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OverviewAn exhilarating chronicle of the most revolutionary advancements in recent-and future-technology Which new technologies are bound to have the biggest impact on our lives in the years ahead? This groundbreaking book looks at the latest technological superstars destined to reshape the upcoming century and offers easy-to-understand, engaging explanations of what they are, how they work, and how they will affect our lives. Written by a senior editor of Scientific American, the world's premier science magazine, and based on in-depth interviews with today's leading innovators as well as extensive research of the latest scientific literature, Who Gives a Gigabyte? takes you on a fast-paced tour into the brave new world of gene therapy, quantum computation, designer drugs, and recyclable cars. Surveying the wide range of technological wonders, the authors investigate such diverse realms of scientific advancement as computing, telecommunications, laser beams, bioengineering materials, and alternative energy sources. From the Human Genome Project, which aims to spell out every letter of our genetic inheritance, to the implications of altering genes in important agricultural projects, to new strategies for attacking malignant cancer cells without the damaging side effects of traditional treatments, to the startling but still unsuccessful attempts to make computer software more like the human mind, Who Gives a Gigabyte? demystifies the technology of today and provides an enlightening glimpse into the limitless possibilities of tomorrow. ""An enjoyable and rewarding book.""-Choice ""An informative overview of new and emerging technologies.""-Booklist ""The reward for the reader is a solid grounding in technological literacy.""-Scientific American Full Product DetailsAuthor: Gary Stix , Miriam LacobPublisher: Turner Publishing Company Imprint: John Wiley & Sons Ltd Dimensions: Width: 16.40cm , Height: 2.80cm , Length: 24.30cm Weight: 0.590kg ISBN: 9780471162933ISBN 10: 0471162930 Pages: 304 Publication Date: 29 April 1999 Audience: General/trade , General Format: Hardback Publisher's Status: Active Availability: In Print  This item will be ordered in for you from one of our suppliers. Upon receipt, we will promptly dispatch it out to you. For in store availability, please contact us. Table of ContentsIntroduction: Microchips and the Millennium. Computers 101: From Bits to Gigabytes and Beyond. Software: Making a Computer Bend to Your Will. Wiring the World: Telecommunications and Data Networks. Lasers: The Light Fantastic. All in the Genes: DNA Becomes an Industry. Medicine and Molecules: New Approaches to Drug Development. Spare Parts and High-Tech Flashlights: Repair Kits and Diagnostics for the Human Body. Material Improvements: Better Living through Advanced Chemistry. Mother Earth, Wind, and Fire: Energy for a Small Planet. Clean Machines: Technology and the Environment. Conclusion: Great Expectations. Further Reading. Index.ReviewsAn enjoyable and rewarding book. --Choice<br><br>From Scientific American Stix (an associate editor at Scientific American) and Lacob (a freelance writer) provide a crackerjack tutorial in modern technology for those they call the technologically perplexed. Almost everybody could answer to that designation in one field or another. The fields that the authors discuss are computer hardware, software, telecommunications, lasers, genetic engineering, medical technology, molecular biology, materials science, energy, and environmental science. Numerous boxes focus a spotlight on such subjects as computer language, the electromagnetic spectrum and the polymerase chain reaction, and several of the chapters contain a helpful glossary of common terms in the field. The reward for the reader is a solid grounding in technological literacy.<br>From Booklist Stix, a senior editor for Scientific American , and Lacob, a freelance science writer, present an informative overview of new and emerging technologies. The authors first tackle the all-pervasive computers, explaining how they do the marvelous things they do, the mysteries of software programs, and a concise history of the Internet. There's also a long section about DNA and gene splitting, and the implications the latter has for the future of humanity--some good, some very troubling. The authors end on an environmental tack, examining the many problems high tech has created for the planet's air, water, and soil, but also how technology might ultimately be a boon to the environment. Although the writing is clear and jargon free, this isn't a book for those completely ignorant about the topics. Recommended readers will have at least a nodding acquaintance with the high-tech areas discussed. Brian McCombie """""An enjoyable and rewarding book."""" —Choice From Scientific American Stix (an associate editor at Scientific American) and Lacob (a freelance writer) provide a crackerjack tutorial in modern technology for those they call the technologically perplexed. Almost everybody could answer to that designation in one field or another. The fields that the authors discuss are computer hardware, software, telecommunications, lasers, genetic engineering, medical technology, molecular biology, materials science, energy, and environmental science. Numerous boxes focus a spotlight on such subjects as computer language, the electromagnetic spectrum and the polymerase chain reaction, and several of the chapters contain a helpful glossary of common terms in the field. The reward for the reader is a solid grounding in technological literacy. From Booklist Stix, a senior editor for Scientific American, and Lacob, a freelance science writer, present an informative overview of new and emerging technologies. The authors first tackle the all-pervasive computers, explaining how they do the marvelous things they do, the mysteries of software programs, and a concise history of the Internet. There's also a long section about DNA and gene splitting, and the implications the latter has for the future of humanity--some good, some very troubling. The authors end on an environmental tack, examining the many problems high tech has created for the planet's air, water, and soil, but also how technology might ultimately be a boon to the environment. Although the writing is clear and jargon free, this isn't a book for those completely ignorant about the topics. Recommended readers will have at least a nodding acquaintance with the high-tech areas discussed. Brian McCombie" Author InformationGARY STIX is a senior editor for the National Magazine Award-winning Scientific American. MIRIAM LACOB is a freelance journalist. Her articles have appeared in many publications and magazines, including Scientific American, Data Communications, and Computer Decision. Tab Content 6Author Website:Countries AvailableAll regions |
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