From the Publisher
The encyclopedia features about 600 cross-referenced entries - including more than 175 new to this volume - that reflect the new ways of using information technology and the important social issues that arise from such use. To articulate the main themes of the book and to aid the reader, the introduction features a complete list of the entries grouped into specific categories, including business and e-commerce applications, computer industry, databases, future computing, Internet and World Wide Web, programming languages, and software development and engineering. It is an indispensable resource that will meet the specific demands of students, interested lay people, and computer professionals who need accurate and straightforward information.
Savannah Schroll Guz
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Library Journal
In this update to the 2004 edition, Henderson (Modern Robotics) includes 180 new definitions, including "blogging," "Youtube," and "data mining," to keep pace with more recent developments. The A-to-Z entries run from several paragraphs to two pages in length and provide highly accessible, jargon-free explanations of hardware, software, programming language, notable figures, crucial inventions, and hotly debated civil-liberties issues in a field outpacing legislation. One of the most user-friendly and enlightening books for field outsiders, this handy volume promotes clear understanding of a complex subject. Highly recommended.
Library Journal
This latest offering from technical editor and writer Henderson (Career Opportunites in Computers and Cyberspace; Privacy in the Information Age) takes a somewhat different tack in presenting its information, ranging from basic concepts (e-mail) to people (Bill Gates) and programming languages (Java). Besides arranging 400-plus entries alphabetically, the author presents a helpful list grouping entries by topical category such as "Fundamental Ideas of Computing," "Development of Computers," "Computer Architecture," "Operating Systems," and "Computer Languages." Each entry is, in Henderson's words, intended to be a "mini-essay, giving not just the bare definition of a topic but also developing its significance for the use of computers and its relationship to other topics." Sources for further reading are included for each entry, and four appendixes and a thorough index are also provided. In addition, some 200 illustrations complement the text. Coverage is similar to but not as comprehensive as World of Computer Science, edited by Brigham Narin, and Encyclopedia of Computer Science, edited by Anthony Ralston. If one's budget allows for only one computer encyclopedia, Narin's or Ralston's would be a better bet. However, this volume should prove useful to high school or junior college students preparing papers in computer science. Therefore, it is recommended for public and selected academic institutions.-Colleen Cuddy, New York Univ. Sch. of Medicine Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
School Library Journal
Gr 9 Up-In this A-to-Z resource, 400 mini essays are geared to students who want an overview of the topic, a discussion of its significance, and a guide to further reading. An introduction ends with a list of subject groupings of related entries such as "Computer Languages," "Business Applications," and "AI and Robotics." Biographies of historical figures such as Charles Babbage and Grace Hopper and modern visionaries like Bill Joy and Marvin Minsky are often accompanied by captioned photographs. Articles explain the role of "women in computing," "fuzzy logic," and "hypertext and hypermedia"; many entries are devoted to the future of computing and social issues such as intellectual property and privacy. Nearly every page contains a diagram, chart, or photograph. An illustration of the inner workings of a mouse and a simple graphic of computer animation are useful for students. More complex flowcharts explain database structure, HTML, and network systems. Appendixes list people who have received major awards in these fields and related organizations and include a chronology and a bibliography with Web resources. The general index is hierarchical and synonym rich. This solid resource succeeds in explaining technical aspects of these subjects to general readers.-Vicki Reutter, Cazenovia High School, NY Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information.
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