Wednesday, July 3, 2002

Cartoon Inspires Student to Create a New Approach for Encryption By SCOTT CARLSON An unlikely combination of interests -- cartoons and math -- has inspired a sophomore at the University of Dayton to develop a new, and potentially unbreakable, encryption technology. Jason R. Kauffman, who majors in mechanical engineering at Dayton, came up with his encryption idea while working on a science-fair project that used mathematical equations to improve computer animation. Mr. Kauffman's work was inspired by a crowd scene from Disney's The Hunchback of Notre Dame, which used computer-animation techniques that assigned numbers to body movements; a mathematical equation that generates pseudo-random numbers then fired off those numbers, giving the crowd a lively, chaotic appearance. Working with stick men in animation, Mr. Kauffman wanted to improve upon those techniques, assigning more numbers to more body parts and actions. While studying number generators for the cartoon project, he found references to mathematicians and computer scientists who had theorized that the technique could be used in encryption technology, but no details about how to do so. An idea dawned on him for a unique way to use random numbers in a math equation to encrypt data. "Since you don't know what any of the values are mathematically, [a hacker] can't solve it," says Robert E. Kauffman, who is a senior research chemist at Dayton and Jason Kauffman's father. Robert Kauffman formed a partnership with his son and the university to patent the idea. The Kauffmans are reluctant to go into more detail about the idea because it's in the patenting process. The Kauffmans took the idea to computer companies. Robert Kauffman says they were interested, but were nervous about investing in a teenager's science-fair project. But the university had faith -- and a track record with the elder Kauffman, whose inventions in engine-oil products have been very successful. John E. Leland, the director of technology partnerships at the university, says his office studied the encryption idea and decided to help pay for the patenting, which could cost around $20,000. He hopes to sell the technology to computer companies, banks, government agencies, and other organizations that could use a secure code. In the meantime, Jason Kauffman is going to continue plugging away at his mechanical-engineering degree. Like his encryption technology, his studies have been inspired by Disneyland; he wants to use his degree to design roller coasters and other amusement-park rides. Easy-to-print version E-mail this article

New NIH director describes priorities for the agency, denies litmus test on stem cells U. of California funds lost $350-million in WorldCom collapse Accreditor places Eastern Mennonite U. and Kentucky's Union College on probation NCAA extends Minnesota's probation in second major case Neighbors of colleges are more likely to suffer secondhand effects of student drinking, study finds Most colleges teach that there is no uniform standard of right and wrong, report says Pioneering department of cultural studies at U. of Birmingham is closed. Cartoon inspires student to create a new approach for encryption. OPINION: Debate over the SAT masks perilous trends in college admissions