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James S. Walker Author of Evaluating Organization Development
FEATURED AUTHOR

James S. Walker

Professor
University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire/Department of Mathematics

I received my doctorate from the University of Illinois at Chicago, in 1982. I have been a professor of Mathematics at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire since 1982. My publications include papers on Fourier analysis, wavelet analysis, complex variables, and math & music. I am the author of six books on Fourier analysis, FFTs, wavelet analysis, math & music.

Subjects: Mathematics

Biography

I received my doctorate from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 1982.  My advisor was Louis L. Pennisi.  My thesis was on Operator Theory in Hilbert Space.

Since 1982 I have been teaching in the Mathematics Department at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire.  I am now a full professor in that department.  I have taught a variety of courses over the years, ranging from college algebra, liberal arts math, calculus, linear algebra, Fourier analysis, Fourier optics, digital signal processing, image processing, and mathematics & music.

I have published 19 papers on topics in Fourier analysis, wavelet analysis, logic, image compression, image denoising, and mathematics & music.  

I have published six books, they are the following:

1. Fourier Analysis, 1988, Oxford University Press.

2. Fast Fourier Transforms (1st edition), 1991, CRC Press.

3. Fast Fourier Transforms (2nd edition), 1996, CRC Press.

4. A Primer on Wavelets and their Scientific Applications (1st
edition), 1999, CRC Press.

5. A Primer on Wavelets and their Scientific Applications (2nd edition), 2008, CRC Press.

6. Mathematics and Music: Composition, Perception, and Performance, co-author Gary W. Don, 2013, CRC Press.

Education

    Doctor of Arts, University of Illinois at Chicago, 1982

Areas of Research / Professional Expertise

    Applied Harmonic Analysis: emphasizing applications in audio processing, image processing, and music.

Personal Interests

    I enjoy spending time with my family, learning about music, and attempting to learn Mandarin Chinese.

Websites

Books

Featured Title
Featured Title - Mathematics and Music: Composition, Perception - 1st Edition book cover
Primer on Wavelets & Their Scientific Appl. 2 Ed - 1st Edition book cover
Fast Fourier Transforms 2nd Ed - 1st Edition book cover

Photos

Videos

Demonstration of how harmonics create a musical note

Published: May 29, 2013

Spectrogram illustrating how pure tones (harmonics) combine to create an instrumental tone (a trumpet tone). This is one of the most important facts in musical science, forming the basis for much of musical harmony. More details can be found in my CRC book, Mathematics and Music: Composition, Perception, and Performance.
Ascending scale of Shepard tones

Published: May 29, 2013

A spectrogram of an ascending scale of Shepard tones. These tones can be used to create illusions of endlessly rising tones, which in reality stay always within one octave. This is described in detail in my book, Mathematics and Music: Composition, Perception, and Performance.