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* About the Author

John Stewart Denker received a BS degree from Caltech and a PhD from Cornell University. During his junior year he founded a successful small software and electronics company which did pioneering work in many fields including security systems, Hollywood special effects, hand-held electronic games, and video games.

His thesis research examined the properties of a gas of hydrogen atoms at temperatures only a few thousandths of a degree above absolute zero, and showed that quantum spin transport and long-lived ``spin wave'' resonances occur in this dilute Bose gas. Other research concerned the design of ultra-low-noise measuring devices, in which the fundamental quantum-mechanical limitations play an important role.

He joined AT&T Bell Laboratories in 1985. For several years he was a Distinguished Member of Technical Staff in the Adaptive Systems Research Department. His research interests include ``neural networks'' – combining ideas from biology, physics, computer science, and statistics in order to devise new types of information processing systems. He has also invented novel low-energy ``adiabatic'' computing systems.

Presently he is head of the Information Services Research Department. The focus of the department is creation of new communication services, especially those that involve both the internet and the telephone network.

In 1986-87 he was Visiting Professor at the Institute for Theoretical Physics (University of California, Santa Barbara). He has served on the organizing committee of several major scientific conferences.

He holds sixteen patents (plus several pending) and has written over 50 research papers and one book chapter, and edited the book Neural Networks for Computing. He has lectured widely.

He is well known as a prankster and prototypical mad scientist. Some of his exploits were featured in the films ``Real Genius'' and ``The Age Seeking for Genius'', as well as in publications such as ``Time'' and ``IEEE Spectrum''.

He is a Certified Flight Instructor and Ground Instructor. He serves on the board of trustees of the Monmouth Area Flying Club. He an FAA Aviation Safety Counselor, and a past member of the National Research Council Committee on Commercial Aviation Security.

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