通灵芯片 (1998)

《通灵芯片：计算机运作的简单原理》（英语：The Pattern on the Stone: The Simple Ideas that Make Computers Work）是由丹尼尔·希利斯著作的一部科普读物，英文版由Basic Books在1998年出版(ISBN 0-465-02595-1)，中文版则由上海科学技术出版社出版，崔良沂译(ISBN 9787532394418)。该书从一个外行人的角度解释了计算机科学中的一些基本概念。

该书介绍了一些有关布尔代数的主题，如信息论、并行计算、加密、算法、启发式计算、通用计算，和一些的新兴的技术，如量子计算和自学习系统。

The Pattern on the Stone: The Simple Ideas that Make Computers Work is a book by W. Daniel Hillis, published in 1998 by Basic Books (ISBN 0-465-02595-1). The book explains concepts from computer science in layman's terms by metaphor and analogy. It aims to demystify computer science by demonstrating that complex processes can be broken down into simple, repeated patterns.

Summary

The book has eight chapters and two extra topics:

Boolean algebra

Information theory

Turing Machines

Universal computing

Algorithms

Cryptography

Heuristics

Parallel computing

Quantum computing

Emergence

Reception

The book has been translated into many languages and has sold over a million copies.

Reviews after its release were positive. A reviewer for Science News wrote: "He begins by imparting Boolean logic through a demonstration of a machine that plays tic-tac-toe...Hillis gift is his ability to convey the logical processes of computers that begin with switches and circuitry and escalate to self-organizing learning ability relevant to parallel computing systems." William Baer said in Library Journal: "Step by step from computer logic to programming to memory and compression. The final two chapters show how computers are truly close to being thinking machines." A Booklist review said: "A delightful all-in-one introduction to computer science." Another reviewer in Technology Review wrote: "There's nothing special about silicon, Hillis wants the reader to know. The universal building blocks of computation -- simple, logical functions such as and, or, and not – can be implemented using rods and springs, water pipes and hydraulic valves, and many other physical systems."

Awards

1999 American Association for the Advancement of Science Prize for Books

1999 Los Angeles Times Book Prize for Science and Technology.

1999 National Book Award Finalist in Science

1999 Rhône-Poulenc Science Book Prize Shortlist

1998 Boston Globe Book Award Finalist in Nonfiction

1998 Guardian Award Finalist in Science

1998 Royal Society Winton Medal shortlist