Posted: August 31st, 2008, 12:04pm CEST
All Your Unix Questions—Answered!
Mastering Unix is your source for everything you need to know about today’s most influential operating system. Inside, two Unix experts provide essential information on a wide range of Unix flavors, concentrating on Linux, FreeBSD, and Solaris8. Whether you’re just getting started with Unix or want a resource to help you handle system administration’s toughest chores, this example-filled book will answer all your questions and promote the skills you need to succeed. Coverage includes:
- Using the Unix shell
- Using X-Windows
- Configuring and using remote services
- Connecting to the Internet
- Creating user accounts
- Creating user groups
- Designing and building a network
- Using Unix utilities
- Programming the shell
- Setting up and administering a mail server
- Setting up and administering a news server
- Setting up and administering a Web server
- Implementing effective security practices
About the Author
Kate Wrightson and Joe Merlino are freelance technical writers, and authors of several other books about Linux and Unix. They live in Athens, Georgia, with their two dogs.
Posted: August 31st, 2008, 12:02pm CEST
If you have spent much time developing Web apps over the past couple of years, you’ve probably heard the term social network so many times that you hear it ringing in your ears while you sleep. (Talk about nightmares.) Until Facebook released its platform, one could understand the nightmares, because social networking seemed far more important to teenage girls on MySpace than to serious Web developers. However, when the Facebook Platform was announced by Facebook, social networking suddenly became a buzzword worth dreaming about for the Web development community. A whole new breed of Web application was born — a social network–enabled application.
If you are interested in developing a Web application that taps into the social networking heart of Facebook, you’ve found the right book.
Posted: August 31st, 2008, 11:59am CEST
Here's an even better way to get your BlackBerry fix
Admit it. You're addicted to your BlackBerry. That's okay. Most usersare, and this book is just going to make it worse. Now you'll discover how to use your BlackBerry to retrieve documents, weatherforecasts, and Web infor-mation; use it as a wordprocessor or drawing tool; even control yourcomputer over a network with it. And we haven't even gotten to theway-out stuff.
Pick a few of these hacks
- Play games with BlackBerry
- Search the Web
- Connect to your PC wirelessly
- Use BlackBerry as a USB thumb drive
- Install custom ringtones
- Supersize security
- Draw sketches on your screen
- Play your BlackBerry like a piano
. . . and more!
Tweaks, tricks, and add-on apps to customize your BlackBerry—plus Java code for even cooler hacks
Companion Web site
At wiley.com/go/extremetech you'll find source code, project materials, and more information
About the Author
Glenn Bachmann is president and founder of Bachmann Software, a leading provider of mobile and wireless software products and services. His company's crack software developers help design, program, and complete critical mobile computing solutions that enable their clients to remain highly competitive. Glenn is coauthor of Professional Palm OS Programming, also published by Wiley.
Posted: August 31st, 2008, 11:57am CEST
The Internet Encyclopedia is the first comprehensive examination of the core topics in the Internet field. The Internet Encyclopedia, a three-volume reference work with 205 chapters and more than 2,600 pages, provides comprehensive coverage of the Internet as a business tool, IT platform, and communications and commerce medium. The audience includes the libraries of two-year and four-year colleges and universities with MIS, IT, IS, data processing, computer science, and business departments; public and private libraries; and corporate libraries throughout the world. It is the only comprehensive source for reference material for educators and practitioners in the Internet field.
Education, libraries, health, medical, biotechnology, military, law enforcement, accounting, law, justice, manufacturing, financial services, insurance, communications, transportation, aerospace, energy, and utilities are among the fields and industries expected to become increasingly dependent upon the Internet andWeb technologies. Companies in these areas are actively researching the many issues surrounding the design, utilization, and implementation of these technologies.
Posted: August 31st, 2008, 11:53am CEST
Build 10 ready-to-use VoiceXML applications!
Following an introduction to VoiceXML and a review of how to set up your work environment, Mark Miller guides you through the steps to building ten complete programs that utilize VoiceXML and related technologies to create fully functional solutions. Each project begins with a clear problem statement, a walk-through of the solution that you’ll build, and a list of the tools and VoiceXML elements you’ll use to complete the project. Throughout the projects, Miller shares tips and suggestions for working hands-on with the project. Actual telephone numbers are provided that allow you to access real data to test your results.
The ten example projects are:
- Basic VoiceXML application template
- Linking to multiple resources
- Dynamically outputting contact information, transferring calls, and storing voice messages
- User authentication through voice recognition
- Combining projects 1 through 4 to build a more complex system
- Voice-controlled telephone dialer
- Voice report recorder
- Quiz and survey generator
- Voice interface for a calendar of events
- Voice-enabled FAQ engine
The companion Web site includes:
- All source code from the book
- Extensive documentation of the VoiceXML elements and attributes
- A newsgroup for continued discussion of each project
About the Author
MARK MILLER is a corporate trainer and consultant. He has taught XML, Perl, Database Connectivity, CGI Scripting, Photoshop, HTML, and XML with Java at Autodesk, Hewlett-Packard, and SGI. His previous projects include national speaking engagements on bilingual Web sites, building a ticketing and theater review service, and creating an e-commerce solution.
Posted: August 31st, 2008, 11:45am CEST
Packed with useful tips, techniques, and code examples
Build quality Web pages with XHTML and add some pizzazz with CSS
You don't have to be a master programmer to build great Web pages! This book shows you what HTML is about and how to use XHTML to format great-looking pages. Then you'll see how CSS helps you manipulate colors, fonts, and more. You can even add scripting languages and build interactive pages — here's how!
Discover how to:
-
Plan your Web site to prevent problems
-
Use the proper syntax for HTML and XHTML
-
Build a company Web site
-
Upload and publish Web pages
-
Integrate scripts with XHTML
-
Test and debug your Web pages
About the Author
Ed Tittel is a full-time independent writer, trainer, and consultant who works out of his home near beautiful Austin, Texas. Ed has been writing for the trade press since 1986 and has worked on more than 140 books. In addition to this title, Ed has worked on more than 35 books for Wiley, including
Windows Server 2008 For Dummies, XML For Dummies, and
Networking with NetWare For Dummies.
Ed is a Contributing Editor at Tomshardware.com, writes for half-a-dozen different TechTarget.com Web sites, including WhatIs.com, SearchNetworking. com, and SearchWindows.com, and also writes occasionally for other Web sites and magazines. When he’s not busy doing all that work stuff, Ed likes to travel, shoot pool, spend time with his family (especially taking walks with young Gregory), and turn the tables on his Mom, who now makes her home with the rest of the Texas Tittels.
Jeff Noble runs a small Web design and multimedia company called Conquest Media (www.conquestmedia.com) in Austin, Texas. Jeff has been working on, in, and around the Web for nearly 10 years, and he specializes in designing and creating unique, easy to use, functional Web sites. When he’s away from his computer, Jeff is often far from the madding crowd, choosing instead to hike and camp in wild places as far away from a wall socket as he can get.
Posted: August 31st, 2008, 11:45am CEST
Create high-quality animations at little to no cost!
The fun and easy way® to film in a virtual world and get your movie noticed
Want to master Machinima? This friendly, hands-on guide is packed with savvy techniques for movie-making in Machinima's most popular creation engines — from The Sims 2 to World of Warcraft® to Moviestorm. You get tips on scriptwriting, directing, cinematography, editing, set design, sound recording, distribution — everything you need to become a successful Machinima filmmaker!
About the Author
Hugh Hancock, one of the two people who coined the word Machinima in 1999, has worked in the medium for more than a decade running Strange Company (www.Strangecompany.org), the world's oldest professional Machinima production company. He was lectured on Machinima on three continents, had his work shown on five (we're still waiting or Antarctica), had his films featured in Entertainment Weekly, on Suicide Girls (www.suicidegirls.com) and in The New York Times, and produced machinima films for the BBC, BAFTA, Electronic Arts, and many others. In 2007, he was awarded the first Award for Outstanding Contribution to Machinima by the Online Machinima Film Festival. Most recently, he completed work on BloodSpell (www.bloodspell.com), Strange Company's first feature film, and is currently working on Strange Company's next major project. He lives in Edinburgh and is intermittently single.
Johnnie Ingram is the former site editor of Machinima.com and holds degrees in both drama and computer science. He lives with his computers in a converted church hall in Scotland. He has previously worked as a theater director, an online journalist, and a drama teacher, as well as once dressing up as a priest in order to sell washing powder. He was first assistant director for BloodSpell. He is now a self-employed Web designer and Strange Company's Head of Beverage Acquisition and Caffeine Development. He is married with one cat.
Posted: August 31st, 2008, 11:41am CEST
Delivers the goods on the latest Adobe product for graphics users of all levels. Teaches not just which InDesign command does what but also why it works and when to use it. Includes short, real-world projects that teach just enough information that you’ll be able to learn it and absorb it. Plus, provides details for those converting their layouts from Quark or PageMaker2, and includes a color insert with examples of good layout choices, InDesign’s Swatches palette, and more.
Add your creativity to the exceptional production capabilities of Adobe InDesign CS and you’ll get amazing results. Follow real-world examples to get started laying out professional-quality pages and printing with precision. Take advantage of the built-in support for publishing PDFs as eBooks, on the Web, and more. Learn all the latest features, including tables of contents, tables that flow from page to page, transparency, drag-and-drop color, the powerful Swatches palette, and the revival of the built-in word processor Story Editor.
- Convert Quark, PageMaker, and other existing documents
- Customize your interface for efficient production
- Set type with greater precision using OpenType support
- Create print and PDF workflow output to the latest standards
- Properly plan for page size, column width, and paragraph design
- Work with color palettes, overprinting, spot color, duotones, CMYK, and much more
- Import documents, tables, graphics--virtually anything you can see on a screen, with full transparency available!
- Integrate tightly with other Adobe products
- Use with Mac OS X and Windows XP
- Prepare your documents with preflighting, separation previews, color paper, custom preview backgrounds, and more
- Learn printing solutions from practical examples
About the author: David Bergsland has been a designer and art director for the past 35 years, and has taught digital publishing since 1991. He has written six books on graphics topics.
About the Author
David Bergsland (Albuquerque, NM) has been a designer and art director for the past 35 years. He’s been a type designer since 1983; and has been teaching professional digital publishing in the classroom and through web-based distance learning programs since 1991. He’s written six book on graphics topics including Publishing with InDesign (OnWord Press, 2000); Publishing with Photoshop (OnWord Press, 2001) and Publishing with Illustrator and FreeHand (OnWord Press, 2001). His design firm, Bergsland Design, handles projects large and small for a wide variety of design needs and clients.
Posted: August 31st, 2008, 11:41am CEST
Technological advances and changes in the global economy are motivating and enabling an increasing geographic distribution of work. Today, the geographic distance between an average pair of workers is increasing in industries ranging from banking, to wine production, to clothing design. According to Bureau of Labor surveys of workers, more people worked for an employer with more than one location in 1998 (61.8 percent) than in 1979 (52.3 percent). Many workers today communicate regularly with coworkers at a distance; some monitor and manipulate tools and objects at a distance. Work teams are spread across different cities or countries. For example, research and development laboratories are increasingly deploying labs in countries other than the home of their headquarters (Brockhoff 1998), and software development teams increasingly are composed of programmers from around the globe (Carmel 1999). Joint ventures and multiorganizational projects are pervasive and entail work in many places. Complex work arrangements involving long-distance commuting and multiple employers are becoming commonplace. Some spectacular examples—ranging from the Hudson’s Bay Company’s fur trading empire in the seventeenth century to the recent development of the Linux computer operating system—suggest that distributed work arrangements can be innovative, flexible, and highly successful.
Nonetheless, geographically distributed work has always presented challenges to the conduct of work and personal life. Distributed work can change the way people communicate, how they organize themselves and their work, and the manner in which they live. Research from over thirty years ago to the present suggests that physical proximity can have powerful and positive effects in everyday life as well as in science, government, and business (Sykes, Larntz, and Fox 1976). Moreover, proximity has proven to be hard to simulate through modern technologies such as videoconferencing.
Posted: August 31st, 2008, 11:41am CEST
Convenient one-stop view of wireless networking including cellular networks, WiFi and WiMax, ad hoc networks, sensor networks, mesh networking, and the full range of options in between.
Over the past decade, the world has witnessed an explosion in the development and deployment of new wireless network technologies. From cellular mobile telephony to the ubiquitous WiFi networks in coffee-shops and airports, to the emerging WiMAX wireless broadband access networks, the menu of wireless access systems has become so comprehensive that wireline access to user devices may soon become a relic of the past. Wireless Networking serves as a one-stop view of cellular, WiFi, and WiMAX networks, as well as the emerging wireless ad hoc and sensor networks. Rather than provide descriptive accounts of these technologies and standards, the book emphasizes conceptual perspectives on the modeling, analysis, design and optimization of such networks. Furthermore, the authors present wireless networking within the unifying framework of resource allocation, using simple abstractions of the underlying physical wireless communication. In short, Wireless Networking is an in-depth, exhaustive, and invaluable asset to anyone working in this rapidly evolving field.
*Goes beyond descriptive and qualitative treatments, by presenting the foundations underlying the various wireless networking technologies
*Provides abstractions, models and analyses of established and emerging wireless networks, thereby supplying the reader with a conceptual and quantitative treatment, thus ensuring longevity of the learning from this material
*Aids comprehension by including over 120 figures, four appendices on the mathematics of the various models, several inline exercises, and extensive problem sets at the end of each chapter
About the Author
Anurag Kumar, Ph.D., is professor and chairman in the Department of Electrical Communication Engineering in the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore. Previously, he was with Bell Laboratories. Professor Kumar was also the coordinator at IISc of the Education and Research Network Project (ERNET), India's first wide-area packet network.
D. Manjunath, Ph.D., is associate professor in the Department of Electrical Engineering of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Bombay. He previously served on the faculty at IIT, Kanpur.
Joy Kuri, Ph.D., is assistant professor at the Center for Electronics Design and Technology at the Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore.
Posted: August 31st, 2008, 11:41am CEST
FastSOA is a great book with lots of meat on the bones and practical real-world XML and SOA knowledge. Much of what passes for SOA right now is simply block diagrams and vague exhortations to get the architecture right. Frank Cohen gives a practical guide to what software developers, architects, and CIOs have to do to deliver highly scalable, well performing, and easy to maintain services. --Jeff Barr, Amazon.com, Web Services Evangelist
Without the right controls to govern SOA development, the right set of tools to build SOA, and the right support of exciting new protocols and patterns, your SOA efforts can result in software that delivers only 1.5 transactions per second (TPS) on expensive modern servers. This is a disaster enterprises, organizations, or institutions avoid by using Frank Cohen's FastSOA patterns, test methodology, and architecture.
In FastSOA you will learn how to apply native XML technology to SOA for:
* Data mediation using mid-tier data and service caching to handle the explosion of new schemas and new devices in an ever changing environment
* Data aggregation in the SOA middle-tier for off-line browsing, service acceleration through mid-tier caching and transformation, and bandwidth-needs reduction
* Increased service and application scalability and performance
* Successful evaluations of application server, XML parser, relational and native XML database, Enterprise Service Bus, Business Integration server, workflow server, and Web Service tools for performance, scalability, and developer productivity
* Improved service governance through XML persistence in SOA registries and repositories
* Composite data services (CDS) to provide maximum reuse of software components and data, accelerate performance, and reduce development time and maintenance in your SOA
About the author
Frank Cohen is the "go to" guy when enterprises need to build, test, and solve performance and scalability problems in complex interoperating information systems. Frank's articles appear on IBM developerWorks, and he is author of Java Testing and Design: From Unit Tests to Automated Web Tests. He is the principal maintainer of the popular TestMaker open-source test utility and framework, and Director of Solutions Engineering at Raining Data, publisher of the TigerLogic XQuery engine and native XML database.
Posted: August 31st, 2008, 11:41am CEST
Introductory real analysis can be an exciting course; it is the gateway to an impressive panorama of higher mathematics. But for all too many students, the excitement takes the form of anxiety or even terror; they are overwhelmed. For many, their study of mathematics ends one course sooner than they expected, and for many others, the doorways that should have been opened now seem rigidly barred. It shouldn’t have to be that way, and this book is offered as a remedy.
GOALS FOR INTRODUCTORY ANALYSIS
The goals of first courses in real analysis are often too ambitious. Students are expected to solidify their understanding of calculus, adopt an abstract point of view that generalizes most of the concepts, recognize how explicit examples fit into the general theory and determine whether they satisfy appropriate hypotheses, and not only learn definitions, theorems, and proofs but also learn how to construct valid proofs and relevant examples to demonstrate the need for the hypotheses. Abstract properties such as countability, compactness and connectedness must be mastered.
Posted: August 30th, 2008, 4:59pm CEST
This is the definitive reference for the latest generation of the enormously popular and influential SPARC microprocessors — the 64-bit SPARC-V9 — which is now being used by a variety of computer system vendors and is destined to set the standard for high performance capacity into the next century. Describes the architecture and instruction set of the 64-bit SPARC-V9 — a RISC-style processor architecture that supports a linear address space accessed by 64-bit addresses, fault-tolerance, object-oriented software, lightweight threads, and superscalar and multiprocessor implementations. MARKETS: For implementors of the SPARC architecture, microprocessor designers, hardware engineers, developers of SPARC-V9 system software, software engineers who write SPARC-V9 software in assembly language; and for students of computer architecture.
Posted: August 30th, 2008, 4:59pm CEST
This is the decade of redesigning enterprise processes for e-business ! Creating a process advantage has always been a formidable strategic weapon for business enterprises, but the internet and e-business have brought new urgency to it. A different form of business process redesign or reengineering (BPR) has been ignited by e-business to create value in new and exciting ways.
I cannot imagine any career in line management that will not require basic skills in BPR for e-business. Whether you are in a start-up that is trying to design new marketing processes around the internet, or in a large traditional brick-and-mortar enterprise that is redoing its supply chain for e-business, or in a Big 5 consulting company that has an electronic commerce practice, or a non-profit that is restructuring web-based customer service, or whether you work in Stockholm or Singapore -- you will definitely need skills in BPR for e-business. The career advancement opportunities that it opens are endless.
In such an environment, business professionals need to learn how to describe, analyze, diagnose, and redesign a business process through robust BPR methodologies and tools. In an era of e-business, redesigning a business process involves more than restructuring the workflow. It also involves changing the information flows around the business process, and changing the knowledge management capabilities of the process by harnessing the collective intellectual assets around it. This book is targeted to the practicing or future business professional/manager who would like to learn how to carry this out in e-business settings.
About the Author
Omar A. El Sawy is Professor of Information Systems at the Marshall School of Business, University of Southern California. His Ph.D. is from Stanford Business School.
Posted: August 30th, 2008, 4:59pm CEST
This book describes a powerful language for multidimensional declarative programming called Lucid. Lucid has evolved considerably in the past ten years. The main catalyst for this metamorphosis was the discovery that Lucid is based on intensional logic, one commonly used in studying natural languages. Intensionality, and more specifically indexicality, has enabled Lucid to implicitly express multidimensional objects that change, a fundamental capability with several consequences which are explored in this book. The author covers a broad range of topics, from foundations to applications, and from implementations to implications. The role of intensional logic in Lucid as well as its consequences for programming in general is discussed. The syntax and mathematical semantics of the language are given and its ability to be used as a formal system for transformation and verification is presented. The use of Lucid in both multidimensional applications programming and software systems construction (such as a parallel programming system and a visual programming system) is described. A novel model of multidimensional computation--education--is described along with its serendipitous practical benefits for harnessing parallelism and tolerating faults. As the only volume that reflects the advances over the past decade, this work will be of great interest to researchers and advanced students involved with declarative language systems and programming.
About the Author
Edward A. Ashcroft and Anthony A. Faustini are both at Arizona State University. Rangaswamy Jagannathan is at SRI International. William W. Wadge is in the Department of Computer Science, University of Victoria.
Posted: August 30th, 2008, 4:58pm CEST
The past four years have seen a phenomenal rise in interest in the Internet. Tens of millions of users regularly access this network to carry out operations such as browsing through electronic newspapers, downloading bibliographies, participating in news groups and emailing friends and colleagues. The number of applications that are hosted within the Internet has also grown; however, there are major problems in developing such applications:
• The first problem is security. There are still many problems concerned with ensuring that unauthorized access is prevented. This is becoming one of the major drag factors why commercial applications, particularly those involving the direct transfer of funds across communication lines, have been relatively slow in developing as compared with academic applications.
• The lack of a specific programming language for Internet applications. Currently applications are written in a wide variety of languages including C, Pascal and TCL/TK which have to access fairly low-level facilities such as protocol handlers.
• It is very difficult to build interaction into an Internet application. Most of the applications that have been developed tend to give the impression of being interactive. However, what they usually involve is just the user moving through a series of text and visual images following pointers to other sections of text and visual images. The most one often gets with the vast majority of Internet applications is some small amount of interactivity, for example an application asking the user for an identity and a password and checking what has been typed against some stored data which describes the user.
• The majority of interactive applications are non-portable: they tend to be firmly anchored within one computer architecture and operating system by virtue of the fact, for example, that they tend to use run-time facilities provided by one specific operating system.
Posted: August 30th, 2008, 4:58pm CEST
With the second edition of Absolute Java, best-selling author Walt Savitch offers a comprehensive introduction of the java programming language. This book gives programmers the tools to master the Java language. He takes full advantage of the new Java 5.0 features and incorporates the new Scanner class. There is comprehensive coverage of generic types, including how to define classes with type parameters, collection classes done as generic classes, and linked lists done with type parameters.
Posted: August 30th, 2008, 4:58pm CEST
Get the results you want from your Sony A700
With its built-in Super Steady Shot vibration reduction, 12.2 megapixel resolution, and amazingly fast focusing capability, the Sony A700 is a top-drawer camera. Make the most of it with this information-packed guide. You'll learn to use all the controls, refresh your knowledge of photography basics, explore the effects of various lenses, and get practical advice for capturing the shot you want in all sorts of situations. This is a working guide. Take it everywhere you take your A700.
-
Get the feel of your Sony A700 right away with the Quick Tour
-
Examine the effects of natural and artificial light, flash, reflectors, diffusers, and more
-
Compare prime, zoom, normal, wide, and telephoto lenses, with special emphasis on Sony lenses
-
Apply professional tips for shooting a wide variety of subjects
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View, download, and print your photos
About the Author
Alan Hess is a professional freelance photographer. He specializes in concert and event photography, but has also done commercial photography for everything from a guitar manufacturer's brochure to a women's workout wear catalog. Alan is also a key contributor to the Lexar Pro Photography Web site.
Posted: August 29th, 2008, 1:27pm CEST
Starting a new business venture is like going into a tropical forest on a treasure hunt. There are rewards to be won, in both material wealth and in personal satisfaction, but there are dangers lurking and you can easily lose your way.
This book is written not only to help you convince your financial backers that you will succeed and come back with a bag of gold, but also to help you write your own guidebook for the journey. The author has himself spent 40 years on foot among the trees, both in small business on his own account and as a guide and adviser to others.
Before beginning work on your business plan or your cash flow forecast, you would do well to ask yourself two vital questions.
Posted: August 29th, 2008, 1:25pm CEST
Distributed systems are fast becoming the norm in computer science. Formal mathematical models and theories of distributed behavior are needed in order to understand them. This book proposes a distributed pi-calculus called Dpi, for describing the behavior of mobile agents in a distributed world. It is based on an existing formal language, the pi-calculus, to which it adds a network layer and a primitive migration construct. A mathematical theory of the behavior of these distributed systems is developed, in which the presence of types plays a major role. It is also shown how in principle this theory can be used to develop verification techniques for guaranteeing the behavior of distributed agents. The text is accessible to computer scientists with a minimal background in discrete mathematics. It contains an elementary account of the pi-calculus, and the associated theory of bisimulations. It also develops the type theory required by Dpi from first principles.
This book proposes a formal mathematical language, a distributed pi-calculus called Dpi, for describing, at varying levels of abstraction, the behaviour of mobile agents in a distributed world. It is based on an existing formal language, the pi-calculus, to which it adds a network layer and a primitive migration construct.
About the Author
Matthew Hennessy is a Professor of Computer Science at the Department of Informatics, University of Sussex. This is his 3rd book.
Posted: August 29th, 2008, 1:25pm CEST
There are many algorithm texts that provide lots of well-polished code and proofs of correctness. This book is not one of them. Instead, this book presents insights, notations, and analogies to help the novice describe and think about algorithms like an expert. By looking at both the big picture and easy step-by-step methods for developing algorithms, the author helps students avoid the common pitfalls. He stresses paradigms such as loop invariants and recursion to unify a huge range of algorithms into a few meta-algorithms. Part of the goal is to teach the students to think abstractly. Without getting bogged with formal proofs, the book fosters a deeper understanding of how and why each algorithm works. These insights are presented in a slow and clear manner accessible to second- or third-year students of computer science, preparing them to find their own innovative ways to solve problems.
Rather than provide lots of well-polished code and proofs of correctness, this book presents insights, notations, and analogies to help the novice describe and think about algorithms like an expert. It stresses paradigms such as loop invariants and recursion to unify a huge range of algorithms into a few meta-algorithms.
About the Author
Jeff Edmonds received his Ph.D. in 1992 at University of Toronto in theoretical computer science. His thesis proved that certain computation problems require a given amount of time and space. He did his postdoctorate work at the ICSI in Berkeley on secure multi-media data transmission and in 1995 became an Associate Professor in the Department of Computer Science at York University, Canada. He has taught their algorithms course thirteen times to date. He has worked extensively at IIT Mumbai, India, and University of California San Diego. He is well published in the top theoretical computer science journals in topics including complexity theory, scheduling, proof systems, probability theory, combinatorics, and, of course, algorithms.
Posted: August 29th, 2008, 1:24pm CEST
"This is an introductory book on the subject of partial differential equations which is suitable for a large variety of basic courses on this topic. In particular, it can be used as a textbook or self-study book for large classes of readers with interests in mathematics, engineering, and related fields. Its usefulness stems from its clarity, balance and conciseness, achieved without compromising the mathematical rigor. One particularly attractive feature is the way in which the authors managed to emphasize the relevance of the theoretical tools in connection with practical applications."
Mathematical Reviews
A complete introduction to partial differential equations, this textbook provides a rigorous yet accessible guide to students in mathematics, physics and engineering. The presentation is lively and up to date, paying particular emphasis to developing an appreciation of underlying mathematical theory. Beginning with basic definitions, properties and derivations of some basic equations of mathematical physics from basic principles, the book studies first order equations, classification of second order equations, and the one-dimensional wave equation. Two chapters are devoted to the separation of variables, whilst others concentrate on a wide range of topics including elliptic theory, Green's functions, variational and numerical methods. A rich collection of worked examples and exercises accompany the text, along with a large number of illustrations and graphs to provide insight into the numerical examples.
Posted: August 29th, 2008, 1:23pm CEST
Buy low, sell high, and join the eBay community
Economy shopper or entrepreneur — discover the secrets to eBay success!
The bucks start here! Whether you're saving them or earning them, eBay's the place, and Marsha Collier is the person to show you how. Get great safe-shopping secrets, find out how to sell what people are buying, ship stuff the right way, bag auction bargains, deal with problem transactions like a pro, and more.
Discover how to
- Bid to win your first auction
- Unearth unmatched bargains
- Earn positive feedback points
- Turn your junk into cash as an eBay seller
- Enhance listings with photos
About the Author
Marsha Collier spends a good deal of time on eBay. She loves buying and selling (she’s a PowerSeller with her own eBay store) as well as meeting eBay users from around the world. As columnist, author of three best-selling books on eBay, and guest lecturer at eBay University, she shares her knowledge of eBay with millions of online sellers. Thousands of eBay fans also read her monthly newsletter,
Cool eBay Tools, to keep up with the changes on the site.
eBay For Dummies is published in special versions for the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, and Australia. Currently, she has 15 books in print on her favorite subject — eBay.
Out of college, Marsha worked in Fashion Advertising for the
Miami Herald and then as Special Projects Manager for the
Los Angeles Daily News. In 1984, she founded a home-based advertising and marketing business. Her successful business, the Collier Company, Inc., was featured by
Entrepreneur magazine in 1985 (today she’s Entrepreneur.com’s eBay columnist). Marsha’s company later received the Small Business of the Year award from her California State Assemblyman and the Northridge Chamber of Commerce.
Most of all, Marsha loves a great deal — that’s what drew her to eBay in 1996, and that’s partially what keeps her busy on the site now. She buys everything from replacement toothbrush heads to parts for pool equipment to designer dresses. Marsha knows how to
work and profit from eBay, and in this book, she shares that knowledge with you.
Posted: August 29th, 2008, 1:20pm CEST
SERVER CONTROLS ARE AN INTEGRAL aspect of every ASP.NET application we build. They encapsulate browser appearance and server functionality in a reusable object. They can be used across multiple pages within a single ASP.NET application and across multiple ASP.NET applications. ASP.NET comes with a lot of prebuilt server controls. We have simple controls such as the label, and we have complex controls such as the GridView. We can also create our own server controls to meet a need not met by one of the existing controls by inheriting from the appropriate base class and overriding its methods as needed.
This model of using server controls to encapsulate browser appearance and server functionality has served our needs well since the inception of ASP.NET 1.0, but our server control needs are changing.
A new server control need that has recently surfaced is the ability to incorporate AJAX functionality directly into the server control.
Posted: August 29th, 2008, 1:20pm CEST
Model SQL Server Databases That Work Better, Do More, and Evolve More Smoothly
Effective data modeling is essential to ensuring that your databases will perform well, scale well, and evolve to meet changing requirements. However, if you’re modeling databases to run on Microsoft SQL Server 2008 or 2005, theoretical or platform-agnostic data modeling knowledge isn’t enough: models that don’t reflect SQL Server’s unique real-world strengths and weaknesses often lead to disastrous performance.
A Developer’s Guide to Data Modeling for SQL Server is a practical, SQL Server-specific guide to data modeling for every developer, architect, and administrator. This book offers you invaluable start-to-finish guidance for designing new databases, redesigning existing SQL Server data models, and migrating databases from other platforms.
You’ll begin with a concise, practical overview of the core data modeling techniques. Next, you’ll walk through requirements gathering and discover how to convert requirements into effective SQL Server logical models. Finally, you’ll systematically transform those logical models into physical models that make the most of SQL Server’s extended functionality. All of this book’s many examples are available for download from a companion Web site.
This book enables you to
- Understand your data model’s physical elements, from storage to referential integrity
- Provide programmability via stored procedures, user-defined functions, triggers, and .NET CLR integration
- Normalize data models, one step at a time
- Gather and interpret requirements more effectively
- Learn an effective methodology for creating logical models
- Overcome modeling problems related to entities, attribute, data types, storage overhead, performance, and relationships
- Create physical models—from establishing naming guidelines through implementing business rules and constraints
- Use SQL Server’s unique indexing capabilities, and overcome their limitations
- Create abstraction layers that enhance security, extensibility, and flexibility
About the Author
Eric Johnson (Microsoft SQL MVP)is the co-founder of Consortio Services and the primary database technologies consultant. His background in information technology is diverse, ranging from operating systems and hardware to specialized applications and development. He has even done his fair share of work on networks. Because IT is a way to support business processes, Eric has also acquired an MBA. All in all, he has ten years of experience with IT, much of it working with Microsoft SQL Server. Eric has managed and designed databases of all shapes and sizes. He has delivered numerous SQL Server training classes and Webcasts as well as presentations at national technology conferences. Most recently, he presented at TechMentor on SQL Server 2005 replication, reporting services, and integration services. In addition, he is active in the local SQL Server community, serving as the president of the Colorado Springs SQL Server Users Group. He is also the co-host of
CS Techcast, a weekly podcast for IT professionals at www.cstechcast.com. You can find Eric’s blog at www.consortioservices.com/blog.
Joshua Jones (MCTS, SQL Server 2005; MCITP, Database Administrator) is operating systems and database systems consultant with Consortio Services in Colorado Springs. There he provides training, administration, analysis, and design support for customers using SQL Server 2000 and 2005. In his seven years as an IT professional, he has worked in many areas of information technology, including Windows desktop support, Windows 2000 and 2003 server infrastructure design and support (AD, DNS, MS Exchange), telephony switch support, and network support. Josh has spoken at various PASS sponsored events about SQL Server topics such as 64-bit SQL Server implementation, reporting services administration, and performance tuning. He is also a co-host of
CS Techcast, a weekly podcast for IT professionals at www.cstechcast.com.
Posted: August 29th, 2008, 1:06pm CEST
The classical factory fades into history as production plants today develop into modern service centers. Problems in management arise for which many companies are not yet prepared: economic efficiency of modern added value is not a property of products alone but of the process. Decisive potential in business now is a question of process capability, rather than production capability. Process capability in business requires real-time systems for optimization. Business-IT needs to be developed from telecommunications and ERP to real-time services, which are not offered by the prevailing ERP systems.
Today, only modern Manufacturing Execution Systems (MES) offer real-time applications. They generate current as well as historic mappings of production facilities and thus they can be used as basis for optimizations. It is important to map the supply chain in real time. Increasing complexity in production requires an integrated view of the production and service facilities: detailed scheduling, status collection, quality, performance analysis, tracing of material and so on have to be recorded and displayed in an integrated way.
MES (Manufacturing Execution System) where developed in the mid-nineties. MESA (Manufacturing Execution System Association) standardized applications and appointed three application layers of production, as a principle. Further standardizations on this subject are already being developed, like ISA S95. Expectations regarding MES are high, related to TQM, SIX Sigma, production scheduling or optimized material movements.
This book describes the requirements for optimized Manufacturing Execution Systems. It gives an overview of the efficiency potentials and different applications of Manufacturing Execution Systems.
About the Author
Dr. Jürgen Kletti, born in 1948, studied Electrical Engineering at the University of Karlsruhe, specializing in Engineering IT. After graduation, he founded the company MPDV Mikrolab GmbH where he now acts as CEO and President. Since 1990 MPDV has mainly been dealing with software products and services for the manufacturing industry. MPDV’s main product is the software system HYDRA, which offers, besides the MES functions, numerous applications to increase efficiency.
Posted: August 29th, 2008, 1:06pm CEST
The design and control of autonomous intelligent mobile robotic systems operating in unstructured changing environments includes many objective difficulties. There are several studies about the ways in which, robots exhibiting some degree of autonomy, adapt themselves to fit in their environments. The application and use of bio-inspired and intelligent techniques such as reinforcement learning, artificial neural networks, evolutionary computation and so forth in the design and improvement of robot designs is an emergent research topic. Researchers have obtained robots that display an amazing slew of behaviours and perform a multitude of tasks. These include perception of environment, planning and navigation in rough terrain, pushing boxes, negotiating an obstacle course, etc.
This volume offers a wide spectrum of sample works developed in leading research throughout the world about evolutionary mobile robotics and demonstrates the success of the technique in evolving efficient and capable mobile robots.
Posted: August 29th, 2008, 1:06pm CEST
Agility and Execution – Organizational Success Through Flexible Business Processes
Only a company which is flexible, agile and responsive will be successful. The secret to success is agility, meaning the ability to quickly adapt company processes. Against this backdrop, IT is of particular importance as it is virtually the machine implementing company processes.
A variety of very different routes – much discussed in the IT world – lead to the goal of agility. The most radical of these is what is called extreme programming. The fathers of extreme programming assume that the user is not actually aware of what he really wants. There would be no sense in planning a solution, because the end user would not understand the plan anyway and, even if he did, he would permanently be making changes to it. This is why the ‘eXtreme’ programmers see more sense in working on solutions bit by bit and conferring with the end user in the same piecemeal way. This results in a test-driven, thoroughly experimental approach. However, one must concede that this approach does have agility, and it is this agility that one must try to carry over into other IT concepts. For one thing is clear: agility to IT generally means shortening introduction and adaptation cycles.
The concepts for the so-called Service-oriented Architectures (SOA) are taking the same – and in my opinion right – direction. Here, too, small functional building blocks are employed, which are represented by Services as standardized interfaces.
These can be flexibly assembled to form entire business processes of an organization. A Service-oriented Architecture starts with a company’s processes. As a consequence of service-orientation, new and particularly more flexible ways evolve to carry out the technical implementation of business process requirements in IT. In order to achieve this, business processes must be described formally in order to be understood by the service-oriented IT platforms.
Posted: August 29th, 2008, 1:05pm CEST
This book addresses the current challenges facing information management (IM) and presents practical solution propositions. It is divided into three parts. The first section describes six current trends and challenges to IM. The second section introduces a comprehensive model of integrated information management (IIM), which represents an answer to the previously described trends and challenges. The individual components of the model are introduced and explicated. Using six practical examples, the third section describes how selected concepts of IIM can be implemented. This book is built upon the fundamental premise of transferring successful management concepts from industrial production to IT management.
Primarily, this book addresses IT managers. Readers receive a practice-oriented overview of relevant topics and challenges confronting IM. At the same time this book presents results of real pilot projects, which were implemented at collaborating companies of the Competence Center for IIM at the University of St. Gallen.
Posted: August 29th, 2008, 1:05pm CEST
Computer and communication networks are among society's most important infrastructures. The internet, in particular, is a giant global network of networks with central control or administration. It is a paradigm of a complex system, where complexity may arise from different sources: topological structure, network evolution, connection and node diversity, and /or dynamical evolution. This is the first book entirely devoted to the new and emerging field of nonlinear dynamics of TCP/IP networks. It addresses both scientists and engineers working in the general field of communication networks.
Posted: August 28th, 2008, 5:59pm CEST
It is a great pleasure to introduce this inaugural edition of Systems Thinking: Coping with 21st Century Problems by John Boardman and Brian Sauser. In response to the increasing relevance of “systems thinking” to global challenges from terrorism to energy to clean water to healthcare, these authors provide a unique perspective on the word “system.” A perspective that causes us to rethink its meaning and rationale, and to reconnect, in a conscious and explicit manner, with the inherent opportunities and difficulties with a “systems approach.” This is increasingly necessary for us to address the seemingly intractable systems problems within our society.
The authors first provide the context to systems thinking from an engineering systems point of view, and then extrapolate their discussion to problems that are decidedly societal, where engineering and technology is just an element of an overarching solution. While the authors present pragmatic mechanisms to understand and address co-evolving systems problems and solutions, the primary contribution of this textbook is to initiate critical thinking within the reader while addressing such problems in an attempt to encourage “a systems response.” Within an environment where the treatment of subjects such as systems engineering and systems architecting and systems thinking take on a decidedly linear approach, this is a most nonlinear treatment of the subject.
This textbook is ideally suited for business, organizational, and technical leaders as well as political and social leaders. It can serve as a primary text for courses on systems thinking and critical thinking, and as a complementary text for courses on systems engineering and systems architecting. The material in this text represents significant research conducted by the authors in the application of systems engineering and systems thinking principles to engineering systems and enterprise systems, and has benefited from student feedback from multiple courses taught on related subjects by both Boardman and Sauser.
Posted: August 28th, 2008, 5:58pm CEST
The present book provides an effective direct method of the numerical solution of singular integral equations for both one and two (or more) dimensions and includes multiple integrals, especiaIly as applied to separated and vortex flows in aerodynamics. The authors of the book are a professional mathematician (Ivan Lifanov) and a numerical experimentalist in aerodynamics (Sergei Belotserkovsky) who have coIlaborated for many years. The book* represents a notable milestone in the brilliant 2SD-year history of the theory of functions of a complex variable and provides a strong impetus for future development of singular integral equations in aerodynamics.
Posted: August 28th, 2008, 8:01am CEST
This state-of-the-art survey, reflecting on the teaching of programming, has been written by a group of primarily Scandinavian researchers and educators with special interest and experience in the subject of programming. The 14 chapters - contributed by 24 authors - present practical experience gathered in the process of teaching programming and associated with computing education research work. Special emphasis is placed on practical advice and concrete suggestions.
The authors are all members of the Scandinavian Pedagogy of Programming Network (SPoP), and bring together a diverse body of experiences from the Nordic countries. The 14 chapters of the book have been carefully written and edited to present 4 coherent units on issues in introductory programming courses, object-oriented programming, teaching software engineering issues, and assessment. Each of these individual parts has its own detailed introduction.
The topics addressed span a wide range of problems and solutions associated with the teaching of programming such as introductory programming courses, exposition of the programming process, apprentice-based learning, functional programming first, problem-based learning, the use of on-line tutorials, object-oriented programming and Java, the BlueJ environment to introduce programming, model-driven programming as opposed to the prevailing language-driven approach, teaching software engineering, testing, extreme programming, frameworks, feedback and assessment, active learning, technology-based individual feedback, and mini project programming exams.
Posted: August 28th, 2008, 7:55am CEST
Capitalize on the Vast Potential of Alternative Energy Sources Such as Fuel Cells and Biofuels
Synthetic Fuels Handbook is a comprehensive guide to the benefits and trade-offs of numerous alternative fuels, presenting expert analyses of the different properties, processes, and performance characteristics of each fuel. It discusses the concept systems and technology involved in the production of fuels on both industrial and individual scales.
Written by internationally renowned fuels expert James G. Speight, this vital resource describes the production and properties of fuels from natural gas and natural gas hydrates…tar sand bitumen…coal…oil shale…synthesis gas…crops…wood sources…biomass…industrial and domestic waste…landfill gas...and much more. Using both U.S. and SI units, Synthetic Fuels Handbook features:
- Information on conventional and nonconventional fuel sources
- Discussion of the production of alternative fuels on both industrial and individual scales
- Analyses of properties and uses of gaseous, liquid, and solid fuels from different sources
- Comparison of properties of alternative fuels with petroleum-based fuels
Discover All the Benefits and Trade-Offs of Synthetic Fuels
• Fuel sources: conventional and nonconventional • Natural gas and natural gas hydrates • Petroleum and heavy oil • Tar sand bitumen • Coal • Oil shale • Synthesis gas • Crops • Wood sources • Biomass • Industrial and domestic waste • Landfill gas • Comparison of the properties and uses of gaseous fuels from different sources • Comparison of the properties and uses of liquid fuels from different sources • Comparison of the properties and uses of solid fuels from different sources
About the Author
James G. Speight, Ph.D., D.Sc., is a fuels consultant and visiting professor at both the University of Utah and the University of Trinidad and Tobago. He is recognized internationally as an expert in the characterization, properties, and processing of conventional and synthetic fuels. Dr. Speight is the author, editor, or compiler of more than 30 books related to fossil fuel processing and environmental issues, including Lange's Handbook of Chemistry, Sixteenth Edition; Chemical Process and Design Handbook; and Perry's Standard Tables and Formulas for Chemical Engineers, all available from McGraw-Hill.
Posted: August 28th, 2008, 7:53am CEST
Student tested and approved!
If you suffer from math anxiety, then sign up for private tutoring with Bob Miller!
Do theorems, derivatives, and integrals leave your head spinning?
If so, you are like hundreds of thousands of other students who face math-especially, calculus-with fear.
Luckily, there is a cure: Bob Miller's Clueless series!
Like the teacher you always wished you had (but never thought existed), Bob Miller brings knowledge, empathy, and fun to the often-troubling subject of calculus. He breaks down the learning process in an easy, non-technical way and builds it up again using his own unique methods.
Meant to bridge the gulf between the student, the textbook, and the teacher, High School Calculus for the Clueless is packed with all the latest information you need to conquer calculus, including:
- step-by-step explanations of limits, derivatives, and integrals
- easy-to-grasp methods for tough topics such as asymptotes and infinite series
- everything you need to know about logarithms
- sure-fire techniques for solving calculus word problems
"I am always delighted when a student tells me that he or she hated math...but taking a class with me has made math understandable...even enjoyable." Now it's your turn. Sharpen your #2 pencils, and let Bob Miller show you how to never be clueless again!
About the Author
Bob Miller was a lecturer in mathematics at City College of New York for more than 30 years. He has also taught at Westfield State College and Rutgers. His principal goal is to make the study of mathematics both easier and more enjoyable for students.
Posted: August 28th, 2008, 7:50am CEST
Learn advanced optical design techniques from the field's most respected guide
Honed for more than 20 years in an SPIE professional course taught by renowned optical systems designer Robert E. Fischer, Optical System Design, Second Edition brings you the latest cutting-edge design techniques and more than 400 detailed diagrams that clearly illustrate every major procedure in optical design.
This thoroughly updated resource helps you work better and faster with computer-aided optical design techniques, diffractive optics, and the latest applications, including digital imaging, telecommunications, and machine vision. No need for complex, unnecessary mathematical derivations-instead, you get hundreds of examples that break the techniques down into understandable steps. For twenty-first century optical design without the mystery, the authoritative Optical Systems Design, Second Edition features:
- Computer-aided design use explained through sample problems
- Case studies of third-millennium applications in digital imaging, sensors, lasers, machine vision, and more
- New chapters on optomechanical design, systems analysis, and stray-light suppression
- New chapter on polarization including lots of really useful information
- New and expanded chapter on diffractive optics
- Techniques for getting rid of geometrical aberrations
- Testing, tolerancing, and manufacturing guidance
- Intelligent use of aspheric surfaces in optical design
- Pointers on using off-the-shelf optics
- Basic optical principles and solutions for common and advanced design problems
About the Author
Robert Fischer is the president of Optics 1, Inc., and a past president of SPIE.
Biljana Tadic-Galeb (Westlake Village, CA) is a senior optical staff engineer at Optics 1.
Paul Yoder is a consultant specializing in optical and opto-mechanical design.
Posted: August 28th, 2008, 7:42am CEST
The relatively recent increase in computational power available for mathematical modeling and simulation raises the possibility that modern numerical methods can play a significant role in the analysis of complex particulate flows. This introductory monograph focuses on basic models and physically based computational solution strategies for the direct and rapid simulation of flowing particulate media. Its emphasis is primarily on fluidized dry particulate flows in which there is no significant interstitial fluid, although fully coupled fluid-particle systems are discussed as well. An introduction to basic computational methods for ascertaining optical responses of particulate systems also is included. The successful analysis of a wide range of applications requires the simulation of flowing particulate media that simultaneously involves near-field interaction and contact between particles in a thermally sensitive environment. These systems naturally occur in astrophysics and geophysics; powder processing pharmaceutical industries; bio-, micro- and nanotechnologies; and applications arising from the study of spray processes involving aerosols, sputtering, and epitaxy. Audience An Introduction to Modeling and Simulation of Particulate Flows is written for computational scientists, numerical analysts, and applied mathematicians and will be of interest to civil and mechanical engineers and materials scientists. It is also suitable for first-year graduate students in the applied sciences, engineering, and applied mathematics who have an interest in the computational analysis of complex particulate flows. Contents List of Figures; Preface; Chapter 1: Fundamentals; Chapter 2: Modeling of particulate flows; Chapter 3: Iterative solution schemes; Chapter 4: Representative numerical simulations; Chapter 5: Inverse problems/parameter identification; Chapter 6: Extensions to swarm-like systems; Chapter 7: Advanced particulate flow models; Chapter 8: Coupled particle/fluid interaction; Chapter 9: Simple optical scattering methods in particulate media; Chapter 10: Closing remarks; Appendix A. Basic (continuum) fluid mechanics; Appendix B. Scattering; Bibliography; Index
This advanced introduction focuses on basic models and physically-based computational solution strategies for the direct and rapid simulation of flowing particulate media. It will be welcomed by computational scientists, numerical analysts, and applied mathematicians and will be of interest to civil and mechanical engineers and materials scientists.
About the Author
About the Author T. I. Zohdi is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of California Berkeley. He has received the Zienkiewicz Prize and Medal from the Institution of Civil Engineers in London, the Emerald Literati Club's Best Paper of the Year Award of 2001, and the Junior Achievement Award of the American Academy of Mechanics. His main research interests are in modeling and simulation of micro-macro multiscale systems.
Posted: August 28th, 2008, 7:35am CEST
This book presents different approaches in IP traffic theory and classifies them, especially towards applications in the Internet. It comprises the state of the art in this area, which is currently presented only by numerous research papers and overview articles.
The book provides an ideal starting point for detailed studies of traffic analysis in IP networks. It gives the reader the possibility to judge on different models and to select the appropriate for his individual needs in applications.
The mathematical toolbox for this is kept as low as low as possible – the authors build a bridge between abstract representation of mathematical tools and applications. This, in turn, is certainly the most interesting topic for experts planning large data networks as well as practitioners and researchers working in this area The book also serves as useful reference for lecturers and students at universities.
About the Author
Professor Dr.- Ing. Christian Grimm has been working for more than ten years with measuring and modelling of data traffic in packet switched networks. In his PhD thesis he investigated complex methods for the traffic modelling in the World Wide Web. At present he is head of the division for research and development and new network services at the regional computing centre for lower saxony. Since 2003 he has an assistant professorship (Juniorprofessur) in computer networks at the faculty of electrical engineering and computer sciences at the university of Hannover.
Professor Dr. rer.nat. Georg Schlüchtermann finished his study in Mathematics in 1984. He habilitated 1994 at the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität in functional analysis. Since 2001 he is apl. professor at the faculty for mathematics, computer sciences and statistics at the university of Munich. He is lecturing in the fields of traffic theory, mathematical modelling in mobile communication and finance mathematics.
Posted: August 28th, 2008, 7:33am CEST
Currently in a state of cultural transition, global society is moving from a literary society to digital one, adopting widespread use of advanced technologies such as the Internet and mobile devices. Digital media has an extraordinary impact on society s formative processes, forcing a pragmatic shift in their management and organization.
Digital Literacy: Tools and Methodologies for Information Society strives to define a conceptual framework for understanding social changes produced by digital media and creates a framework within which digital literacy acts as a tool to assist younger generations to interact critically with digital media and their culture, providing scholars, educators, researchers, and practitioners a technological and sociological approach to this cutting-edge topic from an educational perspective.
Posted: August 28th, 2008, 7:31am CEST
“The-computer-as-we-know-it” will have no role in our future everyday lives. This is the position taken in this book which elaborates how it will be replaced by a new generation of technologies, moving computing off the desktop and ultimately integrating it with real world objects and everyday environments. Computing becomes thus an inseparable part of our everyday activities while simultaneously disappearing into the background. It becomes a ubiquitous utility taking on a role similar to electricity – an enabling but invisible and pervasive medium revealing its functionality on request in an unobtrusive way and supporting people’s everyday activities.
As members of the Steering Group of the EU-funded Disappearing Computer research initiative, the editors of this book successfully assembled a collection of 13 elaborate chapters and three forewords that address the issues and challenges in this area. All authors are prominent researchers who set out investigating, developing and deploying future, people-centred smart environments. This book provides a unique combination of concepts, methods and prototypes of ubiquitous and pervasive computing reflecting the current interest in smart environments and ambient intelligence.
Excerpts from the three forewords for the book:
Thierry van der Pyl and Thomas Skordas from the European Commission state that: The Disappearing Computer initiative anticipated and pioneered the concept of ambient intelligence … and allowed to advance the boundaries of what is possible with the computer today.
Gregory Abowd from GeorgiaTech in the US writes about this research: While substantial progress was shown on the creation of information artefacts, it is the new behaviors and user experiences that promise long-term impact.
Finally, Emile Aarts from Philips Research comments on the relationship of ambient technology and people’s behavior: "This current volume undoubtedly provides a major contribution to fill up this gap of knowledge."
Posted: August 28th, 2008, 7:28am CEST
This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the Second International Conference on Virtual Reality, ICVR 2007, held in Beijing, China in July 2007 in the framework of the 12th International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction, HCII 2007 with 8 other thematically similar conferences.
The 81 revised papers presented were carefully reviewed and selected from numerous submissions. The papers accepted for presentation thoroughly cover the thematic area of Virtual Reality, addressing the following major topics: 3D rendering and visualization, interacting and navigating in virtual and augmented environments, industrial applications of virtual reality, as well as health, cultural, educational and entertainment applications.
Posted: August 28th, 2008, 7:27am CEST
SQL Server 2008 Transact–SQL Recipes: A Problem–Solution Approach is an example–based guide to the Transact–SQL language that is at the core of SQL Server 2008. Learn to create databases, insert and update data, generate reports, secure your data, and more. Author Joseph Sack takes common Transact–SQL tasks and breaks them down into a problem/solution format that is quick and easy to read so that you can get the job done fast when the pressure is on.
- Focused on solutions: Look up what you need to do. Learn how to do it. Do it.
- Current: Newly updated for SQL Server 2008.
- Comprehensive: Covers 30 different Transact–SQL problem domains.
What you’ll learn
- Create databases, tables, and indexes.
- Query and manipulate data.
- Store and manage XML inside the database.
- Move business logic into the database.
- Encrypt data and capture changes for compliance purposes.
- Implement Full–Text Search.
- Interface with Service Broker.
- And more!
Who is this book for?
Developers who use Microsoft SQL Server 2008 as their back–end database. Database administrators who create, manage, and secure those databases.
About the Author
Joseph Sack works for Microsoft as a SQL Server Dedicated Support Engineer in the Premier Field Engineering team. For 10+ years, he has been developing and supporting SQL Server environments for clients in financial services, IT consulting, manufacturing, retail and the real estate industry. He is the author of SQL Server 2005 T–SQL Recipes and SQL Server 2000 Fast Answers for DBAs and Developers. He is the co–author of Pro SQL Server 2005 and Beginning SQL Server 2000 DBA: From Novice to Professional.
Posted: August 28th, 2008, 7:24am CEST
Whether you need an approachable on-ramp to .NET or you want to enhance your skills, C# 3.0 Unleashed is a comprehensive, in-depth guide to the solutions you seek. You’ll learn to do more with the new tools that are available, including Visual Studio 2008 and the .NET Framework Class Libraries. Throughout this book, you’ll get a practical look at what can be the most useful tools for any given task. You’ll also learn common traps to avoid and learn insightful tips that will save you time and help you be more productive.
C# 3.0 Unleashed contains complete coverage of the C# programming language. The author covers all the essential syntax, but keeps the focus on practical application. The chapters are arranged to take you step-by-step from the core of the C# language to elements of the .NET Framework, and further into advanced concepts on distributed n-tier Internet applications. Additionally, C# 3.0 Unleashed shows you how to debug, monitor, and scale enterprise applications, enabling you to use the C# programming language to ship the right code at the right time.
What’s included in this book:
- A complete reference for C# syntax, object oriented programming, and component programming with C#
- Comprehensive data coverage through ADO.NET and LINQ
- An introduction to UI technologies, including Windows Forms, WPF, ASP.NET Ajax, and Silverlight
- Coverage of traditional ASMX and WCF Web Services
- Coverage of multiple .NET technologies, including networking, instrumentation, interop, and multi-threading
- In-depth discussion of platform concepts including CLR, Garbage Collection, Type System, Assemblies, and Code Access Security
- Guidance on design and architecture for a big-picture view and essential help in piecing together all you’ve learned
About the Author
Joe Mayo has more than 21 years of software engineering experience and has worked with C# and .NET since July 2000. He regularly contributes to the community through his website, C# Station, which has been running since July 2000. He enjoys giving presentations on .NET, and you can occasionally find him online in a forum or newsgroup, doing what he loves to do–talking about .NET. For his community service over the years, he has been a recipient of multiple Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) awards. These days, Joe makes a living through the company he founded, Mayo Software Consulting, Inc., delivering value to customers through custom .NET software development services.
Posted: August 28th, 2008, 7:22am CEST
Dojo offers Web developers and designers a powerful JavaScript toolkit for rapidly developing robust Ajax applications. Now, for the first time, there’s a complete, example-rich developer’s guide to Dojo and its growing library of prepackaged widgets. Reviewed and endorsed by the Dojo Foundation, the creators of Dojo, this book brings together all the hands-on guidance and tested code samples you need to succeed.
Expert Web developer James E. Harmon begins by demonstrating how to “Ajax-ify” existing applications and pages with Dojo, adding Ajax features such as client- and server-side validation as quickly and nondisruptively as possible. Next, he presents in-depth coverage of Dojo’s user interface, form, layout, and specialized Widgets, showing how they work and how to use them most effectively. Among the Widgets, he covers in detail: Date Pickers, Rich Text Editors, Combo Boxes, Expandable Outlines, and many others.
In conclusion, Harmon introduces the Dojo toolkit’s powerful capabilities for simplifying Ajax development. He thoroughly explains Dojo’s helper functions, shortcuts, and special methods, illuminating each feature with examples of the JavaScript problems it can solve. This section’s far-ranging coverage includes strings, JSON support, event handling, Ajax remoting, Dojo and the DOM, testing, debugging, and much more. All source code examples are provided on a companion Web site, including source code for a complete tutorial case study application.
About the Author
James E. Harmon is the President and Senior Instructor at Object Training Group in Chicago. He is an experienced developer who spent a majority of his career building large scale online applications at Accenture and for several other Web-centric consulting firms. He now specializes in training Java Developers to be more productive by using the latest technologies and frameworks.
The book’s web site is http://www.ObjectTrainingGroup.com/dojobook.
Posted: August 27th, 2008, 5:39pm CEST
This monograph deals with the description and design of digital images. Regarding digital images as special input/output relations in our previous book with LNCIS series, the description problem of digital images is transformed into the realization problem of digital images. From the data in digital images, mathematical models will be constructed. Then new systems which describe faithfully any digital images provide new results and their extensions which design digital images. As concerned with mathematical models for digital images, this monograph introduces 2-Commutative Linear Representation Systems for two-dimensional images and 3-Commutative Linear Representation Systems for three-dimensional images. This monograph is intended for researchers and graduate students who specialized in image processing and system theory.
Posted: August 27th, 2008, 5:38pm CEST
This book constitutes the refereed proceeding of the 13th European Software Process Improvement Conference, EuroSPI 2006, held in Joensuu, Finland in October 2006.
The 18 revised full papers presented were carefully reviewed and selected from 62 submissions. The papers are organized in topical sections on SPI (Software Process Improvement) processes, SPI and risk management, measurement, process modelling, human factors, and implementation of SPI.
Posted: August 27th, 2008, 12:38pm CEST
As modern organizations migrate from older information architectures to new Web-based systems, the discipline of software engineering is changing both in terms of technologies and methodologies. There is a need to examine this new frontier from both a theoretical and pragmatic perspective, and offer not only a survey of new technologies and methodologies but discussions of the applicability and pros/cons of each.
Software Engineering for Modern Web Applications: Methodologies and Technologies presents current, effective software engineering methods for the design and development of modern Web-based applications, offering scholars, researchers, and practitioners innovative research on the theoretical frameworks, structures, management, and implications software engineering for modern Web applications.
About the Author
Dan Brandon obtained a BS from Case Western Reserve University, an MS, and PhD in Engineering University of Connecticut; his Ph
