Cost-Justifying Usability( An Update for the Internet Age) [COST-JUSTIFYING USABILITY 2/E] [Paperback]

Computers & Technology

Randolph G. Bias

Computer Science

Morgan Kaufmann Publishers

Most Perl programmers were originally trained as C and Unix programmers, so the Perl programs that they write bear a strong resemblance to C programs. However, Perl incorporates many features that have their roots in other languages such as Lisp. These advanced features are not well understood and are rarely used by most Perl programmers, but they are very powerful. They can automate tasks in everyday programming that are difficult to solve in any other way. One of the most powerful of these techniques is writing functions that manufacture or modify other functions. For example, instead of writing ten similar functions, a programmer can write a general pattern or framework that can then create the functions as needed according to the pattern. For several years Mark Jason Dominus has worked to apply functional programming techniques to Perl. Now Mark brings these flexible programming methods that he has successfully taught in numerous tutorials and training sessions to a wider audience. * Introduces powerful programming methods--new to most Perl programmers--that were previously the domain of computer scientists * Gradually builds up confidence by describing techniques of progressive sophistication * Shows how to improve everyday programs and includes numerous engaging code examples to illustrate the methods

Higher-Order Perl: Transforming Programs with Programs

Mark Jason Dominus

This book is for database designers and database administrators using Visio, which is the database component of Microsoft's Visual Studio .NET for Enterprise Architects suite, also included in MSDN subscriptions. This is the only guide to this product that tells DBAs how to get their job done. Although primarily focused on tool features, the book also provides an introduction to data modeling, and includes practical advice on managing database projects. The principal author was the program manager of VEA's database modeling solutions. · Explains how to model databases with Microsoft® Visio for Enterprise Architects (VEA), focusing on tool features. · Provides a platform-independent introduction to data modeling using both Object Role Modeling (ORM) and Entity Relationship Modeling (ERM), and includes practical advice on managing database projects. · Additional ORM models, course notes, and add-ins available online.

Database Modeling with Microsoft(r) VISIO for Enterprise Architects

Terry Halpin

Ken Evans

Pat Hallock

Blondie24 tells the story of a computer that taught itself to play checkers far better than its creators ever could by using a program that emulated the basic principles of Darwinian evolution--random variation and natural selection-- to discover on its own how to excel at the game. Unlike Deep Blue, the celebrated chess machine that beat Garry Kasparov, the former world champion chess player, this evolutionary program didn't have access to strategies employed by human grand masters, or to databases of moves for the endgame moves, or to other human expertise about the game of chekers. With only the most rudimentary information programmed into its "brain," Blondie24 (the program's Internet username) created its own means of evaluating the complex, changing patterns of pieces that make up a checkers game by evolving artificial neural networks---mathematical models that loosely describe how a brain works. It's fitting that Blondie24 should appear in 2001, the year when we remember Arthur C. Clarke's prediction that one day we would succeed in creating a thinking machine. In this compelling narrative, David Fogel, author and co-creator of Blondie24, describes in convincing detail how evolutionary computation may help to bring us closer to Clarke's vision of HAL. Along the way, he gives readers an inside look into the fascinating history of AI and poses provocative questions about its future. <ul> <li>Brings one of the most exciting areas of AI research to life by following the story of Blondie24's development in the lab through her evolution into an expert-rated checkers player, based on her impressive success in Internet competition.</li> <li>Explains the foundations of evolutionary computation, simply and clearly.</li> <li>Presents complex material in an engaging style for readers with no background in computer science or artificial intelligence.</li> <li>Examines foundational issues surrounding the creation of a thinking machine.</li> <li>Debates whether the famous Turing Test really tests for intelligence.</li> <li>Challenges deeply entrenched myths about the successes and implication of some well-known AI experiments.</li> <li>Shows Blondie's moves with checkerboard diagrams that readers can easily follow.</li> </ul>

Blondie24: Playing at the Edge of AI

David B. Fogel

Learning Maya, the world's leading 3D animation and effects package, is a challenge, especially for those who want to master Maya's versatile programming features in addition to its built-in tools. Finally, here is a practical, step-by-step guide that shows how to use Maya to its fullest potential, beginning with the basics. Readers of Complete Maya Programming will first gain a thorough understanding of Maya's inner workings, and then learn how to customize and extend Maya with scripts and plugins that take control and productivity to new levels. Users new to programming can apply Maya's easy scripting language MEL (Maya Embedded Language), while more advanced users can work with the C++ API (Application Progamming Interface). Both a fundamental tutorial for Maya beginners and a solid reference for experienced developers, Complete Maya Programming is every user's guide to Maya mastery. * Provides a multitude of real-world examples illustrating applications of Maya programming. * Demonstrates how to use MEL to control Maya, customize its interface, automate procedures, and more * Details how to use the C++ API to modify Maya functionality and develop tools and features to meet any need * Explains when to use MEL, when to use the C++ API, and how to use them together * Ideal for technical directors, developers, or anyone wishing to to master Maya * Provides a storehouse of MEL scripts and C++ source code, glossary, and list of resources, available at www.davidgould.com

Complete Maya Programming: An Extensive Guide to Mel and C++ API

David A.D. Gould

Data Quality: The Accuracy Dimension is about assessing the quality of corporate data and improving its accuracy using the data profiling method. Corporate data is increasingly important as companies continue to find new ways to use it. Likewise, improving the accuracy of data in information systems is fast becoming a major goal as companies realize how much it affects their bottom line. Data profiling is a new technology that supports and enhances the accuracy of databases throughout major IT shops. Jack Olson explains data profiling and shows how it fits into the larger picture of data quality. * Provides an accessible, enjoyable introduction to the subject of data accuracy, peppered with real-world anecdotes. * Provides a framework for data profiling with a discussion of analytical tools appropriate for assessing data accuracy. * Is written by one of the original developers of data profiling technology. * Is a must-read for any data management staff, IT management staff, and CIOs of companies with data assets.

Data Quality: The Accuracy Dimension

Jack E. Olson

Tuning your database for optimal performance means more than following a few short steps in a vendor-specific guide. For maximum improvement, you need a broad and deep knowledge of basic tuning principles, the ability to gather data in a systematic way, and the skill to make your system run faster. This is an art as well as a science, and Database Tuning: Principles, Experiments, and Troubleshooting Techniques will help you develop portable skills that will allow you to tune a wide variety of database systems on a multitude of hardware and operating systems. Further, these skills, combined with the scripts provided for validating results, are exactly what you need to evaluate competing database products and to choose the right one. <ul> <li>Forward by Jim Gray, with invited chapters by Joe Celko and Alberto Lerner</li> <li>Includes industrial contributions by Bill McKenna (RedBrick/Informix), Hany Saleeb (Oracle), Tim Shetler (TimesTen), Judy Smith (Deutsche Bank), and Ron Yorita (IBM)</li> <li>Covers the entire system environment: hardware, operating system, transactions, indexes, queries, table design, and application analysis</li> <li>Contains experiments (scripts available on the author's site) to help you verify a system's effectiveness in your own environment</li> <li>Presents special topics, including data warehousing, Web support, main memory databases, specialized databases, and financial time series</li> <li>Describes performance-monitoring techniques that will help you recognize and troubleshoot problems</li> </ul>

Database Tuning: Principles, Experiments, and Troubleshooting Techniques

Dennis Elliott Shasha

Philippe Bonnet

The most prominent Web applications in use today are data-intensive. Scores of database management systems across the Internet access and maintain large amounts of structured data for e-commerce, on-line trading, banking, digital libraries, and other high-volume sites. Developing and maintaining these data-intensive applications is an especially complex, multi-disciplinary activity, requiring all the tools and techniques that software engineering can provide. This book represents a breakthrough for Web application developers. Using hundreds of illustrations and an elegant intuitive modeling language, the authors--all internationally-known database researchers--present a methodology that fully exploits the conceptual modeling approach of software engineering, from idea to application. Readers will learn not only how to harness the design technologies of relational databases for use on the Web, but also how to transform their conceptual designs of data-intensive Web applications into effective software components. * A fully self-contained introduction and practitioner's guide suitable for both technical and non-technical members of staff, as well as students. * A methodology, development process, and notation (WebML) based on common practice but optimized for the unique challenges of high-volume Web applications. * Completely platform- and product-independent; even the use of WebML is optional. * Based on well-known industry standards such as UML and the Entity Relationship Model. * Enhanced by its own Web site (http://www.webml.org), containing additional examples, papers, teaching materials, developers' resources, and exercises with solutions.

Designing Data-Intensive Web Applications

Stefano Ceri

Piero Fraternali

Aldo Bongio

Introduction to Data Compression, Third Edition, is a concise and comprehensive guide to data compression. This book introduces the reader to the theory underlying today's compression techniques with detailed instruction for their applications using several examples to explain the concepts. Encompassing the entire field of data compression, it covers lossless and lossy compression, Huffman coding, arithmetic coding, dictionary techniques, context based compression, scalar and vector quantization. It includes all the cutting edge updates the reader will need during the work day and in class. This edition adds new content on the topic of audio compression including a description of the mp3 algorithm, along with a new video coding standard and new facsimile standard explained. It explains in detail established and emerging standards in depth including JPEG 2000, JPEG-LS, MPEG-2, Group 3 and 4 faxes, JBIG 2, ADPCM, LPC, CELP, and MELP. Source code is provided via a companion web site that gives readers the opportunity to build their own algorithms, choose and implement techniques in their own applications. This book will appeal to professionals, software and hardware engineers, students, and to anyone interested in digital libraries and multimedia. *New content added on the topic of audio compression including a description of the mp3 algorithm *New video coding standard and new facsimile standard explained *Completely explains established and emerging standards in depth including JPEG 2000, JPEG-LS, MPEG-2, Group 3 and 4 faxes, JBIG 2, ADPCM, LPC, CELP, and MELP *Source code provided via companion web site that gives readers the opportunity to build their own algorithms, choose and implement techniques in their own applications

Introduction To Data Compression

Khalid Sayood

Do you spend a lot of time during the design process wondering what users really need? Do you hate those endless meetings where you argue how the interface should work? Have you ever developed something that later had to be completely redesigned? Paper Prototyping can help. Written by a usability engineer with a long and successful paper prototyping history, this book is a practical, how-to guide that will prepare you to create and test paper prototypes of all kinds of user interfaces. You'll see how to simulate various kinds of interface elements and interactions. You'll learn about the practical aspects of paper prototyping, such as deciding when the technique is appropriate, scheduling the activities, and handling the skepticism of others in your organization. Numerous case studies and images throughout the book show you real world examples of paper prototyping at work. Learn how to use this powerful technique to develop products that are more useful, intuitive, efficient, and pleasing: * Save time and money - solve key problems before implementation begins * Get user feedback early - use it to focus the development process * Communicate better - involve development team members from a variety of disciplines * Be more creative - experiment with many ideas before committing to one *Enables designers to solve design problems before implementation begins *Five case studies provide real world examples of paper prototyping at work *Delves into the specifics of what types of projects paper prototyping is and isn't good for.

Paper Prototyping: The Fast and Easy Way to Design and Refine User Interfaces

Carolyn Snyder

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