Sir Isaac Newton Would Be SOOOOO Proud!

      Oh, if Sir Isaac Newton were alive today he would be so proud that human beings had come up with a contraption—a computer--which validates all of the high-flying mathematical calculations he was putting together in the late 17^th century.

      The basis for all computer functionality is mathematics. A computer is essentially an intricately-woven embroidery of mathematical systems which reference one another.

      Take storage, for instance. All hard drives store data in numbered locations and mathematical algorhithms locate and deliver this data to the user.

      Loading data into memory, the basic functionality which makes all computers work, requires precise mathematical calculations. A single misplaced digit and data won’t load.

      The seven layers of the TCP/IP stack--the basic programming which enables the internet—is an intricately-woven fabric of interlocking mathematical calculations. One of the true majesties of the TCP/IP stack is that the last 3 layers use three totally different numerical notation systems and each interfaces perfectly with the other not only within that layer,  but across the layers above it and below it.

        At layer 3, the network addressing layer, decimal notation—numbers based on 10-is used to assign addresses to nodes and networking devices. At layer 2, which provides authentication to passing packets and preps the data to be put on the wire, MAC addresses are in hexadecimal notation which are 16-based numbers. At layer 1, the point at which data is actually placed on the wire, everything is translated into binary, a numerical system based on the number 2.  Binary is the basic notational system of all computing.

        I suspect that, in the late 1600s when he was toiling away at his great work, the Principia Mathematica, Sir Isaac had to wonder if the masses would ever make practical use of his superhuman mathematical expressions.

       The great genius had to wonder just how future generations would use this great knowledge. In my heart, I don’t believe that he ever imagined that the common man would ever have a contraption called a computer.

       Well, Sir Isaac, if you were alive today and witnessed modern man with his networked desktops, his speciality laptops, his Ipods, his blackberries, his hand-helds and his cell phones, you would know that all your great discoveries were not in vain.

        You would be so proud… oh, so very, very proud.

                                                                      ******