Students interested in taking this course may enroll in MATH 499, Section B, line number 15220, for 1 credit. The class will meet in Cardwell 131 at 4:30 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday, March 11-14.

Abstract: Error correcting codes originated, in the fifties, solutions to practical problems in the reliable transmission of digitally encoded information. Error correcting codes deal with problems of detecting and correcting errors on transmission channels caused by noise. Their use in many various systems has proliferated at the same time as a fascinating mathematical theory has been developed. We describe the practical origins of coding theory and give basic concepts in coding. This will be illustrated by many examples of famous codes.

Dr. Pless also will give a colloquium entitled "The Past Fifty Years; A Time of Great Change" on Thursday, March 14, at 2:30 p.m.

Abstract: The information era has been characterized by great changes in computers and communications. The existence of e-mail has affected how many of us conduct our affairs and has influenced world events. The wide spread of television both influences world events and the education of our children. Word processing is now done mainly by computer and electronic publishing is an emerging area. These changes are related to changes in what mathematicians study and new areas arising. These years have witnessed a revolution in the role of women in American society and in mathematics.