Autonomy, Jefferson Wheel Cipher
Mar 04, 2009 — 2 comments
Here is the third study for the soon to be decided on and completed large-scale gypsum sculpture. This one is called Autonomy. Click here to see it from different angles.
The other day I saw a show on the mathematics of code-breaking. They went through a bunch of message-coding devices and techniques, the math and mechanics of each, and then the methods the enemy forces’ mathematicians used to figure out the coding systems. Mindboggling really, and the most interesting thing about the show, for me, was the Jefferson Cipher. Thomas Jefferson was a freak genius, and this is an overlooked, brilliant piece of design. Basically, as you can see in the picture, it consisted of a wooden rod, and 26 wooden wheels with random letters printed around the edge. Align the wheels to spell out your message on one row, then turn the wheel and write down one of the other gibberish rows. Send that gibberish (along with the numbered order of the wheels along the rod), to whomever you want to see the message. They align their own cipher to the gibberish message, then spin the wheel until they see the non-gibberish line. Genius.
The simplicity of the design, and the effectiveness (it’s almost truly random, you can reorder the wheels every time you use it as well) are amazing. It’s one of those things that makes total sense once you see it, but to come up with it yourself, and to design it in an effective and simple way is just ridiculous. Especially in 1795. Consider my mind boggled.
Mar 07
E2X6o4 A round of applause for your post.Much thanks again. Want more.
Mar 22
Clpjsi Wow, great blog article. Really Cool.