The central thesis of The Web's Awake is that the phenomenal growth and complexity of the web is beginning to outstrip our capability to control it directly. Many have worked on the concept of emergent properties within highly complex systems, concentrating heavily on the underlying mechanics concerned. Few, however, have studied the fundamentals involved from a sociotechnical perspective. In short, the virtual anatomy of the Web remains relatively uninvestigated. The Web's Awake attempts to seriously explore this gap, citing a number of provocative, yet objective, similarities from studies relating to both real world and digital systems. It presents a collage of interlinked facts, assertions, and coincidences, which boldly point to a Web with powerful potential for life.

This book is a user manual for understanding and deployment of open source software licensing in business. Written for lawyers and businesspeople alike, it explains and analyzes open source licensing issues, and gives practical suggestions on how to deal with open source licensing in a business context. Including useful forms, information, and both technical and licensing background, this book will help you avoid legal pitfalls and edcuate your organization about the risks of open source.

Real-Time Systems: Design Principles for Distributed Embedded Applications focuses on hard real-time systems, which are computing systems that must meet their temporal specification in all anticipated load and fault scenarios. The book stresses the system aspects of distributed real-time applications, treating the issues of real-time, distribution and fault-tolerance from an integral point of view. A unique cross-fertilization of ideas and concepts between the academic and industrial worlds has led to the inclusion of many insightful examples from industry to explain the fundamental scientific concepts in a real-world setting. Thus, this book serves as an excellent text for advanced level courses on real-time systems.

Wireless sensor networks are currently being employed in a variety of applications ranging from medical to military, and from home to industry. Wireless Sensor Networks and Applications aims to provide a reference tool for the increasing number of scientists who depend upon sensor networks in some way. The topics covered include network design and modeling, network management, data management, security and applications. The topic covered in each chapter is given expository but also scholarly treatment, covering the history of the topic, reviewing state-of-the-art thinking relative to the topic, and discussing currently unsolved problems of special interest.

Chock full of up-to-date coverage of countries from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, this fascinating reference—intended for use by government officials—should be on the shelf of every school, world traveler, and journalist. For each country, you’ll find: a thorough introduction with historical background; detailed geographical facts, including current environmental issues; and a full description of the people, with information on literacy rates, HIV prevalence, and major infectious diseases. There are also details on conventional political parties, contact information for diplomatic representation, and the nation’s economic status, complete with statistics. A synopsis of transnational issues includes narcotic-related corruption. Along with multiple appendices, this attractive book features pages of beautiful, recently-updated maps, and three high quality fold-out posters.