1206 results for "Technology"

Busting Vegas: the MIT whiz kid who brought the casinos to their knees

Mezrich, Ben
He played in casinos around the world with a plan to make himself richer than anyone could possibly imagine -- but it would nearly cost him his life. Semyon Dukach was known as the Darling of Las Vegas. A legend at age twenty-one, this cocky hotshot was the biggest high roller to appear in Sin City in decades, a mathematical genius with a system the casinos had never seen before and couldn't stop -- a system that has never been revealed until now; that has nothing to do with card counting, wasn't illegal, and was more powerful than anything that had been tried before. Las Vegas. Atlantic City. Aruba. Barcelona. London. And the jewel of the gambling crown -- Monte Carlo. Dukach and his fellow MIT students hit them all and made millions. They came in hard, with stacks of cash; big, seemingly insane bets; women hanging on their arms; and fake identities. Although they were taking classes and studying for exams during the week, over the weekends they stormed the blackjack tables only to be harassed, banned from casinos, threatened at gunpoint, and beaten in Vegas's notorious back rooms. The stakes were high, the dangers very real, but the players were up to the challenges, consequences be damned. There was Semyon Dukach himself, bored with school and broke; Victor Cassius, the slick, brilliant MIT grad student who galvanized the team; Owen Keller, with stunning ability but a dark past that would catch up to him; and Allie Simpson, bright, clever, and a feast for the eyes. In the classroom, they were geeks. On the casino floor, they were unstoppable. Busting Vega$ is Dukach's unbelievably true story; a riveting account of monumental greed, excess, hubris, sex, love, violence, fear, and statistics that is high-stakes entertainment at its best.
William Morrow/Harper Collins 2005-09-27 289 pages

A project to find the fundamental theory of physics

Wolfram, Stephen
'In many ways it s the ultimate question in natural science: How does our universe work? Is there a fundamental theory? An incredible amount has been figured out about physics over the past few hundred years. But even with everything that s been done and it's very impressive - we still, after all this time, don t have a truly fundamental theory of physics.' The Wolfram Physics Project is a bold effort to find the fundamental theory of physics. It combines new ideas with the latest research in physics, mathematics and computation in the push to achieve this ultimate goal of science. Written with Stephen Wolfram's characteristic expository flair, this book provides a unique opportunity to learn about a historic initiative in science right as it is happening. A Project to Find the Fundamental Theory of Physics includes: The announcement of the project; A technical introduction; A history section that outlines the backstory which led Wolfram to this point; Background information from computational essays published by the author in 2015 and 2017; Foundational information, including historical notes and an excerpt from Wolfram's; 2002 New York Times Best Seller A New Kind of Science; Hundreds of beautiful full-colour visualisations. Stephen Wolfram is a distinguished scientist and best-selling author, and the creator of some of the world's most respected software systems, including Mathematica, Wolfram|Alpha and Wolfram Language. For more than 30 years he has been the CEO of the global technology company Wolfram Research.
Wolfram Media 2020 778 pages

The second self: computers and the human spirit

Turkle, Sherry
"In The Second Self, Sherry Turkle looks at the computer not as a 'tool,' but as part of our social and psychological lives; she looks beyond how we use computer games and spreadsheets to explore how the computer affects our awareness of ourselves, of one another, and of our relationship with the world. 'Technology,' she writes, 'catalyzes changes not only in what we do but in how we think.' First published in 1984, The Second Self is still essential reading as a primer in the psychology of computation. This twentieth anniversary edition allows us to reconsider two decades of computer culture - to (re)experience what was and is most novel in our new media culture and to view our own contemporary relationship with technology with fresh eyes. Turkle frames this classic work with a new introduction, a new epilogue, and extensive notes added to the original text. Turkle talks to children, college students, engineers, AI scientists, hackers, and personal computer owners - people confronting machines that seem to think and at the same time suggest a new way for us to think - about human thought, emotion, memory, and understanding. Her interviews reveal that we experience computers as being on the border between inanimate and animate, as both an extension of the self and part of the external world. Their special place betwixt and between traditional categories is part of what makes them compelling and evocative. (In the introduction to this edition, Turkle quotes a PDA user as saying, 'When my Palm crashed, it was like a death. I thought I had lost my mind.') Why we think of the workings of a machine in psychological terms - how this happens, and what it means for all of us - is the ever more timely subject of The Second Self." -
MIT Press 2005-09-30 372 pages

Embryo experimentation

Peter Singer
New developments in reproductive technology have made headlines since the birth of the world's first in vitro fertilization baby in 1978. But is embryo experimentation ethically acceptable? What is the moral status of the early human embryo? And how should a democratic society deal with so controversial an issue, where conflicting views are based on differing religious and philosophical positions? These controversial questions are the subject of this book, which, as a current compendium of ideas and arguments on the subject, makes an original contribution of major importance to this debate. Peter Singer is the author of many books, including Practical Ethics (CUP, 1979), Marx (Hill & Wang, 1980), and Should the Baby Live? (co-authored with Helga Kuhse, Oxford U.P., 1986).
Cambridge University Press 1990-07-27 263 pages

Tell to Win: Connect, Persuade, and Triumph Using the Hidden Power of Storytelling

Guber, Peter
Today everyone – whether they know it or not – is in the emotional transportation business. More and more, success is won by creating compelling stories that have the power to move partners, shareholders, customers, and employees to action. Simply put, if you can’t tell it, you can’t sell it. And this book tells you how to do both. Historically, stories have always been igniters of action, moving people to do things. But only recently has it become clear that purposeful stories – those created with a specific mission in mind – are absolutely essential in persuading others to support a vision, dream or cause. Peter Guber, whose executive and entrepreneurial accomplishments have made him a success in multipleindustries, has long relied on purposeful story telling to motivate, win over, shape, engage and sell. Indeed, what began as knack for telling stories as an entertainment industry executive has, through years of perspiration and inspiration, evolved into a set of principles that anyone can use to achieve their goals. In Tell to Win, Guber shows how to move beyond soulless Power Point slides, facts, and figures to create purposeful stories that can serve as powerful calls to action. Among his techniques: *Capture your audience’s attention first, fast and foremost *Motivate your listeners by demonstrating authenticity *Build your tell around “what’s in it for them” *Change passive listeners into active participants *Use “state-of-the-heart” technology online and offline to make sure audience commitment remains strong To validate the power of telling purposeful stories, Guber includes in this book a remarkably diverse number of “voices” – master tellers with whom he’s shared experiences. They include YouTube founder Chad Hurley, NBA champion Pat Riley, clothing designer Normal Kamali, “Mission to Mars” scientist Gentry Lee, Under Armour CEO Kevin Plank, former South African president Nelson Mandela, magician David Copperfield, film director Steven Spielberg, novelist Nora Roberts, rock legend Gene Simmons, and physician and author Deepak Chopra. After listening to this extraordinary mix of voices, you’ll know how to craft, deliver -- and own – a story that is truly compelling, one capable of turning others into viral advocates for your goal. From the Hardcover edition.
Crown Pub 2014-03-04 272 pages

Leaning Forward Surviving/Winning in the Future of Interactive Marketing

Josh Linkner
"Josh Linkner, CEO of ePrize, is a tremendous business leader who has established a successful and sustainable company, as well as a culture that nurtures employees to help them maximize their potential." - Jennifer M. Granholm, Governor, State of Michigan "Leaning Forward is a deep and highly aware look into the future of interactive marketing. A must-read for anybody who plans to compete and win in the brain age." - Dan Gilbert, Chairman and Founder, Quicken Loans and Majority Owner, Cleveland Cavaliers "Josh has given you reason to fear the programmed nature of obsolescence but more importantly his deep consumer knowledge will give you hope This book will never be obsolete " - David Sable, Vice Chairman/Chief Operating Officer, Wunderman (largest direct marketing company in the world) Leaning Forward takes a penetrating look at the future of Interactive marketing. Major brands throughout the world have embraced the 'Digital Revolution', and have fundamentally changed the way they interact with their consumers. As a marketer, you will learn what you need to know to stay ahead of the curve and compete in this dramatically changed landscape. Renowned entrepreneur Josh Linkner shows you real world examples of what the best marketers are doing today and where the trends are heading. You'll learn how the most savvy marketers: . Establish and nurture direct, one-to-one relationships . Motivate specific consumer behavior . Get marketing messages heard above the non-stop "noise" . Combine brand immersive experiences with proven direct-marketing techniques . Generate "hand-raisers" . Increase relevancy, response-rates, and overall performance . Drive immediate and measurable results By examining the major sea of change that has happened over the last ten years, Linkner shares best practices, trends, and helps readers avoid common pitfalls. A must-read for today's marketing professional, business owner, or aspiring entrepreneur. Josh Linkner --Founder and CEO, ePrize As a pioneer in interactive marketing and promotions, Josh has been involved in the development of thousands of digital marketing strategies over the last 14 years. As the founder and CEO of ePrize, he has led the firm from inception to being ranked the #1 fastest growing and #3 overall promotion agency by PROMO Magazine. ePrize has produced an industry-leading 4,000 interactive promotions for clients including Coca-Cola, American Express, The Gap, Procter & Gamble, Warner Bros. Dell, adidas, Citibank and General Motors. Josh has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, Fast Company, AdAge, Inc. magazine, Entrepreneur, and Adweek, and is a regular keynote speaker at industry events and conferences. Josh has won several business, technology, and design awards. He is also an accomplished and well-respected Jazz musician from which he draws the same passion and excitement toward business, and creating a culture of innovation, discipline, and creativity.
Dog Ear Publishing 2007-11 120 pages

Crash

Cronenberg, David
'Crash' was awarded the Special Jury Prize at the 1996 Cannes Film Festival for its audacity, daring and originality. Based on J.G. Ballard's novel, the film is a complex work in which Cronenberg depicts, with shocking beauty, a world in which humans align their minds, bodies and sexuality to the technology of cars. Set in a bleak, passionless world of multi-lane freeways, Crash presents the story of James Ballard and his wife Catherine, whose search for authentic experience leads them into a relationship with a renegade scientist who seeks sexual release by crashing into cars on the freeway. In translating the world of J.G Ballard's 'Crash' into the language of the screen, Cronenberg has fashioned a script which is rigorous and taut, but suffused with emotional intensity and a deep feeling for human fraility and decay.
Faber 1996 65 pages

A guide for the perplexed: a novel

Horn, Dara
The incomparable Dara Horn returns with a spellbinding novel of how technology changes memory and how memory shapes the soul.Software prodigy Josie Ashkenazi has invented an application that records everything its users do. When an Egyptian library invites her to visit as a consultant, her jealous sister Judith persuades her to go. But in Egypt’s postrevolutionary chaos, Josie is abducted—leaving Judith free to take over Josie’s life at home, including her husband and daughter, while Josie’s talent for preserving memories becomes a surprising test of her empathy and her only means of escape.A century earlier, another traveler arrives in Egypt: Solomon Schechter, a Cambridge professor hunting for a medieval archive hidden in a Cairo synagogue. Both he and Josie are haunted by the work of the medieval philosopher Moses Maimonides, a doctor and rationalist who sought to reconcile faith and science, destiny and free will. But what Schechter finds, as he tracks down the remnants of a thousand-year-old community’s once-vibrant life, will reveal the power and perils of what Josie’s ingenious work brings into being: a world where nothing is ever forgotten.An engrossing adventure that intertwines stories from Genesis, medieval philosophy, and the digital frontier, A Guide for the Perplexed is a novel of profound inner meaning and astonishing imagination. --
W. W. Norton & Company 2013 342 pages

You

Austin Grossman
"A razor-sharp comedy and a smart meditation on the nature of gaming." -- Boston Globe When Russell joins Black Arts games, brainchild of two visionary designers who were once his closest friends, he reunites with an eccentric crew of nerds hacking the frontiers of both technology and entertainment. In part, he's finally given up chasing the conventional path that has always seemed just out of reach. But mostly, he needs to know what happened to Simon, his strangest and most gifted friend, who died under mysterious circumstances soon after Black Arts' breakout hit. As the company's revolutionary next-gen game is threatened by a software glitch, Russell finds himself in a race to save his job, Black Arts' legacy, and the people he has grown to care about. The deeper Russell digs, the more dangerous the glitch appears--and soon, Russell comes to realize there's much more is at stake than just one software company's bottom line.
Little, Brown 2014-04-08 400 pages

Optical electronics

Yariv, Amnon
This classic text introduces engineering students to the first principles of major phenomena and devices of optoelectronics and optical communication technology. Yariv's "first principles" approach employs real-life examples and extensive problems. The text includes separate chapters on quantum well and semiconductor lasers, as well as phase conjugation and its applications. Optical fiber amplification, signal and noise considerations in optical fiber systems, laser arrays and distributed feedback lasers all are covered extensively in major sections within chapters.
Holt, Rinehart and Winston 1985 552 pages

Citizens: a chronicle of the French Revolution

Schama, Simon
In this New York Times bestseller, award-winning author Simon Schama presents an ebullient country, vital and inventive, infatuated with novelty and technology--a strikingly fresh view of Louis XVI's France. One of the great landmarks of modern history publishing, Citizens: A Chronicle of the French Revolution is the most authoritative social, cultural, and narrative history of the French Revolution ever produced.
Vintage Books 1990-03-17 948 pages

The Red String Book: The Power of Protection (Technology for the Soul)

Berg, Yehuda
The “evil eye” — the stare that portends doom — has been noted since time immemorial, appearing in some form in virtually every culture. The sages of Kabbalah understood that seemingly harmless envious glances and looks of ill will are, in fact, anything but benign. These looks focus sinister forces on the object of their gaze, have tangible physical effects, and can actually halt progress toward one's potential in every area of life. The red string has been used for centuries by Kabbalists to counter these dark forces. Worn on the left wrist, the string seals protective energy within while intercepting negative energy from without. This best-selling book, the first in Yehuda Berg’s popular Technology of the Soul series, explains how and why this simple tool for healing and self-defense has worked for 5,000 years, and in the process gives a simple, clear overview of what Kabbalah is and is not.
Kabbalah Publishing 2007-02-09 96 pages

Stanford R. Ovshinsky: the science and technology of an American genius

Ovshinsky, Stanford R.
This book highlights the achievements of the self-taught inventor, scientist, manufacturer and entrepreneur, Stanford R Ovshinsky. This remarkable individual could, without special training, compete with the well-funded establishments of learning and industry in the second half of the last century and leave us an incredible legacy of brilliant innovations with a lasting impact on our lives. His achievements extend over amazingly diverse fields and have or are prone to create new industries of great societal value. The phase change memories of commonly used rewritable CDs and DVDs as well as of new flash memories are his invention; so are the Ni Metal hydride batteries which are the enabling batteries for electric and hybrid/electric vehicles. The future hydrogen economy will utilize his efficient and safe hydrogen storage alloys. He has developed light and ultralight photovoltaic solar panels for converting sunlight into electricity and built the largest manufacturing facility for thin film flexible solar roofing materials. A common theme of his inventions is the synthesis of new materials utilizing novel aspects of structural and compositional disorder.The book explains for each of Ovshinsky's innovations the essence of his pioneering ideas and inventions. These introductions are followed by a selection of Ovshinsky's seminal publications and, for each subject category, a list of his patents which reveal the inventive mind of this unusually creative person. Ovshinsky's example of gaining a deep understanding of the science underlying his inventions, his perseverance as well as his ability to attract and inspire talented collaborators will be a role model for entrepreneurs of this century.
World Scientific 2008 380 pages

Disconnect A Scientist's Solutions for Safer Technology

Devra Davis
DISCONNECT A Scientist's Solutions for Safety Technology In this NEW, EXPANDED, and UPDATED edition of Disconnect, acclaimed and award-winning scientist Dr. Devra Davis shares a compelling cautionary tale, supported by a growing body of evidence, surrounding alarming new scientific understandings of cell phones, other commonly used microwave radiating devices, and the new 5G network currently being built-out nationwide - all with limited safety testing! Building upon the shocking revelations that Dr. Davis uncovered through research and interviews shared in the 2010 first edition, this new, expanded edition of Disconnect adds recent studies that substantiate and confirm the radiation risks of the "connected world" that endanger our health and the world around us. Understanding that personal electronic devices are here to stay, Dr. Davis shows us the simple safety measures we must take. Sharing these researched solutions, she reminds us that now is the time to implement them - before it's too late.
New Voices Press 2024-02-04 388 pages

World Without Mind

Franklin Foer
Over the past few decades there has been a revolution in terms of who controls knowledge and information. This rapid change has imperilled the way we think. Without pausing to consider the cost, the world has rushed to embrace the products and services of four titanic corporations. We shop with Amazon; socialise on Facebook; turn to Apple for entertainment; and rely on Google for information. These firms sell their efficiency and purport to make the world a better place, but what they have done instead is to enable an intoxicating level of daily convenience. As these companies have expanded, marketing themselves as champions of individuality and pluralism, their algorithms have pressed us into conformity and laid waste to privacy. They have produced an unstable and narrow culture of misinformation, and put us on a path to a world without private contemplation, autonomous thought, or solitary introspection - a world without mind. In order to restore our inner lives, we must avoid being co-opted by these gigantic companies, and understand the ideas that underpin their success. Elegantly tracing the intellectual history of computer science - from the Descartes and the enlightenment to Alan Turing to Stuart Brand and the hippie origins of today's Silicon Valley - Foer exposes the dark underpinnings of our most idealistic dreams for technology. The corporate ambitions of Google, Facebook, Apple, and Amazon, he argues, are trampling longstanding liberal values, especially intellectual property and privacy. This is a nascent stage in the total automation and homogenization of social, political, and intellectual life. By reclaiming our private authority over how we intellectually engage with the world, we have the power to stem the tide. At stake is nothing less than who we are, and what we will become. There have been monopolists in the past but today's corporate giants have far more nefarious aims. They're monopolists who want access to every facet of our identities and influence over every corner of our decision-making. Until now few have grasped the sheer scale of the threat. Foer explains not just the looming existential crisis but the imperative of resistance.
Jonathan Cape Ltd 2017-09-28 272 pages

The dark side of our digital world and what you can do about it

Weiss, Andrew
An all-in-one guide to understanding and managing the dark side of our digital lives. It all started out so well: the online world began as an effective tool for communication that carried with it a great promise to level the playing field and eliminate borders. But it’s morphed into something totally unintended. We’ve all had to endure the troll that derails a generally benign conversation; or received that scam email from a wealthy Nigerian prince; or felt the strange feeling of being watched and tracked by advertising companies as we navigate the web. Welcome to the modern internet. These are but a few of the topics that The Dark Side of Our Digital World: And What You Can Do about It examines to get at the root causes of our current problems with information technology, social media, and problematic online behavior. The book explores the issues raised by the negative side of information technology, including surveillance and spying, declining privacy, information overload, surveillance capitalism and big data analytics, conspiracy theories and fake news, misinformation and disinformation, trolling and phishing. What’s ultimately at stake is how we are able to cope with increasingly invasive anti-social behaviors, the overall decline of privacy in the face of total surveillance technologies, and the lack of a quality online experience that doesn’t devolve into flame wars and insults. The future of the internet as well as our societies depends upon our ability to discern truth from lies and reality from propaganda. The book will therefore also examine the possible directions we could take to improve the situation, looking at solutions in the areas of psychology and behavioral conditioning, social engineering through nudging techniques, the development of e-democracy movements, and the implementation of public policy.
Rowman & Littlefield Publishers 2024-02-15 282 pages

Cuomo The Dark Prince Returns

Ross Barkan
As Andrew Cuomo storms back into the spotlight, this sharp political takedown exposes the machinery behind his return-and what it says about power, memory, and the state of New York politics. Andrew Cuomo was supposed to be finished. After resigning in disgrace--accused by at least 11 women of sexual harassment and facing near-certain impeachment--New York's three-term governor vanished from public view. Now, in 2025, he's back. Cuomo is leading the polls in the New York City mayoral race, poised to reclaim power and write his own second act. This new edition of The Prince unpacks Cuomo's long, bruising reign as governor and the forces that have enabled his climb back toward the spotlight. Barkan traces how Cuomo, once hailed as a pandemic hero, presided over a staggering public health failure--manipulating data, sending infected patients back into nursing homes, and pocketing a $5 million book deal for his self-mythologizing memoir. Cuomo: Return of the Dark Prince is a portrait of a man who refuses to go away--and a city that might just let him back in.
OR Books, LLC 2025-06-10 220 pages

The Los Alamos Primer

Robert Serber
Unabridged declassified value reproduction of The Los Alamos Primer by Robert Serber, in full color with all censor markings. This is the booklet given to new workers at Los Alamos during World War II, to catch them up on how to build a practical fission bomb. The Primer was driven by Robert Oppenheimer asking his protégé Robert Serber to summarize all knowledge and possible solutions known as of April 1943 in a series of lectures. Serber did such an excellent job that the notes from the series was turned into The Los Alamos Primer. Serber was known as an expert that bridged theory and reality, and so was also chosen to be one of the first Americans to enter Hiroshima and Nagasaki to assess the atomic damage in 1945. Touch a piece of history in this slim volume with the full text at an affordable price.
Chump Change 1943-04 32 pages