Editing Binary symmetric channel (section)

== Applications ==
The binary symmetric channel can model a [[disk drive]] used for memory storage: the channel input represents a bit being written to the disk and the output corresponds to the bit later being read. Error could arise from the magnetization flipping, background noise or the writing head making an error. Other objects which the binary symmetric channel can model include a telephone or radio communication line or [[cell division]], from which the daughter cells contain [[DNA]] information from their parent cell.{{sfnp|MacKay|2003|p=3–4}}

This channel is often used by theorists because it is one of the simplest [[Signal noise|noisy]] channels to analyze. Many problems in [[communication theory]] can be [[Reduction (complexity)|reduced]] to a BSC. Conversely, being able to transmit effectively over the BSC can give rise to solutions for more complicated channels.