Ideas and Mathematical tools
IEEE Medal of Honor for the year 2007 goes to Prof. Thomas Kailath for "exceptional development of powerful algorithms in the fields of communications, computing, control and signal processing". How can one work and contribute at highest level in so many varied fields? What is his recipe for success? Before we discuss that aspect, here is the link to article in IEEE Spectrum on Kailath and his achievements. I will summarize the article here for the sake of readers' convenience (also I find it easier for this discussion that way): His doctoral research was on the detection of random signals in noise. He worked out a theory for using a separate feedback channel to provide information about noise in a communications channel and adapt the incoming signals to move through the noise. (That work has yet to find practical application). He was involved in developing computer algorithms for the systematic design of special-purpose chips. He laid the groundwor...