History of engineering and technology Books

Book SynopsisNoelle Molé Liston''s The Truth Society seeks to understand how a period of Italian political spectacle, which regularly blurred fact and fiction, has shaped how people understand truth, mass-mediated information, scientific knowledge, and forms of governance. Liston scrutinizes Italy''s late twentieth-century political culture, particularly the impact of the former prime minister and media mogul Silvio Berlusconi. By doing so, she examines how this truth-bending political era made science, logic, and rationality into ideas that needed saving.With the prevalence of fake news and our seeming lack of shared reality in the post-truth world, many people struggle to figure out where this new normal came from. Liston argues that seemingly disparate events and practices that have unfolded in Italy are historical reactions to mediatized political forms and particular, cultivated ways of knowing. Politics, then, is always sutured to how knowledge is structured, circulated, and Trade ReviewThis notion of truth lies at the heart of Noelle Molé Liston's inquiry into recent developments in Italian politics and society. * Survival: Global politics and strategy *Table of ContentsIntroduction 1. Manifest Disguise and Mediatized Politics 2. The Soldiers of Rationality 3. The Rise of Algorithm Populism 4. The Trial against Disinformation 5. Scientific Anesthetization in the Anthropocene Conclusion: Mirrored Window World

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Book Synopsis'Speckled with anecdotes, insights and surprises. It is great fun - and utterly timely' Sunday Times 'Standage writes with a masterly clarity' New York Times 'The product of deep research, great intelligence and burnished prose . . . It is rare that I encounter a non-fiction author whose prose is so elegant that it is worth reading for itself. Standage is a writer of this class' Wall Street Journal Beginning around 3,500 BC with the wheel, and moving through the eras of horsepower, trains and bicycles, Tom Standage puts the rise of the car – and the future of urban transport – into a broader historical context. Our society has been shaped by the car in innumerable ways, many of which are so familiar that we no longer notice them. Why does red mean stop and green mean go? Why do some countries drive on the left, and some on the right? How did cars, introduced only a little over a century ago, change the way the world was administered, laid out and policed, along with experiences like eating and shopping? And what might travel in a post-car world look like? As social transformations from ride-sharing to the global pandemic force us to critically re-examine our relationship with personal transportation, A Brief History of Motion is an essential contribution to our understanding of how the modern world came to be.Trade ReviewSpeckled with anecdotes, insights and surprises . . . It is great fun – and utterly timely * Sunday Times *Eminently readable . . . Standage writes with a masterly clarity * New York Times Book Review *The product of deep research, great intelligence and burnished prose . . . An unusually astute futurist, Mr. Standage offers observations about where we are now and where we might be heading that should be taken seriously . . . It is rare that I encounter a nonfiction author whose prose is so elegant that it is worth reading for itself. Mr. Standage is a writer of this class * Wall Street Journal *There was a gap in the market for an accessible book that tied together the technology and politics of cars, and Standage has filled it beautifully. Pithy anecdotes make the book readable; the central question – that of what comes next – makes it worth reading * Financial Times *Richly rewarding . . . [Standage] starts at the beginning, with the advent of the wheel (probably in Eastern Europe in around 3500 BC), and then traces its astonishing impact on human history . . . Contains a great deal to fascinate -- Book of the Week * The Week *Informative and utterly entertaining, it should serve as a helpful manual for negotiating our future * The Herald *Tom Standage has a gift for explaining how our modern world came to be and might evolve. In A Brief History of Motion, his skills as a historian and his trademark insight and wit shine in a way that will make your mind whir every time you hop on a bike or get behind the wheel of a car. This book is full of surprises and an absolute delight -- Ashlee Vance, New York Times bestselling author of Elon MuskPerceptive, pragmatic, but never pedestrian, this is an irrepressible survey of how we’ve travelled through the ages, and it zips along like the most pleasurable of journeys -- Simon Garfield, New York Times-bestselling author of Just My Type and On the MapOn the past, present, and future of transportation, Tom Standage has crafted the book to read, full of anecdote and keen observation, and seamlessly written -- Tyler Cowen, Professor of Economics, George Mason University, and New York Times-bestselling author of The Great Stagnation and Average Is OverTom Standage takes us on a quick spin, from no wheels for anybody to nobody at the wheel—much of it over back roads that were entirely new to me -- George Dyson, author of Turing’s Cathedral and AnalogiaThere aren’t many books this entertaining that also provide a cogent crash course in ancient, classical and modern history * Los Angeles Times on 'A History of the World in Six Glasses' *An extraordinary and well-told story on a much neglected dimension of history * Financial Times on 'An Edible History of Humanity' *

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Book Synopsis'Powerful, profound and completely engrossing, a meditation on not only technology but also history, culture, ideas, ethics, psychology and, above all, what it means to be human.' – Michael Bhaskar, co-author of The Coming WaveWise Animals explores the history of our relationship with technology, and our deep involvement with our creations from the first use of tools and the taming of fire, via the invention of reading and printing, to the development of the computer, the creation of the internet and the emergence of AI.Human children know no more of modern technology than their ancestors did of older technologies thousands of years ago, and develop in relation to the technologies of their time. We co-evolve with technology as individuals as we have as a species over thousands of years.Rather than see technology as a threat, this deeply humanist contribution to the debate proposes that we are neither masters nor victims o

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Book SynopsisIn this eagerly-awaited new book from the author of the best-selling Nostalgia Nerd's Retro Tech, Peter Leigh takes a fun, informative and irreverent romp through the history of more than forty pieces of personal tech, charting the successes, failures and oddities from over five decades of our obsession with gadgetry.From the Teasmade to the TomTom, mankind has been on a constant hunt for gimmicks that make life easier, faster and more entertaining, and as yesterday's 'must-haves' become today's museum pieces, there's no better time to take a nostalgic trip through tech's back catalogue.

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Book SynopsisThis history of the Lotus Evora traces the genesis, context, manufacture and evolution of the Type 122 Evora and its derivative models.The Evora's prowess as a grand touring sports car is demonstrated with the author's international road trips, and its essence is detailed through in-depth interviews with leading personalities at Lotus involved with the design, development, construction and marketing programmes. The book concludes with the launch of the Evora's successor, the Type 131 Emira in 2021. Johnny Tipler has a long association with the Lotus marque, having run the John Player Team Lotus Motorsport Press Office during the halcyon JPS era, as recounted in his 2019 book 'Black and Gold'. He has authored many automotive books, notably on the Lotus Elise, and also wrote for the Club Lotus International publication between 2005 and 2011. He is a good friend of Classic Team Lotus boss Clive Chapman (son of the Lotus founder Colin Chapman) and regularly attends historic races such as the Goodwood Revival where CTL's F1 Lotuses are in action.Table of ContentsContents Foreword Timeline Introduction Acknowledgements Chapter 1 Rising to the Challenge Chapter 2 Chassis and Suspension Chapter 3 Powertrain: the engine and gearbox Chapter 4 Driving dynamics Chapter 5 Production Line, body and trim Chapter 6 On test: proof of the pudding Chapter 7: Sales and marketing Chapter 8: Road tripping Chapter 9: The Emira descendent

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Book SynopsisThe space race was perhaps the greatest technological contest of the 20th century. It was a thrilling era of innovation, discovery and exploration, as astronauts and cosmonauts were launched on space missions of increasing length, complexity and danger. The Greatest Adventure traces the events of this extraordinary period, describing the initial string of Soviet achievements: the first satellite in orbit; the first animal, man and woman in space; the first spacewalk; as well as the ultimate US victory in the race to land on the moon. The book then takes the reader on a journey through the following decades of space exploration to the present time, detailing the many successes, tragedies, risks and rewards of space exploration.Trade Review‘A fresh, crisp, and insightful chronicle. Burgess wings the reader through humankind’s initial, sometimes faltering, journeys into outer space; and our first footprints on another world. But these were just the start. Strap in! From these beginnings mankind personally touches the Kosmos in its Greatest Adventure.’ – Charles D. Walker, engineer, corporate executive, and first commercial industry astronaut on Space Shuttle missions STS-41D, STS-51D, and STS-61B

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Book SynopsisThis Chronicle opens a fascinating window revealing life during the Second World War and the decades following it, and how everyone has benefited by developments in technology. Future generations will be interested to learn how ordinary people fared during the twentieth and early twenty-first century. During this period there was so much innovation, which included home ownership, university education, universal medical care, washing machines, central heating, wall-to-wall carpets, high-definition televisions, computers, social media, car ownership and overseas travel. Subsequently many of these became universally available and are now be taken for granted by succeeding generations. During the late 20th century a generation of dedicated telecommunications engineers worldwide, provided the basis for important innovations which enabled world events to be accurately reported at home and across international borders counteracting propaganda and false news from rogue states. This narrative is a compelling invitation for readers to grasp every opportunity that presents itself and exploit the most adventurous life possible. It shows it is never too late to get out of a rut and combat mid-life blues. It is always possible to do something extraordinary, live life to the full and eventually look back on a fulfilled existence.

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Book SynopsisWhat exactly is White Elephant Technology?White Elephant Technology is any unusual invention past or present that fails in the marketplace despite its innovative nature. From jeeps that fly to tanks that shouldn’t; from a wave-powered boat that took over three months to reach its destination to a jet-powered train that shook itself apart, White Elephant Technology showcases each inventor’s talent for creating something nobody asked for. Importantly, none of these inventions are speculative. Each one was built, field tested and worked more or less as planned (except when it killed its creator).Although success is highly prized, failure has a lot to teach us, especially when you realise it’s the rule and not the exception. Still, no one has undertaken a survey of failed inventions despite history being littered with them … until now. White Elephant Technology corrects this oversight in an entertaining, respectful and occasionally humorous manner, proving that failure is not only as fascinating as success but is also the purest expression of the human condition.Trade Review‘I read this book and loved it! There were so many inventions I’d never heard of. I only wish I’d read it before I started my museum.’ -- Dr Samuel West * Founder, Museum of Failure *'White Elephant Technology is a fascinating look at the wild, wacky, and downright weird contraptions concocted by inventors who couldn't leave well enough alone. Flying tanks, flying bikes, flying cars, swimming cars, train-planes, plane-trains, even a rail Zeppelin. They're dissected with a wit so dry you can almost hear the hapless tinkerers as they utter "Back to the drawing board.' -- Stuart Elliot * former New York Times columnist *

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Book Synopsis‘An extraordinary history’ PETER ACKROYD, The Times‘A lively account of (Bazalgette’s) magnificent achievements. . . graphically illustrated’ HERMIONE HOBHOUSE‘Halliday is good on sanitary engineering and even better on cloaca, crud and putrefaction . . . (he) writes with the relish of one who savours his subject and has deeply researched it. . . splendidly illustrated’ RUTH RENDELLIn the sweltering summer of 1858, sewage generated by over two million Londoners was pouring into the Thames, producing a stink so offensive that it drove Members of Parliament from the chamber of the House of Commons.The Times called the crisis ‘The Great Stink’. Parliament had to act – drastic measures were required to clean the Thames and to improve London’s primitive system of sanitation. The great engineer entrusted with this enormous task was Sir Joseph Bazalgette, who rose to the challenge and built the system of intercepting sewers, pumping stations and treatment works that serves London to this day. In the process, he cleansed the Thames and helped banish cholera.The Great Stink of London offers a vivid insight into Bazalgette’s achievements and the era in which he worked and lived, including his heroic battles with politicians and bureaucrats that would transform the face and health of the world’s then largest city.Trade ReviewAn extraordinary history -- Peter AckroydA lively account of (Bazalgette’s) magnificent achievements. . . graphically illustrated -- Hermione HobhouseHalliday is good on sanitary engineering and even better on cloaca, crud and putrefaction . . . (he) writes with the relish of one who savours his subject and has deeply researched it. . . splendidly illustrated -- Ruth RendellAn extraordinary history -- Peter AckroydA lively account of (Bazalgette’s) magnificent achievements. . . graphically illustrated -- Hermione HobhouseHalliday is good on sanitary engineering and even better on cloaca, crud and putrefaction . . . (he) writes with the relish of one who savours his subject and has deeply researched it. . . splendidly illustrated -- Ruth Rendell

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Book SynopsisIn Internet for the People, leading tech writer Ben Tarnoff offers an answer. The internet is broken, he argues, because it is owned by private firms and run for profit. Google annihilates your privacy and Facebook amplifies right-wing propaganda because it is profitable to do so. But the internet wasn't always like this-it had to be remade for the purposes of profit maximization, through a years-long process of privatization that turned a small research network into a powerhouse of global capitalism. Tarnoff tells the story of the privatization that made the modern internet, and which set in motion the crises that consume it today.The solution to those crises is straightforward: deprivatize the internet. Deprivatization aims at creating an internet where people, and not profit, rule. It calls for shrinking the space of the market and diminishing the power of the profit motive. It calls for abolishing the walled gardens of Google, Facebook, and the other giants that dominate our digital lives and developing publicly and cooperatively owned alternatives that encode real democratic control. To build a better internet, we need to change how it is owned and organized. Not with an eye towards making markets work better, but towards making them less dominant. Not in order to create a more competitive or more rule-bound version of privatization, but to overturn it. Otherwise, a small number of executives and investors will continue to make choices on everyone's behalf, and these choices will remain tightly bound by the demands of the market. It's time to demand an internet by, and for, the people now.Trade ReviewBen Tarnoff is the best kind of visionary: deeply knowledgeable, intensely practical, and utterly committed to the transformation of an abusive and corrupt status quo. We are profoundly fortunate to have his fine mind focussed on reimagining the tools that have remade our lives. An extraordinary and urgent book. -- Naomi Klein, author of No Is Not EnoughThe privacy-invading, throttled, and ad-filled Internet we have is not the Internet we deserve. But as Ben Tarnoff lucidly lays out, if we want to manifest the latent democratic potential of our communications infrastructure, we will have to wrest control from the privatizers and profiteers and transform the underlying political economy. Internet for the People provides an engaging and enraging account of how the online world was hijacked by corporate interests, excavating the past so we can envision and organize for a better future. Ben Tarnoff has done a public service writing this book. Now we need to get busy building the movements and popular power that can fight for an Internet in the public interest. -- Astra Taylor, author of Democracy May Not Exist But We’ll Miss it When It’s Gone and The People’s PlatformTarnoff offers not only an eloquent and essential guide to the history of our capitalist internet, he also charts the myriad ways in which alternatives are emerging. A key book for imagining a better digital future. -- Nick Srnicek, author of Platform CapitalismThroughout this easy-reading narrative history, Tarnoff weaves his thesis that the internet must be de-privatized for the good of users....Tarnoff's politically infused history and critical analysis of the privatized internet is a useful, brief primer. -- Grace O'Hanlon * Library Journal *A helpful reframing-from thinking about how to avoid a horrible internet to how to create a good one....Tarnoff wants to bring the internet back to its publicly owned, civically oriented roots, and whether or not that's the right thing to do, it's the right question to ask. -- Gabriel Nicholas * Washington Post *Strikes a happy middle ground between technical history and polemic. -- Evan Malmgren * The Nation *In this stalled conversation, Ben Tarnoff's new book, Internet for the People, makes a striking intervention....his book reveals the hidden history of the internet and expands our ideas about its possible futures. -- Sarah Leonard * New Republic *

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Book SynopsisThomas Telford was arguably the greatest civil engineer Britain has ever produced. This book reveals his humble beginnings and then describes his self-propelled rise from journeyman stonemason to famous canal engineer. In 1793 Telford was appointed principal engineer on the Ellesmere Canal (now the Llangollen Canal) in North Wales. An 11-mile section of the canal, including his magnificent Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, has recently been granted UNESCO World Heritage status, putting it in the company of such international icons as the Taj Mahal, the Statue of Liberty, and the Tower of London. Completed in 1805, the aqueduct represented a stupendous advance in civil engineering; but it was designed for canal boats and tucked away in a relatively unfrequented valley. Following a rapturous opening ceremony and initial commercial success, a decline of the canal system from about 1840 onwards made it look increasingly redundant. The richly-deserved UNESCO award has put the aqueduct and its canal back in the limelight. This is a personal and professional story, putting Telford's work into its historical and social context, showing him as a remarkable mix of good-natured ambition, talent and resilience. Today there is great interest in Britain's transport infrastructure. The 19th-century engineers who did so much to pioneer and improve it are rightly seen as heroes. It will be appreciated how much is owed to Telford and others for creations that have stood the test of time, built with courage and daring, in an age when major construction projects relied heavily on pickaxes, wheelbarrows, and an extraordinary amount of hard physical labour.Trade Review'...this excellent book...an ideal companion...much more than a guide, it is also a history book and part biography...it is the tribute to the work of a great engineer'. Spout Magazine-------------------'..A beautifully produced and very handsomely illustrated book ... a wonderful and highly informative addition to the literature on Thomas Telford ... I hope it will encourage more people to visit Pontcysyllte and the Llangollen Canal'. Tim Rolt-------------------'...As well as the excellent narrative, the book is very well illustrated with many splendid images of this engineering marvel'. Coventry Canal Society-------------------'...this highly readable book, with many and varied illustrations (photographs, maps, reproductions of paintings and engineering drawings) which help to bring the subject to life alongside many quotes from a rich variety of sources'. Cuttings Magazine, Shropshire Union Canal Society

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Book SynopsisCovering almost every line in the country, this acclaimed series of books juxtaposes photographs of the same railway location separated in time by just a few years, or maybe a century or more. Sometimes the result is dereliction or disappearance, in others a transformation into a modern high-speed railway. In both cases, the contrasts are intriguing and informative. This volume includes: the Great Western main line over the South Devon banks; Great Western lines in North Devon; the Exeter and Plymouth areas; the Southern in East Devon; the Southern''s ''Withered Arm'' route to Plymouth; and, preserved lines: the Paignton & Dartmouth Steam Railway, Dart Valley Railway and Seaton Tramway.

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Book SynopsisFor over twenty years, The Wolsztyn Experience provided an opportunity for railway enthusiasts to drive main line steam locomotives in Poland. This is Jeff Nicholls' personal story of his experiences, featuring the routes, the locos, the humour and surprises, and the Polish crews and characters who made the railway their life's work

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Book SynopsisThis book describes the life and times of fifty-three great British scientists and engineers – male and female inventive geniuses who changed the world, improving the lives of mankind, and propelling humanity forward. Their stories abound with personal ingenuity, brilliance and scientific or engineering wizardry, and with the ambition to satisfy fundamental human needs. The author aspires to set these individual achievements in the socio-political context of their place in history, sometimes embracing the activities of others to round off the story and scientific contribution. Avoiding overly technical language, he nonetheless succeeds in making complex theories and technologies more comprehensible and accessible to a lay audience. This book is a must for all those interested in the prehistory and history of the steam engine, transport, communication technology, public health services, and many topics from the natural sciences. Many of the inventions described in its pages have helped shape the modern world.Table of ContentsIntroduction.- “Revolutions” - Scientific, Agricultural and Industrial.- The Steam Age – Evolution of Steam Engines and the 1st Steam Locomotive.- Advances in Forms of Transport – Steam Locomotives, Cycle Tyres, Oceanic Liners, and Jet Aircraft. Transport Infrastructure - Canals, Roads, and Commercial Railways.- Drawbacks with Industrialization. Sanitary Revolution Offering Technologies to Improve Public Health.- Natural Sciences.- History of the Atom, 1803 to 1932.

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Book SynopsisIn September 1969, several months after the Apollo 11 lunar landing, President Richard M. Nixon established the Space Task Force to chart NASA’s path for the decades to come. This imaginative vision was shattered less than six months later when, on January 13, 1970, NASA Administrator Dr. Thomas Paine announced that, owing to funding cuts, only the reusable Space Shuttle could be afforded -- there would be no space station, no return to the Moon, and no missions to Mars. This is a story never before told about the missions and technologies that NASA had begun to plan but never fully realized. The book is a companion to the author’s previous two works on the Space Shuttle. Whereas the first two books showed how the Space Shuttle flew in space and what the program accomplished, this book explains what more the Space Shuttle could have achieved and how the space transportation system could have further matured if circumstances had been otherwise. A final chapter also discusses how some of these plans might be resurrected in future programs. Table of ContentsChapter 1: Space Shuttle 101.- Chapter 2: Making the most of the External Tank.- Chapter 3: Boosting the boosters.- Chapter 4: Improving performance.- Chapter 5: Outposts for the development of space.- Chapter 6: Orbital hopping.- Chapter 7: Unflown satellite servicing capabilities.- Chapter 8: In-space assembly: a potential not fully exploited.- Chapter 9: Factories in space.- Chapter 10: The unfulfilled potential of the External Tank.- Chapter 11: Space Shuttle freighter.- Chapter 12: The quest for a worthy successor.- Chapter 13: An impossible schedule.- Chapter 14: Space Shuttle and Skylab: a missed opportunity.- Chapter 15: Unflown science.- Chapter 16: Space Shuttle in Uniform: A lost collaboration.- Chapter 17: Too high a dream?.

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Book SynopsisThe BMW brand has always stood for a dynamic driving experience and pioneering innovations - in terms of both design and technological solutions. Today BMW is the world's leading manufacturer of premium automobiles. BMW has been building fascinating automobiles for over 90 years. The slogan "Sheer Driving Pleasure" has long defined the character of the brand. It is a promise delivered on by BMW vehicles the world over day by day, and is constantly created anew by BMW developers. The publication will show the details of what makes up the BMW brand. Text and images will show and explain the innovations featured in each vehicle and how BMW created an intelligent networking between the driver, the vehicle and the environment. The publication will feature the world renowned BMW 3 series, the BMW 6 series as well of course the legendary “M” series. A special section will be devoted to the BMW motorcycles, actually the first ever vehicle produced by the company was a motorcycle. Other chapters will lay focus on BMW motorsport, the high-end engineering process, the brand itself and the advertisement of it. It all cumulates in look back at the past 100 years – from 2016 to the very first day of BMW.

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Book SynopsisExplore the irreverent side of space travel—and learn about the marvels of modern engineering—in this hilarious illustrated guide to excrement etiquette in the midst of adventurous endeavors.​ Space travel is a pinnacle of human ambition and a marvel of engineering. But someone had to figure out how our brave astronauts would go to the bathroom. And like any scientific endeavor, it took a lot of trial and error. Explore the little-seen history of the inventions and advancements that allowed astronauts to boldly go where they've never gone before. From pre-flight rituals to the first person to pee on the moon and zero-gravity toilets to farting etiquette, Peeing and Pooping in Space shares everything you never imagined you'd want to know humorously detailed in smart, easily digestible, and illustrated entries.

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Book SynopsisIn the late 1980s, the storied Italian automaker Bugatti positioned itself for a massive relaunch, defying widespread concerns and pinning its hopes on the innovative EB110 sports car. The EB110, which was eventually unveiled in 1991, was the fastest street-legal car of its time and was greeted with acclaim from industry insiders and trade journalists alike. Yet, soon thereafter, things started unraveling: faster cars came onto the market, sales collapsed, and eight years after its relaunch, Bugatti was bankrupt. This book details the car maker's unexpected revival, from the meteoric rise of the EB110 to its dramatic fall, as well as the tales of intrigue and shenanigans from the many prominent automotive personalities who worked behind the scenes. Though the Bugatti name lives on, still signaling the pinnacle in luxury sports car performance, this compelling and confounding automotive fiasco remains an unforgettable chapter in its one-hundred-plus years of existence.Trade Review"No one is more qualified to write the story of Bugatti’s Italian Decade than the irrepressible, prolific, and truly enjoyable Gautam Sen." * Veloce Today *"A very detailed account of a brave undertaking." * Motor Sport *"Sen sources first-hand voices and previously unseen photos to document an era of promising might-have-beens and dashed hopes." * Classic Cars *"This is a supremely thorough book that not only moves the goalposts farther forward but also proffers reasons for reevaluating certain aspects of the delivered canon." * Speedreaders *"A fascinating story that's well told, with illuminating insights from those right at the heart of the adventure." * Magneto *Table of ContentsPREFACE PROLOGUE - FROM MILAN TO MOLSHEIM I - THE BEGINNINGS OF A DREAM II - GETTING IT RIGHT III - DESIGNING THE DREAM IV - COMPLETING THE DESIGN V - UNVEILING OF THE DREAM VI - TESTING THE DREAM VII - MEETING THE PRESS VIII - THE BEST SUPERCAR IN THE WORLD IX - THE BEST YEARS YET X - BUGATTI AT LE MANS XI - THE BEGINNING OF THE END EPILOGUE - AFTER THE CLOSURE APPENDICES BIBLIOGRAPHY INDEX

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Book SynopsisA compact and accessible history of computing—from punch cards and calculators to UNIVAC and ENIAC, the personal computer, Silicon Valley, and the Internet—for experts and non-experts alike In an accessible style, computer historian Paul Ceruzzi offers a broad though detailed history of computing, from the first use of the word “digital” in 1942 to the development of punch cards and the first general purpose computer, to the internet, Silicon Valley, and smartphones and social networking. Ceruzzi identifies 4 major threads that run throughout all of computing's technological development: • Digitization: the coding of information, computation, and control in binary form • The convergence of multiple streams of techniques, devices, and machines • The steady advance of electronic technology, as characterized famously by “Moore's Law” • Human-machine interface The

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Book SynopsisTo solve their design problems, engineers draw on a vast body of knowledge about how things work. Examining previously unstudied historical cases, this author shows how engineering knowledge is obtained and presents a model to help explain the growth of such knowledge.Trade Review'Must' reading for all thoughtful engineers and historians of technology, and even for those physical scientists who wonder why engineers frequently act and think differently than do basic scientists. American Scientist The biggest contribution of Vincenti's splendidly crafted book may well be that it offers us a believably human image of the engineer. Technology Review The biggest contribution of Vincenti's splendidly crafted book may well be that it offers us a believably human image of the engineer. Techology Review

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Book SynopsisA Simpler Life approaches the developing field of synthetic biology by focusing on the experimental and institutional lives of practitioners in two labs at Princeton University. It highlights the distance between hyped technoscience and the more plodding and entrenched aspects of academic research. Talia Dan-Cohen follows practitioners as they wrestle with experiments, attempt to publish research findings, and navigate the ins and outs of academic careers. Dan-Cohen foregrounds the practices and rationalities of these pursuits that give both researchers'' lives and synthetic life their distinctive contemporary forms. Rather than draw attention to avowed methodology, A Simpler Life investigates some of the more subtle and tectonic practices that bring knowledge, doubt, and technological intervention into new configurations. In so doing, the book sheds light on the more general conditions of contemporary academic technoscience.Trade ReviewIn her ethnographic study, conducted over a three-year period, Dan-Cohen followed two laboratories with widely differing technical and epistemological approaches working in a complex multidisciplinary and high-profile field. Observations and interviews included here catch the day-to-day action as principal investigators, post-docs, and students navigate successes and failures in the laboratory, face the challenges of publishing, and deal with the complexities of institutional politics. These accounts are both informative and entertaining. * Choice *In her ethnography of two synthetic biology laboratories at Princeton University, Dan-Cohen writes that synthetic biology is "the latest permutation in a history of mutual incursions between nature and culture, and a contested, heterogeneous, and unstable one at that * American Anthroplogist *Table of ContentsIntroduction 1. Labs, Lives, Technoscience 2. The Virtues of the Naïve View 3. Looking for Patterns 4. To the Editor 5. On the Move Epilogue

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Book SynopsisA revealing genealogy of image-recognition techniques and technologies Today’s most advanced neural networks and sophisticated image-analysis methods come from 1950s and ’60s Cold War culture—and many biases and ways of understanding the world from that era persist along with them. Aerial surveillance and reconnaissance shaped all of the technologies that we now refer to as computer vision, including facial recognition. The Birth of Computer Vision uncovers these histories and finds connections between the algorithms, people, and politics at the core of automating perception today.James E. Dobson reveals how new forms of computerized surveillance systems, high-tech policing, and automated decision-making systems have become entangled, functioning together as a new technological apparatus of social control. Tracing the development of a series of important computer-vision algorithms, he uncovers the ideas, worrisome military origins, and lingering goals reproduced within the code and the products based on it, examining how they became linked to one another and repurposed for domestic and commercial uses. Dobson includes analysis of the Shakey Project, which produced the first semi-autonomous robot, and the impact of student protest in the early 1970s at Stanford University, as well as recovering the computer vision–related aspects of Frank Rosenblatt’s Perceptron as the crucial link between machine learning and computer vision.Motivated by the ongoing use of these major algorithms and methods, The Birth of Computer Vision chronicles the foundations of computer vision and artificial intelligence, its major transformations, and the questionable legacy of its origins. Cover alt text: Two overlapping circles in cream and violet, with black background. Top is a printed circuit with camera eye; below a person at a 1977 computer.Trade Review"A key technology of our time, computer vision is embedded in both our professional and everyday lives in numerous ways—from helping doctors diagnose diseases to enabling organizations to obtain accurate information about remote natural disaster zones and refugee camps to allowing billions of people to capture better images with their phone cameras. Focusing on the United States from the 1950s to the 1970s, James E. Dobson offers the first book tracing the development of computer vision. Combining historical research and theoretical analysis, The Birth of Computer Vision is an invaluable contribution to the fields of media theory, software studies, and algorithm studies."—Dr. Lev Manovich, author of Cultural Analytics"In this timely and eye-opening book, James E. Dobson provides a penetrating analysis of the opportunities and challenges of facial recognition and other computer vision technology by excavating its formation from the sediment of history, tracing its connections to the military industrial complex of the Cold War, and critically examining the notable successes and failures of embryonic research efforts and prototypes."—David J. Gunkel, author of Deconstruction

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Book SynopsisA preeminent geneticist, winner of the 2022 Nobel Prize in medicine, hunts the Neanderthal and Denisovan genomes to answer the biggest question of them all: how did our ancestors become human?Neanderthal Man tells the riveting personal and scientific story of the quest to use ancient DNA to unlock the secrets of human evolution. Beginning with the study of DNA in Egyptian mummies in the early 1980s and culminating in the sequencing of the Neanderthal genome in 2010, Neanderthal Man describes the events, intrigues, failures, and triumphs of these scientifically rich years through the lens of the pioneer and inventor of the field of ancient DNA, Svante Pääbo. We learn that Neanderthal genes offer a unique window into the lives of our ancient relatives and may hold the key to unlocking the mysteries of where language came from as well as why humans survived while Neanderthals went extinct. Pääbo redrew our family tree and permanently changed the way we think about who we are and how we got here. For readers of Richard Dawkins, David Reich, and Hope Jahren, Neanderthal Man is the must-read account of how he did it.Trade Review"Neanderthal Man opens with this episode [when Paabo and his team first sequenced Neanderthal DNA], and it's a nice touch by Paabo, bringing us straight to the moment when his long, painstaking effort to tease ancient DNA out of hominin fossils yielded its first dramatic results." --David Quammen, Harper's "Paabo has provided us with a fabulous account of three decade of research into ancient DNA, culminating in 2010 with the publication of the Neanderthal genome... Paabo's book has to be compared to The Double Helix (1968), James Watson's brilliant but controversial account of how the structure of DNA was discovered. When taken together they provide an insight into how bio-molecular science has both changed and remained much the same during the last half-century. Both are strong personal accounts of scientific discovery, exposing how science is driven as much by passion, ambition, and competition as by rational thought and the sharing of knowledge. In both books the reader is gripped by life stories of far greater interest than those in may novels before being plunged into passages of near-unintelligible science (despite much simplification) that are nevertheless strangely enthralling." --Steven Mithen, New York Review of Books "I came for the cavemen, but I stayed for the geeky nail-biter of a story about doing historic science in a climate of fierce international competition and rapid technological innovation... Truth be told, DNA sequencing is pretty wonky stuff, but perhaps it's Paabo's own passionate investment in the undertaking that makes his story so exciting to read about; Neanderthal Man does for paleogenetics something like what Steven Spielberg did for the legislative process in Lincoln... [T]his book is a vibrant testimonial to what might be the greatest creation of modern humans: the scientific method." --Laura Miller, Salon "Much of Paabo's book is devoted to the details of the difficulties [of extracting DNA from ancient bones], and how they were overcome by an awesome combination of technology, ingenuity and persistence. It's a story of how modern high-concept science is done, shot through with the crackle of problem-solving and the hum of project tension, with occasional riffs of annoyance about major scientific journals and people who want dinosaur DNA." --The Independent (UK) "If Paabo weren't such a good storyteller, the book might have bogged down with descriptions of things like the different techniques of polymerase chain reaction, and all it takes to build a clean lab. But he's a clever enough writer to keep the reader's attention with a fast-paced story and wonderful details." --23andMe blog "This is a fascinating story of how modern science and especially computer technology is opening vistas onto our prehistoric history." --The Explorers Journal "Paabo provides a fascinating look at how his personal life intersected with the founding of a scientific field that has revolutionized evolution." --Science News "In Neanderthal Man, Svante Paabo offers readers a front-row seat to the still-unfolding understanding of this enigmatic human ancestor by recounting his own years of work... Paabo quite candidly relays the doubts and challenges that accompanied more than a decade of discovery--a labor that elevated Neanderthals from troglodyte brutes inhabiting a dead-end branch of the human family tree to a complex species that interbred with other hominins, including Homo sapiens. Never one to shy away from provocative statements or even-more-provocative research, Paabo gives what appears to be an honest and open account of his pioneering studies of Neanderthal genetics." --The Scientist "Evolutionary biologists are, general, pretty interesting people to talk to, but rarely would you describe their lives as thrilling. The notion of combining an autobiography with a popular science book may therefore not seem especially compelling. However, in this case both the author and the science are quite extraordinary, and inextricably linked." --Evening Standard (UK) "Paabo's tale describes a process approaching the Platonic Idea of contemporary science: a lot of very smart people collaboratively working their butts off, persisting through mistakes and failures and numbingly repetitive but essential tasks and political machinations and technological inadequacies because they believe the Truth is Out There. And finally finding it. Others have not yet weighed in, and this being top-level and therefore monumentally competitive science, contrarians may well emerge. But if the Neanderthal genome project was anything like what Paabo describes, we are damn lucky." --Tabitha Powledge, Genetic Literacy Project "Paabo passionately chronicles his personal story, from graduate school through the culmination of the Neanderthal project 30 years later, and the scientific implications of this exciting research... In accessible prose, Paabo presents the science so that laypersons will understand the nature and import of his work. But it's his discussion of the scientific process that steals the show... He discusses what it took to build a case tight enough to convince even the most skeptical of colleagues and he goes on to demonstrate that scientific knowledge is cumulative and ever-evolving." --Publishers Weekly, starred review "Svante Paabo's Neanderthal Man is the incredible personal story of one man's quest for our human origins using the latest genome sequence tools. Paabo takes us through his exciting journey to first extract DNA from ancient bones then sequence it to give us the first real glance at our human ancestors, and showing ultimately that early humans and Neanderthals interbred to produce modern humans. This is science at its best and reinforces that contained in each of our genomes is the history of humanity." --J. Craig Venter, Chairman and President, J. Craig Venter Institute "Svante Paabo, a major architect in the study of paleo-DNA, has written a personal, insightful and sometimes very frank book about his relentless quest to understand the human family tree. The first scholar to extract genetic material from Neanderthals, Paabo writes candidly about the seemingly insurmountable trials and tribulations he had to overcome to give us intriguing new insights into human origins." --Donald Johanson, Founding Director of the Institute of Human Origins, Arizona State University, and author of Lucy: The Beginnings of Humankind "This is the fascinating account of Svante Paabo's efforts to sequence Neanderthal nuclear DNA... [H]is personal story, from graduate to world-renowned scientist, make this a very enjoyable book... The study of Neanderthals has kept palaeontologists occupied for more than a century, but Paabo convinces us that decoding their DNA will provide insights into how different we are from them and what makes us so unique." --BBC Focus "[An] engaging book... Neanderthal Man is devoted--and devoted is definitely the word--to the years-long ancient DNA project to sequence the Neanderthal genome. Paabo and his far-flung team did that to an accuracy that exceeds most of the contemporary genomes being sequenced today... Before I read Neanderthal Man, I thought I knew something about contamination of ancient DNA. In fact, though, I had no clue. No matter how well informed you are about genetics, Svante Paabo will teach you things." --Tabitha Powledge, PLOS Blogs / On Science Blogs "[A] revealing glimpse into the inner workings of scientific research... Since Neanderthals are our closest evolutionary relatives, the author's work in decoding Neanderthal DNA gives scientists a way to understand how we differ genetically from them and offers the opportunity to learn what genetic changes have made humans unique on this planet." --Kirkus Reviews "The tale Paabo tells is largely one of technological improvement enabling the elimination of contamination and speeding up the sequencing process. Secondarily, it's about creating scientific foundations and multinational scientific cooperation to pursue the promises of research into ancient DNA, including that of nonhuman species as well as hominins." --Booklist "It is a rare thing to read about an important development in science by its principal innovator, written in the spirit and style in which the research unfolded. Neanderthal Man is a dispatch from the front, and if you want to learn how real science is really done, I suggest you read it." --Edward O. Wilson, University Research Professor, Emeritus, Harvard University "[A]n excellent glimpse into how modern science proceeds as a global, social activity... Paabo has to navigate through collaborators and competitors (including people who spend time in both categories), guardians of the bones he wants to grind into dust, touchy issues of nationalism, and more. In the process, he helps found a new research institute and builds a team dedicated to studying ancient DNA. If anyone doubts that science is a social activity, the doubt won't survive reading this book... Paabo paints a picture of how a major scientific advance rose out of a mix of politics, persuasion, careful management, and struggles with technology and technique. For that alone, it's valuable." --Ars Technica "If there is one name associated with ancient DNA, it is Svante Paabo... Paabo pioneered and has largely led the field for the past three decades. His book, Neanderthal Man, is perfectly timed, beautifully written and required reading--it is a window onto the genesis of a whole new way of thinking." --Nature

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Book SynopsisAlan Turing is regarded as one of the greatest scientists of the 20th century. But who was Turing, and what did he achieve during his tragically short life of 41 years? Best known as the genius who broke Germany''s most secret codes during the war of 1939-45, Turing was also the father of the modern computer. Today, all who ''click-to-open'' are familiar with the impact of Turing''s ideas. Here, B. Jack Copeland provides an account of Turing''s life and work, exploring the key elements of his life-story in tandem with his leading ideas and contributions. The book highlights Turing''s contributions to computing and to computer science, including Artificial Intelligence and Artificial Life, and the emphasis throughout is on the relevance of his work to modern developments. The story of his contributions to codebreaking during the Second World War is set in the context of his thinking about machines, as is the account of his work in the foundations of mathematics.Trade ReviewThis book is highly entertaining and informative * Zentralblatt Math, Teodora-Liliana Radulescu *Fans drawn to the Turing biopic ... should move on to this lively biography of the scientific genius who cracked Enigma * Independent *[T]hanks to Professor Copelands book we can walk with Alan Turing through his finest hours. * Jim Young, Glycosmedia *This book is entertaining and informative ... Highly recommended. * S.M. Frey, CHOICE *Table of Contents1. Click to Open ; 2. Turing's Universal Machine ; 3. Sinking Hilbert ; 4. The Intuitive Mathematician ; 5. Breaking Enigma ; 6. Tunny - Hitler's BlackBerry ; 7. The Colossus of Computers ; 8. ACE- A Month's Work in a Minute ; 9. The Manchester "Electronic Brain" ; 10. Artificial Intelligence ; 11. The Imitation Game ; 12. Educating Machinery ; 13. Computer Chess ; 14. Artificial Life ; 15. Epilogue

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Book SynopsisThis is the second book in a three-part series that traces the development of the GPU, which is defined as a single chip with an integrated transform and lighting (T&L) capability. This feature previously was found in workstations as a stand-alone chip that only performed geometry functions. Enabled by Moore’s law, the first era of GPUs began in the late 1990s.Silicon Graphics (SGI) introduced T&L first in 1996 with the Nintendo 64 chipset with integrated T&L but didn’t follow through. ArtX developed a chipset with integrated T&L but didn’t bring it to market until November 1999.The need to integrate the transform and lighting functions in the graphics controller was well understood and strongly desired by dozens of companies. Nvidia was the first to produce a PC consumer level single chip with T&L in October 1999. All in all, fifteen companies came close, they had designs and experience, but one thing or another got in their way to prevent them succeeding.All the forces and technology were converging; the GPU was ready to emerge. Several of the companies involved did produce an integrated GPU, but not until early 2000. This is the account of those companies, the GPU and the environment needed to support it. The GPU has become ubiquitous and can be found in every platform that involves a computer and a user interface.Table of ContentsForeword.- Preface.- 1 Introduction.- 2 The GPU Functions.- 3 The Major GPU Eras.- 4 The First Era of GPUs.- 5 The GPU Environment—Hardware.- 6 Application Program Interface (API).- 7 The GPU Environment—Software Extensions and Custom Features.- Appendix A: Definitions.- Appendix B: Acronyms.

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Book SynopsisEffective Technical Communication is designed to serve as a practical guide and useful resource for scientists, engineers, and researchers. It addresses the need of practitioners engaged in the exchange of techincal information to effectively share their ideas with, and make impact on, their peers.

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a huge range and FREE tracked UK delivery on ALL orders.

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Book SynopsisThe collision of new technologies, changing business strategies, and innovative storytelling that produced a new golden age of TV.Cable television channels were once the backwater of American television, programming recent and not-so-recent movies and reruns of network shows. Then came La Femme Nikita, OZ, The Sopranos, Mad Men, Game of Thrones, and The Walking Dead. And then, just as “prestige cable” became a category, came House of Cards and Netflix, Hulu, Amazon Video, and other Internet distributors of television content. What happened? In We Now Disrupt This Broadcast, Amanda Lotz chronicles the collision of new technologies, changing business strategies, and innovative storytelling that produced an era termed “peak TV.”Lotz explains that changes in the business of television expanded the creative possibilities of television. She describes the costly infrastructure rebuilding undertake

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Book SynopsisThe history of pregnancy testing, and how it transformed from an esoteric laboratory tool to a commonplace of everyday life.Pregnancy testing has never been easier. Waiting on one side or the other of the bathroom door for a “positive” or “negative” result has become a modern ritual and rite of passage. Today, the ubiquitous home pregnancy test is implicated in personal decisions and public debates about all aspects of reproduction, from miscarriage and abortion to the “biological clock” and IVF. Yet, only three generations ago, women typically waited not minutes but months to find out whether they were pregnant. A Woman’s Right to Know tells, for the first time, the story of pregnancy testing—one of the most significant and least studied technologies of reproduction.Focusing on Britain from around 1900 to the present day, Jesse Olszynko-Gryn shows how demand shifted from doctors to women, and then goes further to explain the remarkable transformation of pregnancy testing from an obscure laboratory service to an easily accessible (though fraught) tool for every woman. Lastly, the book reflects on resources the past might contain for the present and future of sexual and reproductive health.Solidly researched and compellingly argued, Olszynko-Gryn demonstrates that the rise of pregnancy testing has had significant—and not always expected—impact and has led to changes in the ways in which we conceive of pregnancy itself.

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Book SynopsisThis book charts the history of the worldwide introduction of an operative treatment method for broken bones, osteosynthesis, by a Swiss-based association, called AO.Table of ContentsForeword; U.Tröhler Acknowledgements List of Illustrations Introduction: The AO PART I: SETTING UP A NETWORK, 1950s-1970s Dealing with Broken Bones Starting the Network A Symbiosis of Surgery, Science and Industry 'Tacit Knowledge': Education and Training Science and Surgery: Bones in the Laboratory The Science of Surgery: Clinical Research PART II: COPING WITH SUCCESS, 1970s-1990s Acceptance: The AO Becomes Mainstream Optimized Control: The AO's Success in East Germany The Long Road to Success: The AO in the USA Redefining Osteosynthesis: Another Revolution in Fracture Care Control and Cooperation on a Global Scale PART III: CONCLUSION Surgery, Science and Industry in Modern Medicine Notes Archival Sources Printed Sources Secondary Literature Index

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Book SynopsisBoth beer and wine have histories spanning thousands of years. This is the first book to compare them from the perspectives of history, technology, the market for each, and the effect that they have on human health and nutrition.Trade Review"Wine results from a shaky art, beer from a stately science asserts Charles Bamforth who guides the reader through the history and production of both from vine to vintage, and barley to beer bubbles. So why is it that in countries such as the United States wine is revered as sophisticated and beer dismissed as common? In pondering such questions Grape vs. Grain offers humorous as well as penetrating insights into two of the world's favorite beverages." –Kenneth Kiple, Author of A Movable Feast"Which do you prefer, Beer or Wine? Irrespective of your response, this highly entertaining and informative text is a valued reference for wine and beer aficionados. It will give you a much better insight and appreciation of both. Charlie Bamforth, Chair Department of Food Science and Technology and Anheuser-Busch Endowed Professor of Malting and Brewing Sciences, is well qualified to discuss wine and beer. It is obvious which one is his first love, but he demonstrates impressive knowledge and profound respect for professionals in both fields and their efforts. He has comparable disdain for inferior products, tacky marketing ploys, and intemperate consumption. He rightfully laments beer's second class image and presents compelling counter arguments. From the history and tradition to modern developments and health benefits--both good and bad--Charlie provides a fascinating, reasonably objective comparison of beer and wine. The complex technical details (more so beer than wine) are presented in easily understandable language; even the lay reader can grasp the whys and wherefore from raw material to consumption. There's an instructive mix of technology, history, geography, sociology, medicine, economics, even politics. So be it beer or wine, using Charlie's guidelines for selection and tasting, savor your favorite - slowly, thoughtfully, and in moderation. But don't neglect the alternate beverage or unfamiliar styles; you'll learn much and be pleasantly surprised." - Robert Bates, University of Florida"Many great books have been written about wine, and many about beer, but until now there has been no comprehensive work comparing the two. Charles Bamforth’s Grapes and Grain delves into the social history and technology of both wine and beer, and out of this yeasty mix, provocative insights flow. Bamforth gives the edge to brewed beverages, but wine connoisseurs will be fascinated, and everybody will enjoy his infectious enthusiasm." - Andrew F. Smith, Editor in chief, The Oxford Companion to American Food and Drink"Grape vs. Grain offers a thorough, comparative look at mankind’s two most beloved and culturally significant beverages that will surely change the mind of anyone who thinks of beer as wine’s less-sophisticated ‘poor relation’. Charles Bamforth’s jovial approach to the subject is as clean and refreshing as a Blanche de Bruges on a hot summer day. Not only did I learn a lot from this book, I enjoyed reading it too; I’d love to sit down and share a pint with its author!" -Alan Tardi, Author of Romancing the Vine (Winner of the 2006 James Beard Best Wine and Spirits Book)"...readers will find that the book presents a wealth of interesting material that will correct a number of common myths about the subject of beer and wine." Agricultural History, David Hanson, University of North-Carolina- Chapel Hill"...good in covering the technical side of both wine making and beer brewing..." -GastronomicaTable of Contents1. Beer and wine: some social commentary; 2. A brief history of wine; 3. A brief history of beer; 4. How wine is made; 5. How beer is made; 6. The quality of wine; 7. The quality of beer; 8. Types of wine; 9. Types of beer; 10. The healthfulness of wine and beer; 11. Conclusions about beer and wine - and the future.

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Book SynopsisFrom the authors of the successful titles, The Civil Engineers and The Contractors, comes: The Consulting Engineers: The British consulting engineers who created the world's infrastructure.This beautifully illustrated full colour book tells the fascinating story of British consulting engineers for the first time. From their early beginnings, through the establishment of the profession in the 18th century, the `Railway Age' of the 1800s, their post-World War Two international boom and on to the recent commercialisation and consolidation of the industry. The authors, Hugh Ferguson and Mike Chrimes, bring their vast experience and expert subject knowledge to the book, tracking how an extraordinary group of engineers created the infrastructure of Britain, and of much of the rest of the world.The Consulting Engineers covers not just what consulting engineers do but also how their profession started and grew rapidly, and how the role has changed anTrade ReviewAs well as being a racy and entertaining read for practising engineers, this volume will appeal to anyone interested in the personalities behind the businesses that created the world’s key infrastructure. Across 340 pages can be found stirring tales of nation and empire building; battles against the odds to design transport networks, water supply projects, public health schemes, power sources, great public buildings, and the great bridges that are civil engineering’s favourite icons. The projects are all here, but, importantly, so are the human stories of the personal drive and business growth of the people behind the projects. But this is no hagiography – the authors do not flinch from describing their occasional failures and setbacks. -- Prof Gordon Masterton, OBE DL, President of the Institution of Civil Engineers 2005-06, and the chair for the ICE Panel for Historical Engineering WorksI cannot imagine how much work has gone into researching and compiling such a thorough volume, impeccably indexed and cross-referenced. The time line of Consultants is a masterpiece, something that we all need to help us keep track of who has absorbed who and what happened to all those firms that we used to do business with. This is truly a pièce de résistance, a historical record for posterity of the evolution of civil engineering design and imagination in the Britain. Magnificent! -- Michael Thorn MA MS CEng FICE, Wallingford Research ConsultancyIt covers Rail and Power, before moving onto the Two World Wars where it charts the massive increase in infrastructure building and demonstrates what manpower alone can achieve when at war and in peace time. This book explains iconic structures such as the Bridge on the River Kuai, Sidney Opera House, London Thames Barrage and the Second Severn Crossing (now the Prince of Wales Bridge) to name just a few. This is then followed by historic information on famous Consultants from the 1700’s right up to date. Once you delve into this historic volume you will see many familiar names, past and present, but too many to mention here. A thoroughly enjoyable book to dip into and immerse yourself in the history of our industry regardless of your own specialist area – definitely worth a read as you will be surprised by how much you already knew, but you will learn a lot too! -- Claudia Currie, BSc(Hons) MSc PGDip CEng CTPP FCIHT FICE FCILT FCMI PIEMA, Associate Transport Planner

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Book SynopsisDemonstrates how science and technology have been as important to 007 as good looks, martinis, and women. Using entertaining sketches and nontechnical language, this book explains the basic physics behind the gadgets, cars, and stunts in the Bond films, from the jet packs in "Thunderball" to the dynamics of daredevil bungee jumping in "Goldeneye".Trade ReviewIn an entertaining narrative, Parker explores which aspects of Ian Fleming's Bond stories are scientifically sound and which are purely fiction or movie magic. Science News 2005 A very successful and entirely charming book that belongs in all college libraries. Highly recommended. Choice 2006 A fun romp with a handful of equations, charts, and diagrams. College and Research Libraries News 2006 Thorough and clearly written. -- Stephen Baxter Nature 2006 Parker has a terrific idea here-to scrutinize the science of the special effects on parade in the James Bond movies. -- Eve Lichtgarn AssociatedContent.com 2005 A book that's sure to appeal to teens with an interest in gadgets, cars, stunts, trick cinematography, and sports. School Library Journal 2006 For anyone moderately interested in both James Bond and physics, this is an entertaining and relatively easy read. -- Joanna Barstow Observatory Magazine 2006 A very enjoyable book with some very well handled physics. -- John L. Hubisz Physics Teacher 2007Table of ContentsAcknowldgmentsIntroduction1. Bond for Beginners2. Wow, What a Stunt!3. Death Rays and Ghosts4. How'd They Do That?: Amazing Devices5. Bond's Gadgets and Gizmos6. The Incredible Bond Cars7. The Race Is On: Car Chases8. Bond in Space9. Nuclear Weapons and Reactors10. Water Sports and GunsAppendixBibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisAirplanes shows how the solutions to these riddles have helped spur dramatic changes in the world's social and cultural life.Trade ReviewThe author manages to do an impressive job of thoroughly discussing the details and specifics of the way that airplane technology improved and the political movements, world events, and social change that brought about these improvements. The introduction also offers an excellent overview of the physics of flight and the time line of the evolution of the airplane. Choice 2007Table of ContentsPrefaceIntroduction: Higher, Faster, and FartherTimeline1. The Origins of Powered Flight, 1783–19142. The First War in the Air, 1914–19183. The Aeronautical Revolution, 1918–19384. World War II in the Air, 1939–19455. The Second Aeronautical Revolution, 1930–Present6. The Jet Airplane as a Military Weapon, 1945–Present7. The Commercial Airplane, 1945–Present8. General Aviation, 1920–PresentConclusion: Higher, Ever HigherGlossarySelected BibliographyIndex

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Book SynopsisThis volume represents an introduction to a new world-wide attempt to review the history of technology. It takes an explicit archaeological focus to the study of the history of technology and adopts a more explicit socially-embedded view of technology than has commonly been the case in mainstream histories of technology.Table of ContentsPreface; Setting the Scene; What is technology?; Earlier Approaches to the History of Technology; Varying Theoretical Approaches to the History of Technology; Cultural Logics and Materials; Spatial and Temporal Orders of Technology; How Does Technology Change?; Technology Transfer; Technological Choice and 'Intentionality'; Final Thoughts.

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Book Synopsis

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Book Synopsis

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