The Alice and Bob After Dinner Speech
John Gordon delivered a humorous after-dinner speech at the 1984 Zurich Seminar, using the fictional characters Alice and Bob to illustrate the challenges in coding theory. He framed technical concepts around their imagined lives, portraying them as individuals navigating secrecy, distrust, and surveillance while communicating over unreliable channels. The speech highlighted the peculiar nature of information, drawing parallels between data transmission and real-world issues like privacy and trust.
- ▪The speech was given by John Gordon at the Zurich Seminar in April 1984, by invitation of Professor James Massey.
- ▪Alice and Bob are personifications used in coding theory papers to represent two parties communicating securely.
- ▪Gordon humorously described Alice and Bob as involved in suspicious financial and political activities while dealing with eavesdroppers and communication constraints.
- ▪The speech playfully explores core themes in coding theory, including encryption, authentication, noise, and cost-efficient communication.
- ▪Information, especially its creation, destruction, and value, is presented as a central and unique concept in coding theory.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
The Alice and Bob After Dinner Speech given at the Zurich Seminar, April 1984,by John Gordon, by invitation of Professor James Massey Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen. There comes a time when people at a technical conference like this need something more relaxing. A change of pace. A shift of style. To put aside all that work stuff and think of something refreshingly different. So let's talk about coding theory. There are perhaps some of you here tonight who are not experts in coding theory, but rather have been dragged here kicking and screaming. So I thought it would be a good idea if I gave you a sort of instant, five minute graduate course in coding theory. Coding theorists are concerned with two things.
…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at Hex.
Discussion
0 commentsMore from Hex
