A New Faster Fourier Transform Can Speed One of IT's Fundamental Algorithms
The Fast Fourier Transform From many irregular signals, one. Christine Daniloff via MIT NewsEven faster than the fast Fourier transform An algorithm called the fast Fourier transform is one of the most important aspects of your digital life that you never think about. It's a core concept in information technology, making possible the signal processing, image and audio compression, and other complex mathematics necessary for you to cram every episode of Breaking Bad onto your mobile device alongside every track Jay-Z ever made, and then play it all back without a hitch. Basically, the Fourier transform turns irregular signals into pure frequencies, so the fluctuating voltage signal traveling through a wire from your MP3 player to a set of speakers can be translated on the fly into the sounds you want to hear. The algorithm does this so quickly it earned the name "fast" (as in "fast Fourier transform," or FFT). And...