Editorial Review

It's remarkable how far we've traveled into the Information Age without coming up with a very good idea of what information actually is. Technologists define information as bits and bytes, but that seems too precise somehow to get at the heart of the idea. Everyday speech defines it as just about any interesting piece of news, but that seems equally vague. Read more

Reviews (6)

A dense and demanding text which raises important questions about meaning and information.
In Holding On To Reality, Borgmann shares his perspectives and reservations about the information age as enabled by information technology. He traces the nature, philosophy and history of information by splitting the book into three sections which address natural, cultural and technological signs. If, in the beginning, signs were in the service of describing reality we are now (according to Borgmann) at a time in which information has become so divorced from physical reality that signs assert their own existence with independent validity.
How to handle Fire and not get Burned
It's an interesting problem: How to write and publish an entertaining and informative book about "being lost", without getting the reader "more" lost. Or, how to use technology to free itself and that bound up with it.At times in reading Albert's work (whose erudition is beautiful) he seemed clever.That would be technology wining the match.Yet, with a twist of a phrase and bit of a story, what was becoming the surface of a maze, revealed a rounded corner, with new views and vistas. Depth, not surfaces.Little things, like music in a park, or the sun in the morning.One is informed by Albert, much in the way the ancient sages schooled their students... send them on a journey, a trip, to visit the master on the next mountain range.As with Albert's book, it's not what you take from it, but where it is able to take you.

Fully grounded philosophy
Borgmann is a professor of philosophy at a university in Montana.This is an important point for several reasons: his use of his immediate surroundings to illustrate his theory of communication and his ability to tie that theory to his field of academic philosophy.While keeping his analysis of communication theory close to the history of communication, Borgmann weaves his story into a cogent read of contemporary issues in communication based on his foundation as a "realist."He manages to escape embracing a social contstructionist stance, but only barely.For his view of reality fits nicely with both a realist and a constructionist view.This is an amazing accomplishment.For those interested in the practical: his explanation of writing and structure are not to be missed.In this chapter he offers a way to think of the digital-ness of our past, present, and future via the use of information as a whole thing with a context and information as "reality...structured all the way down, and at the bottom...composed of a small number of meaningless, but well-defined elements." (p. 61) ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Communication    2. Computers    3. Information Technology    4. Information Technology (Engineering)    5. Information Theory    6. Philosophy    7. Philosophy & Social Aspects    8. Reality    9. Science    10. Social Aspects    11. Sociology    12. Technology And Social Change    13. Communication Studies    14. Cultural studies    15. History of engineering & technology    16. Impact of computing & IT on society    17. Technology / Social Aspects   

Subjects:  1. Applied Sciences    2. Atomic bomb    3. History    4. History: World    5. Manhattan Project (U.S.)    6. Military - Nuclear Warfare    7. Modern - General    8. Nuclear Physics    9. Science    10. United States    11. General Theory of Computing    12. Technology / History   

Reviews (4)

A Excellant Addition
Aside from only briefly mentioning Englands EDSAC (as is the case with most non English accounts), this was a nice and entertaining read. Not only detailing the Computers themselves but the inventers, designers, craftsmen, and engineers of the machines. Technical enough to keep those who want it content, but written understandably for those who may not be so technically inclined.

Insightful look into the history of computers
Without a doubt one of the best books on the history of computers that I've ever read.The author tells not only the story of the machines themselves, but also of the people who built them and why they followed the paths they did. Besides an Illustrated History, an Enjoyable One
A good source of data for those who want to know how the Industry of Computers began. If you want to understand why the Computer Science changed the world, and if you�d like to speak as an expert in all those fantasticwords of the luckiest people on the 50�s, 60�s, 70�s and even the 80�s whohad the opportunity to grow and deal with this technology, and feel howthese people had to accept new windows-know-it-all-users with little ornone at all knowledge about programming and other related training andlong-time-consuming-hard-to-learn skills, you must read this book. Then,I�m sure, you�ll know what I mean. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Computer Bks - Apple / Macintosh    2. Computer Books: Operating Systems    3. Computers    4. Electronics - General    5. Hardware - Personal Computers - Macintosh    6. History   

Subjects:  1. Computer Books: General    2. Computers    3. History & Surveys - General    4. Linguistics    5. Literature: Classics    6. Logic Design    7. Philosophy    8. Ancient (Classical) Greek    9. Ancient Greece    10. Ancient Rome    11. Classical Studies | Literary Criticism    12. Latin    13. Literary studies: classical, early & medieval    14. Myths & mythology    15. Philosophy / History, Criticism, Surveys   

Reviews (22)

A really good read...
Behind Deep Blue was written by the man who lead the research and development team which created the chess computer that beat the World Chess Champion, Gary Kasparov. Hsu tells a lot of fascinating stories about his involvement with IBM, academia and the world of computer-vs-computer chess tournaments. It never got too bogged down in computer or chess jargon.
Very good book.
I have prurchased this book to improve my english language.
The soul of a new chess player
Feng-Hsiung Hsu's story will appeal to anyone who enjoyed Tracy Kidder's Soul of a New Machine or Steven Levy's Hackers. The book captures the thrills and spills of an intellectual steeplechase. Along the way, it reveals the inner workings of the computer science department at Carnegie Mellon University. It's a great read. Feng-Hsiung Hsu, if you're reading this and you ever find yourself in Hortonville, Wisconsin, the first cup of coffee is on me. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Chess - General    2. Computer Books: General    3. Computer chess    4. Computers - General Information    5. Deep Blue (Computer)    6. History    7. Human-Computer Interaction    8. Mathematical Recreations    9. Mathematics    10. Recreations & Games    11. Virtual Reality    12. Artificial intelligence    13. Chess    14. Computers / General    15. History of Science and Medicine, Philosophy of Science    16. History of specific subjects    17. Physics    18. Popular science   

Reviews (1)

Informative book on the evolution of the computer
The Dream Machine provides a plethora of information to the reader.It gives specific detials of the evolution of the computer. Including:many people, companies (IBM, Remington Rand), the languages of programming, thepersonal computer and more... ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Artificial intelligence    2. Computer Bks - Other Applications    3. Computer Books: General    4. Computer Industry    5. Computer Science (General)    6. Computers    7. Computers - Other Applications    8. History    9. Miscellaneous Software    10. General Theory of Computing   

Reviews (1)

A Unique View of an Essential Creator in the world of Popular Music
I love this book! It finally brings to light for the average popular music consumer as well as the scholarly directed the vital function that has made the producer the king of the studio.We members of the business side of popular music have recognized the financial rewards that come to producers from the likes of Phil Spector and Leiber and Stoler on to the producers of more current rap, hip hop and other genres including disco. But this book finally brings a search light of musicology to show the skills that warrant the status of producers as a vital contributor to the music scene.It is a worthy tribute to each of the many producers whose contributions are analyzed with skill by an author who combines his role as professor and working musician.
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Subjects:  1. Analysis, appreciation    2. Genres & Styles - Electronic    3. History    4. Music/Songbooks    5. Popular music    6. Production and direction    7. Recording & Reproduction    8. Science/Mathematics    9. Sound recordings    10. Technology    11. Impact of computing & IT on society    12. Music recording & reproduction    13. Rock & pop    14. Technology / History   

Subjects:  1. Aviation - History    2. Computer Bks - Data Base Management    3. Crafts & Hobbies    4. Crafts / Hobbies    5. Data Modeling & Design    6. Hobbies/Crafts    7. Models    8. Crafts & Hobbies / Models   

Reviews (2)

A good, and sadly necessary guide
Family Tree Maker is a versatile and robust database program that does an excellent job as an organizer of your genealogical studies. However, Family Tree Maker is somewhat clunky to use and has some very non-intuitive features. (At least Family Tree Maker 2005 does.) So, to get the most out of your new software, it is best to invest in this guide to using it.
Reference
This is a good book to use with the new Version 9 of Family Tree Maker. Although I am a little disappointed that some areas are not explained very well - namely the creation of books. It is excellent at showing you how to create the books (and using other functions) but it does not explain how they work. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Miscellaneous Software    2. Computer Bks - Other Applications    3. Computers - Other Applications    4. Genealogy    5. Computers / General    6. Family history    7. Computers    8. General    9. Computer Books: General   

Reviews (1)

Pure philosophy
The Turing test is one of the most popular tests for judging whether a machine is intelligent, and is one that for many years was accepted uncritically. This has had both good and bad consequences for the field of artificial intelligence, but has certainly been good for the philosophical community. Debates on the Turing test have filled the philosophical literature, and continue to this day. Fortunately, many researchers in artificial intelligence have moved away from the assumption that the Turing test is a useful guideline for assessing machine intelligence. In the years ahead it may become merely an historical curiosity, possibly fading into insignificance because of the presence of (non-human) thinking machines brought about the very people who chose to ignore its validity or utility and got on with the actual construction of these kinds of machines.
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Subjects:  1. Artificial Intelligence - General    2. Computer Books: General    3. Computers    4. History & Surveys - General    5. Philosophy    6. Turing test    7. Artificial intelligence    8. Computers / Artificial Intelligence    9. General Theory of Computing    10. Intelligence   

Reviews (2)

A great source for the new music
As to talk about the new music and go further deeply into it, one has to clearly define the roots, social situation, paradigms, early tendencies of pioneers, theoretical backround of art in general with its relation to the overall world view and so on... Brindle's success on figuring out these concepts deserves an appreciation. The book achieves to provide a wide understanding of twentieth century music with almost all aspects of the reasoning of artistic creativity of our age. One of the most important qualities of this book also underlies in it's perfectly selected musical examples provided quite often within the text that are also including new technics used in the "new" music. From this point of view alone, it would be evaluated as the second book after Erhard Karkoschka's "Notation in New Music". Though it is mostly in charge of musicologists who are in search of a comprehensive twentieth century music source rather than composers especially focusing on compositional tools but anyway it is a must have book for both.

Fine synopsis of post-war trends in the avant garde
Worthwhile addition to the library of books devoted to contemporary music. The presentation is quite lucid and the topics covered are quite relevant for today's composer, or those interested in modern techniques. There is very little coverage of the most recent composers, namely those working in neo-tonal contexts, but there is a mention of this trend in an epilogue. I find the graphical information in the book some of the best content in the book. Some chapters try to cover somewhat technical topics too quickly, but if you read it carefully enough, it's comprehensible. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Genres & Styles - New Age    3. History & Criticism - General    4. History and criticism    5. Music    6. Music/Songbooks    7. Music / Electronic & Computer   

Editorial Review

Hobart and Schiffman see what we call Read more

Subjects:  1. Computers And Society    2. History    3. Information Technology    4. Information Technology (Engineering)    5. Science    6. Science/Mathematics    7. Social Aspects    8. Social Aspects - General    9. History of ideas, intellectual history    10. Impact of computing & IT on society    11. Impact of science & technology on society   

Reviews (3)

Worth considering
This book contains information that is worth thinking about. Most details are well documented, and while some of it seems out there, one has to wonder about the author's death not too long after this book was published. Hmmmmmm...

An Update on his Classic Book
Jim Keith (1949-1999) died suddenly on Sept 7, 1999, as the government was finally revealing it covered up some of the truths of Waco. Most people don't get Keith's writings, that as a reporter he reported, with humor andinsights, with tongue-in-cheek intellect. In the future when the mystery ofthe helicopters, be theyblack, green, or dark blue is revealed, interestedhistorians will refer to this book. Not for the wild theories of UNstormtroopers or other items Keith merely was repeating, but for the factthat things were seen, unknown and unidentified, which may have had a linkto missions not yet fully understood. Was there special helicopters overWaco? Yes, of course there was. This book gives a sense that things arehappening which may be merely a part of a plan still unexplained today.Unfortunately, Keith will not be around to see his works appreciated withinthis new enlightenment. That's too bad. And sad.But his books remain, forall to mine for the little gems. Don't be dismayed by the theories. Look atthe data.

Beware the Black Helicopters!!!
Mr. Keith does a very good job of blending material from eyewitness accounts, newspapers, and books into a series of chapters that will keep the reader very interested.You will want to know more after reading this. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1989-    2. 20th century    3. Conspiracies    4. Controversial Knowledge    5. Democracy    6. History    7. Military    8. New Age / Body, Mind & Spirit    9. Politics and government    10. United States    11. World politics    12. Computer games   

Reviews (1)

It is a pitythis book is currently out of stock
This is probably The best book I have read on the PilgrimageUnfortunately the book itself is out of print. The publishers might bring out a reprint and then I will order two copies from Amazon. Extracts from the book can be found under the travel section of the Telegraph Online Newspaper look under Yahoo for this newspaper. There is also quite a bit of useful information on the pilgrimage to santiago under the Travel section of the Telegraph Online. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Christianity - History - Catholic    2. Literary Criticism    3. Medieval    4. Religion - Church History    5. Christian pilgrimage    6. European history: c 500 to c 1500    7. Literary Criticism & Collections / Medieval    8. Literary studies: classical, early & medieval    9. Music    10. Spain    11. World Wide Web (WWW)    12. c 1000 CE to c 1500   

Reviews (1)

Virtuosity at programming
Ages ago my instructor at the local university computing center gave me this book. After completing all etudesRead more

Subjects:  1. Computer programming    2. Problems, exercises, etc    3. History of ideas, intellectual history   

Reviews (1)

Highly recommended to all students of modern society and culture
The Technology Revolution: The Not-For-Dummies Guide To The Impact, Perils, And Promise Of The Internet by J. R. Okin is an informed and informative knowledgeably written documentation of how information accessible on the internet may be impacting the individual's privacy. Covering subjects such as how the internet created 'Digital Divide,' what the division looks like, and what it means, how Java became the 'next big thing', and what it contributes to the internet, why the internet is far greater than the sum of its parts, what caused the dot com boom and why the 'bubble' burst, why security is considered key to the internet's future, and the role that trust will play in delivering security, how the internet is responsible for building new types of community structures, and why the internet is the revolution of our times, The Technology Revolution certainly does cover every expected aspect of the internet, and is very highly recommended to all students of modern society and culture, as well as those interested in a thorough education on the history and happenings that shaped the development of the internet.
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Subjects:  1. Computer - Internet    2. Computer Books: General    3. Computers    4. General    5. History    6. Internet - General    7. Social Aspects - General   

Reviews (1)

A Good Introduction, But ...
This book provides a very good introduction to concurrent systems and specifications.However, new or used it's certainly not worth 100$ or more.As a used book I wouldn't pay any more than 25$ for it. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Computer Books: Languages    2. Computer Programming    3. Computers    4. Computers - Languages / Programming    5. History    6. Logic, Symbolic and mathematic    7. Logic, Symbolic and mathematical    8. Networking - General    9. Programming - Systems Analysis & Design    10. Science/Mathematics    11. Computer Communications & Networking    12. Computers / Programming / Systems Analysis & Design    13. Computers-Networking - General    14. Science-History   

Subjects:  1. Computer Books: General    2. Computer Crime    3. Computer crimes    4. Computers    5. Crime Prevention    6. Criminal Law - General    7. Criminology    8. History    9. Law    10. Other Miscellaneous Crimes    11. Prevention    12. Security - General    13. True Crime / Espionage    14. Crime & criminology    15. Social Science / Criminology   

Editorial Review

Today's computers are fantastically complex machines, shaped by innovations dreamt up by hundreds of engineers and theorists over the last several decades. Does it even make sense, then, to ask who invented the computer? McCartney thinks so, and in Read more

Reviews (46)

Very good, but needs a precise definition of "computer."
Depending upon one's definition of "computer" the ENIAC may or may not be the worlds first general purpose computer.The ABC had no stored program and was a special purpose machine designed exclusively for solving linear equations. The ENIAC was more general purpose, but it too did not have a stored program.Each of Zuse's machines were electromechanical (relays) and some argue that a true computer processes information completely electronically.My personal opinion is that the BINAC (immediate predecessor to UNIVAC) was the worlds first computer.In any case, it is a wonderful book!!!!!!

the men behind ENIAC
This book is not really the story of ENIAC -- the world's first digital electronic computer -- so much as it is about the two men who created it: John Mauchly and Presper Eckert. You've probably never heard of either of them, but you should have.
The real story ofinventing and building the First Computer
This book is the only one to tell the real story of the first Electronic Digital Computer. Scott McCartney talked to people who where part of the team that built ENIAC. He also did primary source research to find the real story. J. Presper Eckert and John Mauchley never did write their own story about how they invented the computer. If they had it would be the same one that Scott wrote. This is a must read book if you want to know the truth. You will probably not find it written elsewhere.
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Subjects:  1. Computer Bks - General Information    2. Computer Books: General    3. Computer industry    4. Computers    5. Computers - General Information    6. ENIAC (Computer)    7. Electronic digital computers    8. General    9. History    10. Scientists - Inventors    11. United States   

Subjects:  1. 1815-1852    2. Biography    3. Biography & Autobiography    4. Biography / Autobiography    5. Biography/Autobiography    6. Calculators    7. Computers    8. Countess of,    9. General    10. Great Britain    11. History    12. History Of Mathematics    13. Literary    14. Lovelace, Ada King,    15. Mathematicians    16. Biography: general    17. Literature: History & Criticism    18. Lovelace, Ada King