2009 Prime Minister’s Prize for Science - How astronomy freed the computer from its chains

[bananas]

http://www.scienceinpublic.com/blog/prime-ministers-prize/2009-science

2009 Prime Minister’s Prize for Science

October 28th, 2009

How astronomy freed the computer from its chains

Nearly a billion people use John O’Sullivan’s invention every day. When you use a WiFi network—at home, in the office or at the airport—you are using patented technology born of the work of John and his CSIRO colleagues.

They created a technology that made the wireless LAN fast and robust. And their solution came from John’s efforts to hear the faint radio whispers of exploding black holes.

Today John is working on technology that will allow us to look back almost to the beginning of time itself.

For his achievements in astronomy and wireless technologies John O’Sullivan receives the 2009 Prime Minister’s Prize for Science.

John O’Sullivan video interview: 3′52″ in Flash, Quicktime and Windows Media formats

In 1977 John O’Sullivan co-wrote a paper about the use of a set of mathematical equations known as Fourier transforms to sharpen optical telescope images distorted by the atmosphere. The paper is short and, like O’Sullivan, somewhat humble. It builds on first principles of physics, but brings together a broad view joining radio and optics. And the paper is seminal. It explains the techniques known as adaptive optics and proves why they work.

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Interesting story, worth reading.

[phasma ex machina]

1. O'Sullivan's patent itself interests me more.

Wireless LAN John D. O'Sullivan et al