I haven't been posting regular Numb3rs summaries for the new season, because I've been disappointed with the new episodes; they appear to be using math mostly for throwaway comments, rather than actually trying to get into any specifics (Farey sequences, the Art Gallery Theorem, and cellular automata being some examples).
They did mention curvelets though, when doing image reconstruction. This particular reference is interesting because, as Shankar Krishnan informs me, one of the top experts on curvelets, Emmanuel Candes, is actually at CalTech, and Caltech's math department has been providing technical expertise for the show.
I'm not sure that the math is any more or less throwaway than before. I suppose there seems to be slightly fewer attempts to explain the procedure using stretched analogies and sketch graphics. But in the last episode I saw, Charlie was in pretty heavy demans: he used curvelets to enhance the image, analyzed the placement of the cameras [although this really doesn't need the Art Gallery theorem: verifying the placement is much easier than designing the placement] and analyzing the handwriting. The FBI are certainly getting their money's worth. I wonder what his consulting fees must be like.
ReplyDeletePosted by Graham Cormode
I love NUMB3RS. It's the best show in the world!
ReplyDeleteI LOVE CHARLIE EPPES HE IS SO SO SO CUTE!!!
Posted by Hannah
I think that NUMB3RS is the greatest TV show in the world!!! I like Charlie and Don equally! But, i think that Colby Granger is the cutest!!!
ReplyDeletePosted by Galadwen