– Where does information come from?

This book is designed to provide you with an explanation of the basic concepts of information collecting and processing systems. To do this we will exantine examples ranging from secret codes to compact disc players. Using these practical examples you should be able to see how the mathematics of Infurmation Theory can be applied in practical situations to make Instruments which perform useful tasks. This first chapter is intended to a be a general outline. Most of the concepts introduced here will be looked at more carefully later.