecommunication channels, information and coding theory is now employed in a large number of disciplines for modeling and analysis of problems that are statistical in nature. This course provides a general introduction to the field. Main topics include entropy, error correcting codes, source coding, data compression. Of special interest will be the connection to problems in pattern recognition. Includes a number of projects relevant to neuroscience, cognitive and linguistic sciences, and computer vision. Prerequisites: High school algebra, calculus. MATLAB or other computer experience helpful. Prior exposure to probability theory/statistics helpful.