What is a Hamming Code?
Q: What is a Hamming Code?
A: A Hamming code is an error-correcting block code that was developed by Richard Hamming in the 1950s. It is used for digital signal processing and telecommunications to detect and correct errors.
Q: How does a Hamming Code work?
A: A Hamming code uses multiple parity bits to cover each bit of data, which allows it to detect errors and in certain cases, correct them as well. It also uses redundancy, meaning that the total length of a code word must be equal to 2^k - 1, where k is the number of parity bits.
Q: Who invented the Hamming Code?
A: The Hamming Code was invented by Richard Hamming in the 1950s.
Q: What did Richard Hamming use his invention for?
A: At the time he developed it, Richard Hamming used his invention to help correct errors on punched cards that were heavily used in machines with relays. Nowadays, it is mainly used for digital signal processing and telecommunications.
Q: What is written as (N,n) when talking about a hamming code?
A: When talking about a hamming code, (N,n) refers to the total length of a code word (the first number), and the number of bits for user data (the second number). For example (7,4) means there are 7 total bits with 4 being user data bits.
Q: What is the shortest possible hamming code?
A: The shortest possible hamming code is (3,1), which means there are 3 total bits with 1 being user data bit.
