6.4 Probability and error detection

Let’s return to our repetition code for error detection from section 2.1. The specific example we look at is sending information represented in bits via a binary symmetric channel. The probability that I will get an error by flipping a 0 to a 1 or a 1 to a 0 is p. The probability that no error occurs is 1 – p, as above. error detection error correction error correction$repetition code

For a binary symmetric channel, we have two representations for information, the bits 0 and 1, and hence “binary.” The probability of something wrong happening to a 0 or 1 is the same, and that’s the symmetry. error correction$binary symmetric channel

The process for sending the information to someone whom I will call Alicia is:

1. Create a message to be sent.
2. Transform that message by encoding it to contain extra information, allowing Alicia the possibility to repair the message if it...