"Imagine if everyone could read your thoughts," says cryptographer Arthur
Low. "What a strange world it would be, because quite often we don't tell
people exactly what we're thinking out of politeness.
"On the other hand, imagine if you're in a negotiation in a business meeting
and people could read your thoughts. It would be very difficult to negotiate
a workable contract because you need to have privacy and secrecy in order
to protect your interests."
Low is the president of a semiconductor company. He has a bachelor's degree
in electrical engineering and a diploma in electronics engineering technology.
Low has led IC (integrated circuit) design teams at several companies,
including IBM Microelectronics. His work in semiconductor design and system-level
architecture became a springboard into cryptography.
"I was looking for a new career and I had the opportunity to choose between
a number of different companies. I chose a company that was involved in cryptography
because I figured it would be really essential for computer networking," says
Low.
"So I got into it actually because, not only was I good at math, but I
was also good at designing microchips... The complex mathematics for doing
cryptography very fast requires very fast semiconductors. So I'm basically
an electrical engineer, which [means] you have to be pretty good
at math to begin with, but I think I have exceptional math skills. So as a
result I've done pretty well in cryptography."
Math isn't the only important skill for cryptographers. "You also have
to be curious, too," says Low. "You have to be curious and hardworking because
these are tough problems. You have to like solving problems."
Anna Lysyanskaya is a cryptology professor at Brown University. "Generally,
people who like math and logic and rigor, and like solving puzzles, would
enjoy cryptography," she says.
Lysyanskaya's research focuses on technologies that enhance privacy for
individuals. She aims to help people navigate the online world, helping them
use things such as electronic cash without disclosing sensitive personal data.
What drew her to cryptography? "The fact that it's mathematical and rigorous,
but also applied," she says.
If you're intrigued by cryptography, and think you might have a knack
for it, here's what Lysyanskaya advises:
"High school students are often not exposed to mathematical proofs in their
math classes," she says. "Instead, they think that number crunching is what
math is. That simply isn't true. If you love puzzles and logic, but don't
like calculus, consider taking a class in discrete math and combinatorics.
These are the kinds of things that will prepare you for cryptography."