Research

Friedemann Mattern made fundamental contributions to the field of distributed algorithms. Based on the concept of causal dependencies, he characterized the relativistic structure of logical time in distributed systems, introduced the concept of vector clocks, and presented methods to determine the global state of a decentralized system in a consistent way. After accepting an offer of ETH Zurich in 1999, he moved to the area of "ubiquitous computing". Here, he does research on the technical foundations, but also on the economic and social consequences of the increasing "informatization" of everyday life.

Photo: Giulia Marthaler