This comprehensive book provides an introduction into the key topics in the history of computing in an easy-to-follow and concise manner. It does not require studies in computer science in order to be understood and appreciated. The book covers significant areas and events in the field from the beginnings of computation in 3000B.C. through to the present day. The author offers detailed information on major figures in computing, such as Boole, Babbage, Shannon, Turing and Von Neumann, and it includes a history of programming languages, including syntax and semantics. Helpful pedagogical elements such as exercises and chapter summaries are included. Focusing on the fundamental areas in the computing field, this clearly written and broad-ranging text will catch the attention and greatly benefit computer science students.

Written by a distinguished cast of contributors, Alan Turing: Life and Legacy of a Great Thinker is the definitive collection of essays in commemoration of the 90th birthday of Alan Turing. This fascinating text covers the rich facets of his life, thoughts, and legacy, but also sheds some light on the future of computing science with a chapter contributed by visionary Ray Kurzweil, winner of the 1999 National Medal of Technology. Further, important contributions come from the philosopher Daniel Dennett, the Turing biographer Andrew Hodges, and from the distinguished logician Martin Davis, who provides a first critical essay on an emerging and controversial field termed "hypercomputation".
 
 
 

An enlightening, challenging, and eminently readable guide to the future of health care, with expert insights into how health care professionals can prepare now for the extraordinary changes soon to come.

This volume gives an account of the earlier work on which the English invention was founded, and the curious route by which it came to England. It discusses the way in which two such antagonistic men were driven into collaboration and sets out the history of the early telegraph lines, including work on the London and Birmingham Railway and the Great Western Railway.

T.A. Heppenheimer′s acclaimed chronicle of rockets, politics, and the pioneers who dared to reach beyond humanity′s limits.



"The most comprehensive, up–to–date, and best written history of space flight there is. "–The Times (London)



"A lively account of the development of space activities in the U.S. and the Soviet Union. . .

Women engineers have been in the public limelight for decades, yet we have surprisingly little historically grounded understanding of women in this field. This book considers the mechanisms of exclusion and inclusion of them.

Women engineers have been in the public limelight for decades, yet we have surprisingly little historically grounded understanding of women in this field. This book considers the mechanisms of exclusion and inclusion of them.

A comprehensive and authoritative account of the creation, development, and actions of IBM's Deep Blue, a computer that defeated a chess grand master. Book details the AI technology and people involved in this technological triumph of machine over human gaming skills. Specialists and nonspecialists in AI and computer gaming will discover a fascinating story and account.

The definitive biography of the century′s godfather of invention–from the preeminent Edison scholar



"Israel′s meticulous research and refusal to shy away from the dodgier aspects of Edison′s personality offers a fresh glimpse into the life of the inventor. "–New Scientist



"Remarkable.