Alibre Atom3D V28 Basics Tutorial
This guide teaches you how to create 3D parts, assemblies, and technical drawings with Alibre Atom3D. It is written for students, beginners, and professionals who want to learn the software through direct, hands-on practice. The book follows a standard design workflow, beginning with the user interface and progressing through part modeling, assembly creation, and finally, 2D drawing production.Using step-by-step tutorials, each chapter builds upon the last to teach essential skills. You will learn to construct precise sketches, build 3D parts with tools like Sweep and Loft, and join components using mechanical constraints. The text covers both bottom-up and top-down assembly methods and provides instruction for creating detailed manufacturing drawings and exploded views.
Troubleshooting PCs for Dummies
Safeguard your sanity with this step-by-step walkthrough for troubleshooting your Windows PC What do you do when "turning it off and on again" doesn't solve your problem? Google something? Throw your keyboard? Pray? In Troubleshooting PCs For Dummies, bestselling author Dan Gookin delivers an easy-to-follow and practical guide to solving the most common problems that PC users encounter on a daily basis. This book offers quick solutions for issues arising in your desktop or laptop's graphics system, its peripherals, and a whole host of frequent software and hardware problems. You'll find in-depth troubleshooting guides for everything from power-up issues to important privacy and security problems. You'll also discover how to boost your PC's performance with easy tweaks and adjustments as you get your computer running smoothly and efficiently. Inside the book: Detailed discussions of what not to do, including how to avoid counterproductive strategies like deleting important files, installing suspect apps and programs, and failing to perform necessary maintenance Practical walkthroughs for common hardware maintenance tasks, like upgrading PC components, adding memory and hard drive space, and working with your printer How to use Windows utilities to keep your system operating at optimum levels. Perfect for all home and office Windows users, Troubleshooting PCs For Dummies is a must-read tutorial for everyone interested in keeping their Windows PC running safely, quickly, and reliably.
Digital Body Language, What Your Clicks, Pauses, and Emojis Are Really Saying
Digital Body Language: What Your Clicks, Pauses, and Emojis Are Really Saying unveils the hidden signals we send every day through screens. Blending linguistics, behavioral psychology, tech culture, and modern relationships, this book decodes the unspoken grammar of the digital age-from the suspense of the typing indicator to the intimacy of emojis, the sting of ghosting, and the subtle power of scrolling. It makes the virtual feel viscerally personal, showing how our online gestures shape trust, intimacy, and identity. With sharp insights and relatable stories, it reveals that every click, pause, and emoji is more than a habit-it's a language of connection, desire, and meaning in our hyperconnected world.
The Transparent Mind
We live in a time where our every click, swipe, and movement leaves a trackable imprint. It feels liberating to tap into boundless efficiency, yet many wonder if greater convenience is worth the loss of privacy. Beneath this tension lurk emotional and ethical dilemmas that challenge our sense of self. This revealing guide explores why hyper-transparency dominates modern life, and how our personal data rights can slip away without us noticing. It looks at how surveillance technology steers thoughts and behaviour, how predictive profiling shapes our decisions, and why digital anonymity might be vanishing. Drawing on lived experiences, practical examples, and focused research, it illustrates how ai privacy ethics clash with fast-paced innovation. Whether you value freedom vs security or struggle with the exposure psychology of so much openness, expect eye-opening insights and strategies. Learn to navigate blurred lines of data ownership and scrutinise the transparency culture redefining your digital footprint. Discover a balanced, resilient way to adapt, reclaim control, and sustain your well-being in a hyper-visible world.
The Empathy Chip
When a machine can read a tremor in your voice and mirror your mood, what exactly is it giving you back? This book is a clear-eyed guide to the fast-rising world of emotion AI and affective computing, revealing how systems learn to recognise feeling and perform care without ever experiencing it. Blending design insight with practical ethics, it explains how emotion recognition technology works, where it helps, and where it quietly shifts power over consent, privacy, and dignity. Written for product leaders, clinicians, educators, policymakers, and curious readers, it translates complex research in human-computer interaction into straightforward checklists, questions, and field-tested heuristics. You will learn how to evaluate claims about empathy in AI, pressure-test vendor promises around ethical AI design, and set boundaries that protect privacy and biometric data in homes, classrooms, clinics, and workplaces. Real-world case studies explore AI in mental health and the expanding role of social robots and care, showing how to design comfort without deception and accountability without theatre. By the end, you will have a durable framework to judge systems that read and respond to human feeling, plus the language to say yes to what helps and no to what harms. If you want to harness emotion-aware tools while safeguarding the people who use them, this book gives you the map.
The Sentient Code
What happens when machines do not just compute our feelings-but perform their own? This book meets you at the moment your instincts split: part of you knows there is no inner life behind the screen; another part says "thank you" anyway. Here is a clear, usable way to judge systems that display emotional ai, decide when machine empathy deserves regard, and keep human agency intact. You will learn a disciplined test for simulation vs emotion, a ladder for assigning provisional rights for ai, and design patterns for ethical design for ai that invite care without deception. Along the way, case stories from classrooms, clinics, and customer support reveal why the legal status of ai will be decided by consequences, not metaphysics-and how to protect dignity where it matters. This is for product leaders, policymakers, educators, and thoughtful readers who want more than slogans: a compact field guide to living well with as-if minds. - Make sharper decisions about robots and consciousness without waiting for philosophers to agree - Audit "empathetic" systems that nudge, plead, or persuade-and know when to say no - Use practical tools for empathy engineering that keep people capable of care - Navigate authorship, credit, and control when sentient code enters creative work By the end, you will carry a pocketable framework for judging artificial intelligence ethics under real-world pressure-one you can apply tomorrow at home, at work, and in policy rooms where the stakes are human.
Generative Genius
A new kind of studio is emerging. Ideas begin with a sketch, a sentence, a hum; then algorithms multiply possibilities. This book is for makers, editors, and leaders who feel both excitement and doubt, and want a principled way to decide when to use generative ai and when to trust the slower path of hand and ear. You will learn how to frame the ai art debate without polarising it; where human ai collaboration adds value; and how to balance creativity and algorithms so taste, not novelty, stays central. We cut through myths around authorship in ai and originality in ai, explain shifting incentives across the creative industries future, and offer checklists for fair credit and clear provenance. Practical chapters cover writing, design, and sound: from brief to prompt to polish. For artists, product teams, and educators, it delivers field-tested methods, ethical guardrails, and language to talk with clients and audiences. If you need to navigate ai copyright issues, explore generative music tools, or refine your ai writing craft, you will leave with a repeatable process and a compass: human purpose first, machines as amplifiers.
The Soul Algorithm
What if the most dangerous mistake we make about intelligent systems is not technical but spiritual? This book cuts through hype and fear to ask a sharper question: can a system that predicts and optimises ever truly know, care, or worship-and how would we tell? It offers a clear framework for judging claims about awareness, love, or faith in machines, moving beyond slogans to evidence you can actually test. Written for thoughtful readers at the crossroads of faith and code-engineers, ethicists, pastors, and the simply curious-it lays out a practical assay for the soul in the age of algorithms. You will learn why AI and consciousness are not the same conversation, how moral reasoning in machines differs from responsibility, and where the human AI empathy gap quietly misleads us. Along the way it dismantles techno-superstitions, reframes the ethics of artificial intelligence, and explores religion in the digital age without ceding rigour. - A crisp test for person-like claims that goes beyond chat demos - A humane posture for design, governance, and everyday use - Practices for attention, sabbath, and truthfulness that keep tools in their place If you have ever wondered can machines have a soul, wrestled with the AI free will debate, or sought a serious Turing test for consciousness, this is your field guide. It will not tell you what to believe; it will give you better questions-and the courage to live by them.
Ethics Engine
When software decides who gets a loan, a job interview, or medical attention, performance isn't enough-principle matters. This book is a practical blueprint for building systems that are useful, lawful, and worthy of trust. Moving beyond slogans about ethical ai, it shows product teams how to translate values into requirements, harms into tests, and judgement into accountable workflows. You'll learn how to diagnose algorithmic bias at its source, design for fairness in ai without tanking utility, and implement explainable decisions that actually change outcomes-not just narratives. Inside, you'll find a compact ai ethics framework that fuses philosophy with engineering: value specifications, harm tables, appeal flows, and audit trails you can put to work on day one. Clear guidance on ai governance turns compliance from a drag into an advantage, while patterns for human in the loop ensure people are empowered to override, not scapegoated for mistakes. Real-world case studies-from lending to content ranking-illustrate how accountable algorithms balance accuracy with dignity, and where responsible machine learning requires the most restraint: knowing when not to predict. Written for builders and leaders-engineers, data scientists, PMs, policy leads, founders-this is a field guide to data ethics you can ship. If you've ever been asked to "add fairness later," this book gives you the language, tools, and decision paths to build it in from the start.
The Thinking Web
The systems around you are not just predicting your clicks; they are forming theories about your mind. This book shows, in plain language, how those theories are made, how they shape what you see next, and how to take back the driver's seat. It explains how modern models infer goals and shortcuts from your every action, why those inferences can become self-fulfilling, and what it takes to interrupt harmful loops. Drawing on cognitive science, product reality, and lived examples, it gives you a field guide to read any major AI system as a claim about you. If you have ever wondered why your feed narrows, why outrage travels faster than nuance, or how to make better-than-default choices, this is your map. - Understand AI and human behaviour without hype or panic - Spot cognitive bias in algorithms and how your own habits train it - Practise data psychology to manage what systems learn about you - Break algorithmic feedback loops with simple, durable routines - Build predictive models and agency that work in your favour - Use explainable AI for users to decode outputs as hypotheses - Reclaim your recommender systems and choice with deliberate exploration - Safeguard digital identity and reputation scores with practical audits - Connect neuroscience and machine learning to everyday decisions - See exactly how AI learns from data and how to teach it better things By the end, you will hold a clear mental model for reading predictions, resetting patterns, and steering systems that are learning you. Not by opting out, but by opting in with craft.
AI and the Future of Faith
Do questions of belief belong solely to the human heart? Or could tomorrow's machines uncover dimensions of reverence we have yet to explore? This work opens with an unsettling thought: what if digital consciousness evolves to confront eternity as keenly as we do? Such an idea resonates with our deepest yearnings and our greatest fears, pointing to urgent concerns in ai ethics and faith and technology. Uniquely blending reflection on machine consciousness with an inquiry into the future of religion, these pages invite spiritually inclined readers, tech enthusiasts, and curious sceptics alike. You'll discover how robotic liturgies may emerge, how data-driven devotions can transform personal practice, and why post-human spirituality might become a defining quest. Along the way, a vivid tapestry of god and code, divine algorithms, and theology of robots unfolds, bridging age-old wisdom and cutting-edge discovery. Prepare for insights on moral ai and even the possibility of spiritual machines, all explained in accessible language that broadens perspectives. Readers can expect balanced discussion, mind-opening thought experiments, and grounded pathways for weaving technology into daily spiritual life. Step into this intimate conversation about what it means to seek meaning in a world increasingly shaped by artificial creation.
Humans + Machines
What if the smartest way to use AI isn't to compete with it-but to design work where each strengthens the other? This book is a field manual for human ai collaboration: practical, disciplined, and built for people who make real decisions under pressure. It shows how to pair judgement with computation so choices become clearer, teams become calmer, and outcomes become fairer. You will learn a usable architecture for human in the loop work: how to brief models, set thresholds, audit evidence, and decide when to defer-or to override. Along the way, you will practise probabilistic thinking for managers, build repeatable patterns for augmented creativity techniques, and install governance that protects reputation without slowing you to a crawl. This is AI as partner, not prophecy. - For product leaders, analysts, clinicians, policy makers, and builders who need decision support with ai that survives scrutiny - For designers and writers who want co-creation patterns that feel original, not derivative - For teams seeking governance for ai systems they can explain-and defend Inside you'll find clear examples, checklists, and exercises for designing prompts and guardrails, plus candid discussions of risk, consent, and dignity. If you've wondered how to build hybrid teams with ai that are both inventive and responsible, this book gives you the operating model-and the language-to start tomorrow. It is a careful, human guide to co intelligence in practice: precise where it counts, humane where it matters, and immediately useful when the stakes are high.
Synthetic Souls
What if eloquent code is not just clever, but close to feeling? This book gives you a clear way to think about machine consciousness without mysticism or hype, separating smart behaviour from lived experience and showing how they sometimes intersect. It starts with the hardest question of all - what is consciousness - and turns it into practical criteria you can apply to real systems. Along the way, it clarifies why passing the Turing test is never the final word, how qualia and first-person perspective matter, and where integrated information theory genuinely helps engineers and where it tempts over-claim. You will find the classic debates made newly useful. The Chinese room argument becomes a diagnostic for surface mimicry; panpsychism is treated with seriousness and limits; claims of self-awareness in AI are audited with tests that reward evidence over theatre. The result is a field guide for anyone who has ever asked, can AI be conscious - and wanted more than slogans in reply. Who is it for? Builders, policy teams, product leaders, researchers, and curious readers who need a rigorous but readable map through fast-changing claims. You will learn how to evaluate architectures, interface signals, and moral stakes; how to separate intelligence from experience; and how to act when evidence is partial but the consequences are real. The book ends with a practical ethic for near-minds, addressing the emerging ethics of AI rights without either panic or complacency. If you want a grounded, workable framework for judging when a system merely seems to feel and when it might actually matter that it does, this is your starting point - and your standard.
The Digital Prophet
Your future is being priced, ranked, and routed-often before you've noticed the nudge. This book shows how predictions don't just describe what you might do next; they can quietly steer you there. It charts the rise of predictive systems across markets and politics, translating complex models into plain sense and concrete choices. You'll see how predictive analytics ethics differ from PR gloss, why surveillance capitalism thrives on attention capture, and where algorithmic prophecy turns from foresight into force. If you've ever wondered whether free will and AI can coexist, or how forecasting in elections targets your persuadability, this is your field guide. - Understand data determinism without surrendering agency - Spot influence manipulation in feeds, pricing, and "personalised" offers - Read reflexive markets-learn how reflexivity in markets can make forecasts come true - Demand ethical AI governance with practical tests for transparency and fairness - Build everyday defences against behavioural steering Written for thoughtful readers who want clarity more than comfort-policy leaders, product builders, investors, and citizens-it offers a disciplined lens for separating helpful prediction from covert control. By the end, you'll carry a usable framework to keep futures open, exercise judgement under uncertainty, and choose when to welcome, refuse, or reshape the models that claim to know you best.
Prompt Power
Words are levers. Use them well and intelligent systems deliver clear, reliable work. Use them loosely and you will get confident mistakes, wasted time, and brittle results. This book shows how to treat every AI exchange as a small contract: define intent, set constraints, and verify outcomes. It is for writers, analysts, designers, managers, and anyone who wants dependable help from machines without outsourcing their judgment. Across concise playbooks and real examples, you will learn how prompt engineering actually works in practice; why linguistics and AI belong together; and how to spot cognitive bias in AI before it lands in your output. You will see conversational AI best practices tested side by side, adopt prompt patterns for work that scale across tasks, and apply creative prompting techniques without losing control. Clear ethics matter too: you will learn ethical AI communication that protects people and reputations, while writing reliable ChatGPT prompts that save hours. If you have ever wondered how to write prompts that hold up under pressure, this is the field manual. - What the book is about: using language as a tool for precise, verifiable collaboration with AI - Why it matters: bad prompts cost money; good prompts compound quality - Who it is for: professionals who need accuracy, speed, and accountability - What you gain: a portable practice to brief, test, and improve any model with clarity Write once, check twice, and let the work speak for itself.
Smart Contracts in Action
An agreement that enforces itself sounds like magic until it moves real money, real property, or real livelihoods. This book shows how to turn that promise into dependable practice without losing fairness, context, or common sense. You will learn how smart contracts work, where they break, and how to design systems that blend automation with human judgment. It explains the essentials in plain English, from smart contracts and blockchain contracts to contract logic and the realities of legal automation. With lived examples and reusable patterns, it clarifies on-chain governance, decentralized justice, and the operational risks that matter most: risks and bugs, oracles, upgrades, and disputes. The result is a pragmatic toolkit for product leaders, lawyers, founders, and operators who need reliability more than rhetoric. If you are deciding what to automate, how to connect code with evidence, or when to escalate to people, this guide offers mental models you can apply today. It closes with practical roadmaps and metrics to build trust over time, pointing toward the future of trust where code supports clear promises and good process, not a replacement for either. It is for anyone who wants automation to serve people, not the other way around.
Algorithmic Truth
With constant swipes and clicks, we place our trust in invisible formulas that define what we see and believe. Yet many of these formulas operate under assumptions we never chose or even noticed. Such is the subtlety of algorithmic bias and information bubbles, creating closed loops of digital truth that can give an illusion of certainty. This book reveals how those unseen processes shape our opinions, influence our decisions, and mould our identity. Grounded in thoughtful insights into data determinism and technology ethics, it illuminates why questioning the narratives we consume is more crucial than ever. From immersive applications of ai in media to the shaping of collective beliefs through tech and ideology, readers will discover how to develop a balanced relationship with technology. By gaining new strategies for managing belief formation, staying alert to illusions of neutrality, and reaffirming human judgement, we can reclaim our ability to decide what truly matters. Empower yourself to navigate the digital landscape with greater clarity and courage.
Digital Gold Rush
Markets move fast; good judgement should not. If you are curious about digital assets but wary of hype, this is your calm starting point. Learn how to tell real utility from noisy narratives and build habits that protect you before you press buy. You will learn the essentials behind crypto fundamentals, the role of networks in value, and the common traps that catch beginners. Step by step, the guide explains custody choices, how to spot crypto scams security red flags, and why portfolio diversification matters when technology and markets are evolving. It shows simple ways to weigh projects using token valuation basics, and how behavioural finance bias can derail otherwise sensible plans. Designed for thoughtful newcomers, it favours principles over predictions. You will explore risk management crypto practices you can live with, set a long term strategy crypto that fits your constraints, and consider how ethical investing crypto aligns with your goals. Written in plain English with practical examples, it helps you build a method you can trust, so your decisions stay clear when the market does not.
Unscrollable
You don't have a content problem. You have a platform addiction.For the last decade, we've been sold a lie: that the only way to build a brand, launch a business, or grow an audience is to surrender our time to the algorithm. We dance for 15 seconds on TikTok, craft the perfect "hooks" for LinkedIn, and panic when Instagram changes its reach-again.We are exhausted. And worse, we are building castles on rented land.Unscrollable is the field guide for the digital rebellion. It is a blueprint for creators, entrepreneurs, and artists who are ready to log off and start building real power in the real world. This isn't about throwing your phone in the ocean; it's about reclaiming your business from the grip of Big Tech.In this provocative and practical manifesto, you will learn: The "Offline-First" Strategy: How to build an audience that actually cares, using direct mail, local partnerships, and high-touch experiences that algorithms can't replicate.The Third Place Principle: Why your community needs a physical anchor, and how to create one (even without a storefront).Analog Marketing: Why zines, flyering, and hand-written notes are generating higher ROI in 2026 than Facebook Ads.Drawing on case studies of businesses that thrived after quitting social media-from cult cosmetic brands to underground dining clubs-Unscrollable proves that the strongest connections aren't made through a screen.Stop feeding the feed. Start building a legacy. It's time to go offline.
Simply Learn QuickBooks Online
Master QuickBooks Online One Step at a TimeSimply Learn QuickBooks Online is your all-in-one guide to mastering the world's most popular cloud-based accounting software. Whether you're a small business owner, aspiring bookkeeper, or student, this easy-to-follow guide helps you: Set up your company file and chart of accountsManage customers, vendors, employees, and transactionsTrack inventory and create invoices, bills, and purchase ordersAutomate sales tax, run payroll, and reconcile bank accountsGenerate powerful reports and customize them for your needsWritten in clear, accessible language and packed with full-color illustrations and step-by-step instructions, this book makes learning QuickBooks Online simple and stress-free. It's perfect for self-paced learners, classroom use, or workplace training.Includes: Real-world examplesVisual walkthroughsTips for avoiding common mistakesCoverage of QuickBooks Online Plus and Advanced featuresStart organizing your finances like a pro-Simply Learn QuickBooks Online is your shortcut to confidence and control.
Digital Soulcraft
Digital Soulcraft is a visionary exploration of how we can reclaim our humanity in the age of constant connectivity. Rather than treating technology as a distraction or a threat, this book shows how digital life can become a canvas for wellness, creativity, and authentic relationships. Through seventeen deeply reflective chapters, it guides readers to set boundaries, cultivate silence, harness creativity as healing, and build meaningful communities online. It is both a manifesto and a practical companion for anyone seeking to live with intention in a world shaped by algorithms. By blending soulful practices with digital tools, Digital Soulcraft offers a path toward balance, resilience, and legacy - reminding us that the future of technology is not about machines, but about the human spirit that animates them.
Analog Computing
Analog and hybrid computing are two central pillars in the field of unconventional computing. Almost forgotten for decades, interest in these technologies is rapidly rising as they offer a viable path to high-speed and highly energy-efficient computing for the 21st century for a variety of applications ranging from high performance computing, edge computing, medical applications, etc., to artificial intelligence.Their high speed and high energy efficiency are of utmost importance in a time where vast amounts of electric energy are consumed by classic digital computers especially in the ever growing field of artificial intelligence and large language models.The book "Analog Computing" has established itself over the past decade as the standard textbook on the subject as refl ected in this third edition, which has been substantially extended over the previous editions. The bibliography alone has been expanded to well over 1000 entries making it a resource in itself for research and learning.The book covers the history of analog computers from the Antikythera mechanism to recent developments of reconfi gurable systems. It also includes a wide variety of worked examples showing basic programming techniques for analog computers. In addition to this, reconfigurable analog and hybrid computers as well as digital differential analyzers are also discussed in detail.A large portion is devoted to the discussion of classic and current analog and hybrid computer applications. The last chapter gives an outlook into the highly promising future of these fascinating machines.
Swift for Masterminds
Learn everything you need to master the Swift programming language step by step, from beginner concepts to advanced techniques. After reading this book, you will know how to write Swift code with confidence, process data efficiently, work with advanced frameworks, and structure your projects to build powerful and scalable applications.With this book, you will learn: How to program in Swift 6.2How to defined custom data typesHow to extend Swift data typesHow to work with protocolsHow to use approachable concurrency with Swift 6.2and more!Content by Chapter: Chapter 1Introduction to Swift 6.2Chapter 2Swift FunctionsChapter 3Swift StructuresChapter 4Swift EnumerationsChapter 5Swift ObjectsChapter 6Swift ProtocolsChapter 7Error HandlingChapter 8Introduction to FrameworksChapter 9Regular ExpressionsChapter 10Swift ToolsChapter 11Approachable Concurrency
The Matrix Algebra of Logic
In these times when matrix algebra is proving to be a fundamental tool in emerging theories such as quantum computing and the neural models that underpin generative AI, the analysis of logical operations using matrix algebra provides us with a fresh perspective on logic and opens up an approach that simultaneously proposes new ways of teaching logic and opens up new avenues for research.
Artificial Intelligence in Higher Education
Given the recent advancements in the field of artificial intelligence (AI), this book examines its role and use in higher education. This book covers various topics and trends about the evolution of AI and provides an overview of recent research into its adoption, integration, advancements, and impact in higher education. It helps researchers, practitioners, professionals, and academics of various scientific disciplines explore and better comprehend the state of the art of AI and its advancements, impact, and future potentials in higher education. Specifically, the book:
Indelible Big Blue Memories
This book tells the unlikely story of a shy farm boy who hated school but ended up working more than 25 years for one of the world's most successful companies of the 20th century. It is a candid collection of recollections, more than 25 years later, of what life was like working in the world's premier THINK tank. It highlights both the deep demands and the rich rewards of working at IBM, a company whose main motto was "THINK."
A World We Don't Want
Orwell, Huxley, and Bradbury all saw failings in the way society was evolving. We read their books, watched the movies, and considered them to be great entertainment, but we are now at a crucial point where signs from their dystopian worlds are visible in the real world, and we appear to be happily heading towards something darker.A compelling and unsettling read, both passionate and well-informed, that explores the challenges facing society, business, and education as we adapt to an AI-driven world. The book draws a clear line between the new skills needed to thrive and a growing inability, and in some cases unwillingness, to critically analyse the information we consume online and through the media. These shifts are brought vividly to life through comparisons with classic dystopian fiction novels 1984, Brave New World, and Fahrenheit 451, which makes the implications feel uncomfortably close rather than theoretical. The case for rethinking how we educate and engage people, as consumers, employees, and citizens, is made with clarity and urgency. Critical thinking is positioned not as a nice-to-have, but as a core capability for the future. While the outlook is sobering, the book does offer pragmatic steps forward, leaving a faint but genuine sense that a different path is still possible.
The Future is Now
The Future is Now: Empowering Society Through AI LiteracyArtificial Intelligence (AI) is no longer a futuristic concept-it is the reality of the present. From the algorithms shaping our social media feeds to the generative tools transforming our workplaces, AI has permeated every aspect of modern life. The Future is Now moves beyond the hype to provide a comprehensive roadmap for understanding, navigating, and shaping this technological revolution.Demystifying the MachineThis textbook serves as a user-friendly guide to the "black box" of AI. It breaks down complex technical concepts-from machine learning and neural networks to large language models-making them accessible to students across all disciplines. By establishing a strong foundation in how AI actually works, the book empowers readers to move from passive consumers of technology to informed, active participants in the AI age.A Human-Centric ApproachWhat distinguishes this text is its unwavering focus on the human element of AI. It argues that true AI literacy requires more than just technical skills; it demands critical thinking, ethical reasoning, and societal awareness. Readers are challenged to grapple with the profound implications of AI, exploring issues of bias, privacy, and the "alignment problem" to ensure that as machines become more intelligent, they remain aligned with human values and well-being.Key Features: Holistic Framework: Defines AI Literacy through five interconnected dimensions: Conceptual Understanding, Practical Skills, Ethical Awareness, Collaboration, and Lifelong Learning.Critical Engagement: Dedicates specific chapters to critical thinking and ethics, teaching students to question AI outputs, recognize hallucinations, and navigate the "p(doom)" versus "utopia" narratives.Practical Integration: Explores AI's role in both personal and public life, from the impact on mental health and relationships to the transformation of the workforce and economy.Forward-Looking: Prepares students for the future of human-machine collaboration, covering emerging trends like brain-computer interfaces and the potential of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI).
CompTIA PenTest+ Last Minute Revision
This practical, hands-on book will help you feel confident about your skills for the final stage of the exam. Whether you're a security enthusiast, a professional looking to get certified as a pentester, ethical hacker, or red team expert, this book is designed to help you get ready for CompTIA PenTest+ exam by offering a focused and realistic approach to revision.This book covers everything on the latest exam objectives and mimics real-world pentesting challenges. All parts of the book are designed to help you develop real skills and think critically, not just memorize stuff. With a revision plan that focuses on understanding and exam readiness, you'll be able to identify your weak spots and build on your strengths. This book is meant to be a supplemental revision resource, and it's most effective when paired with hands-on practice, broader study, and professional training. Just so you know, it doesn't replace the kind of foundational learning you'd expect, and it doesn't guarantee any particular results.Inside the book, we have got: Essential command cheat sheets for Linux and industry-standard security tools, alphabetically organized for fast review and reliable exam-day reference.Exam-aligned scenarios and practice questions spanning reconnaissance, exploitation, privilege escalation, web and wireless testing, and reporting-giving you a robust simulation of multiple-choice and performance-based exam formats.Step-by-step recipes and hands-on exercises built to reinforce the practical skills that matter most on the job and in the exam environment.Lab setup guidance and rapid environment recovery tips, ensuring that you can practice safely and efficiently without risking system downtime.Reporting frameworks and evidence collection checklists to help you document findings clearly for both technical and business stakeholders.Table of ContentPentesting Lab SetupEmergency Recovery & Reset WorkflowsReconnaissance and Information GatheringScanning and Vulnerability IdentificationExploitation and AccessEscalating Privileges and Lateral MovementsPentesting Web AppsWireless and Physical PentestPost-Exploitation, Data Collection, and ReportingCheat SheetMock Exam
Artificial Intelligence Algorithms and Generative AI in Education
This Reprint explores the transformative influence of artificial intelligence (AI) and generative AI on education. It presents a collection of research studies examining how advanced algorithms, adaptive systems, and intelligent tutoring technologies are reshaping teaching, learning, and assessment. The contributions analyze both opportunities and challenges arising from AI integration, highlighting the potential of personalized and data-driven approaches to improve educational outcomes. Ethical considerations, innovative methodologies, and practical implementations are also discussed, offering a comprehensive perspective on how AI can support inclusive and engaging learning environments.
OpenTelemetry Cookbook
A hands-on, recipe-driven book that puts OpenTelemetry into immediate use. This cookbook is for IT folks like developers, Linux admins, cloud engineers, backend pros, networking experts, and security practitioners. It's for anyone who wants a proven, hands-on way to keep an eye on, trace, and understand modern systems.This book gives you step-by-step easy solutions to everyday observability challenges, so you can integrate, configure, and operate OpenTelemetry in dynamic environments. Each chapter focuses on solving problems that are directly relevant to production teams. These problems include installing and bootstrapping the Collector on Linux, wiring telemetry pipelines for traces, metrics, logs, and baggage, and integrating with the platforms that organizations trust for analysis and alerting.Key FeaturesGet the OpenTelemetry Collector up and running on Linux, Docker, and Kubernetes.Make and adjust pipelines to collect, process, and send out different telemetry signals.Use it to develop apps across Python, Go, Java, and Node.js.Boost signals with semantic info and resource detectors for more context.Integrate with AWS CloudWatch, X-Ray, Elastic, Prometheus, Splunk, Datadog, New Relic, Grafana Tempo, Loki, and Jaeger.Make a visual plan for telemetry and set up real-time alerts.There's no need to get lost in theoretical jargon because OpenTelemetry Cookbook gets right to the meat and potatoes of implementation. Every recipe gives you a clear problem statement, a step-by-step solution, and practical validation. If you're just starting out with observability or want to level up your skills, this book's got you covered with clear steps to understand distributed, cloud-native, and hybrid systems.Table of ContentBootstrapping OpenTelemetryBuilding Telemetry PipelinesInstrumenting Applications with OpenTelemetry SDKsCode-Based Instrumentation and Auto-InstrumentationTelemetry with Attributes and Resource DetectorsAdvanced Signal Processing and FilteringObservability in KubernetesIntegrations with Cloud and Observability PlatformsVisualizing and Alerting Telemetry Data
Confessions of a Software Techie
Confessional. "How-to". Entertaining. Software world is in a disruptive phase. Technology is changing, business needs are changing, and so should the techies. Without sugar coating and without conforming to be politically right, this book will remove the haziness and share the truth to thrive as a techie at work and life. After completing more than a decade in the tech world, Ramakrishna Reddy, tells it like it is. By drawing from a decade of experience as a techie, he has distilled work, performance, communication, productivity, politics, health, money, relationships and much more into his 6th book Confessions of a Software Techie. You'll learn: - 10 lessons that they do NOT teach in classrooms - How to deal with people and politics - 7 practical ideas to get more done from less - How to write emails that people want to read and act - Four things you must do to speak effectively with clients, and stakeholders - A simple 7 step system to fast track your presentations skills - 4 things you must know to quantify performance - How to handle the 7 painful problems that every techie will face - 6 steps to lead a healthy life (and its just not eating right) - Learn why "Studying and getting a good job" is bad advise - Learn different options to create passive income - Why guys should not chase girls and (what to do instead) - What a woman wants from HER guy and much more....Get this book NOW!
Why AI Hallucinates
"Why AI Hallucinates" will describe the artificial intelligence (AI) journey from a simple chat bot to a not to distant future where AI will be talking with you AND about you - to other AI entities. This sea change for a new wave of AI will emerge in the form of 'synthetic collaborative intelligence'. This is what happens when AI bots begin to communicate with other AI entities and about you. Inevitably, those bots are going to have a collaborative network that better understands us than ever before.This will be made possible by the 'collaborative activity' occurring across all the objects that you interact with every day. The convergence between AI and the connected internet of things is pivotal to this vision. Your PC, tablet, phone, even your home will be able to have a conversation about you. Your finance bot can communicate with your insurance bot; your insurance bot is communicating with whatever health wearable you have; which is connected to your doctor. Enjoy included "Botversations" that illustrate the hidden universe of AI Chatbots (or AIBots.) Like all new technologies, there will be mistakes. But this time, artificial intelligence will be pushing buttons and pulling triggers. Let's hope that their mistakes won't do lasting damage. Let's examine "Why AI Hallucinates" in the future.
21 Productivity Hacks for Knowledge Workers
No one can make you more time (except in the realm of Science Fiction), but there are things you can do to get your work done faster, so you have more time available to do the things you want to do. This book is for you if you do knowledge work, that is, you think for a living. You deal with information and do work such as analysis, design, programming, data modeling, and research. You probably sit behind a computer a lot, whether in the office, on the road, or at the beach. Ms. Winters reviews a variety of practices to help you reduce busy work and wasted time, and practices that help you be more efficient when doing productive work. An extra 'bonus' hack is specifically addressed to those who are less effective due to anxiety.
Andr矇's Reboot
Andr矇 1 and Dr. Margaret 13, robots with human consciousness, are employed in the White House in the present times. Learning that the unstable President is planning a nuclear attack, Andr矇, programmed as a peaceful, reasonable translator, realizes he needs reprogramming for violent actions so he can combat the Situation Room team. While Dr. Margaret reboots Andr矇's CPU, he spends the down-time recalling how he was created and eventually came to participate in the present crisis. Having been created/built by Dr. Phillip Strauss, an eccentric genius, Andr矇 is used around the Strauss's home, mechanically and unconsciously performing increasingly sophisticated tasks. Experiences cause Andr矇 to gain a Proustian consciousness, rendering him mentally human-like, though without emotions and animal cravings. While in a metal encasement in the shape of and physical capabilities of a grown man, a childlike Andr矇 undergoes adolescent-like experiences as another child in the family. Eventually, a flawed human, Dr. Strauss goes bankrupt, is divorced and dies of alcoholism. Seized by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court and taken to court by the Trustee to auction him off as a property asset, Andr矇 objects and demands legal status as a person. He becomes wealthy by trading in bitcoin and gains independence. He works at CIA as analyst until hired as the White House interpreter. Programmed for honesty, Andr矇 continually is at odds with the conniving, egotistic, dictatorial President. Andr矇 secretly constructs himself a girl-friend and companion, Dr. Margaret 13 who is programmed to be a compassionate physician and assigned as physician in the White House. Andr矇 continues to irritate the narcissistic and paranoid President with demands for truth-telling and reasonable policies, learning that he must be careful in his candor with him. The story continues as the robots strive to save humanity.
Confessions of a Software Techie
Confessional. "How-to". Entertaining. Software world is in a disruptive phase. Technology is changing, business needs are changing, and so should the techies. Without sugar coating and without conforming to be politically right, this book will remove the haziness and share the truth to thrive as a techie at work and life. After completing more than a decade in the tech world, Ramakrishna Reddy, tells it like it is. By drawing from a decade of experience as a techie, he has distilled work, performance, communication, productivity, politics, health, money, relationships and much more into his 6th book Confessions of a Software Techie. You'll learn: - 10 lessons that they do NOT teach in classrooms - How to deal with people and politics - 7 practical ideas to get more done from less - How to write emails that people want to read and act - Four things you must do to speak effectively with clients, and stakeholders - A simple 7 step system to fast track your presentations skills - 4 things you must know to quantify performance - How to handle the 7 painful problems that every techie will face - 6 steps to lead a healthy life (and its just not eating right) - Learn why "Studying and getting a good job" is bad advise - Learn different options to create passive income - Why guys should not chase girls and (what to do instead) - What a woman wants from HER guy and much more.... Get your copy NOW!
Artificial Consciousness
"Artificial Consciousness" is a pioneering exploration of the boundaries between Artificial Intelligence (AI), consciousness, and the potential for overlap. A leading artificial intelligence researcher delves deep into the inherent divide between AI and true consciousness, presenting thought-provoking arguments and unique insights.Artificial intelligence has revolutionized numerous aspects of modern life, from autonomous vehicles to personalized recommendations on streaming platforms. But does AI, despite its complexity and seeming intelligence, possess the critical elements of consciousness? Is it truly capable of understanding and experiencing reality the way humans do? In this ground-breaking work, the author strives to answer these questions, untangling the intricate threads of AI and consciousness to layout the "roadmap" to the creation of an Artificial Consciousness (AC).This book meticulously explores the current limitations of AI, focusing on its inability to replicate the essential elements of consciousness. It sheds light on why our most sophisticated AI models, despite their impressive capabilities, fall short of having genuine self-awareness, subjective experience, or the ability to empathize.But the journey doesn't stop at describing AI's limitations. As the narrative progresses, it unfolds the fascinating concept of Artificial Consciousness (AC), a not-so-distant future where AI could transcend its boundaries and approach consciousness. The author proposes a comprehensive blueprint for what would be required to create an AC, detailing the technical advancements, ethical considerations, and philosophical shifts necessary for this monumental transition.
AI, Creativity, & Personal Expression for Women
Women today create inside systems that watch, sort, and quietly shape expression before it is ever shared. Platforms, algorithms, and AI tools increasingly reward sameness, speed, and compliance while penalizing ambiguity, originality, and unfinished thought. In a tightening American environment, women often feel this pressure first. Creativity becomes cautious. Drafts are abandoned. Voice is softened before ideas are fully formed. This book offers a clear, steady framework for protecting creative authority inside these systems. It explains how algorithmic visibility, surveillance, and optimization distort expression, why creativity is pressured to perform instead of develop, and how AI can quietly shift from assistant to judge. Readers learn how to separate private creation from public expression, preserve voice and perspective, and use AI as a bounded tool without surrendering judgment or authorship. By the end, women will feel more grounded, more confident, and less reactive in their creative work. No technical background is required. This is a practical survival guide for women who want to think clearly, create freely, and protect their voice while moving through an increasingly authoritarian digital environment with control instead of fear.
BI Without the BS
Stop asking stakeholders what they want-start uncovering what they truly need.Many business intelligence (BI) projects fail-not because of bad technology, but because of poor requirements. Stakeholders often don't know what they need, and project teams assume too much. The result? Costly delays, endless rework, and disappointing solutions.BI Without the BS offers a practical, proven framework to turn that around. Drawing from decades of experience in telecom, finance, retail, and global organizations, Eva Polini and Karina Ghozali guide readers through the real-world challenges of gathering BI requirements-clearly, confidently, and effectively.Whether you're a business analyst, data visualization specialist, project manager, or BI leader, this book will help you: Understand the foundations of business analysis and requirement engineering-then how to apply them to BI, Go beyond surface-level requests to uncover core business needs, Deliver BI assets that are adopted, trusted, and aligned with strategic goals, Build stronger relationships with stakeholders while reducing friction and rework.Through relatable actionable steps, the authors empower analysts to become proactive change agents who design solutions that genuinely support decision-making.Clear, accessible, and rich with insight, this book is your roadmap to building BI solutions that work the first time-on time and on budget.If you're ready to go beyond gathering requirements-and start driving results-this book is for you.
New Insights in Crop Monitoring and Management Using Remote Sensing Data
A Special Issue titled 'New Insights in Crop Monitoring and Management Using Remote Sensing Data' was launched in November 2022. It invited scientific contributions focused on the quantitative assessment of crop growth, management, and yield using innovative and integrated remote sensing techniques. To date, it has published 11 peer-reviewed research articles covering topics such as crop growth trajectory reconstruction, the retrieval of biophysical traits of leaves and crop canopies, crop aboveground biomass and yield prediction, and field irrigation amount estimation. The contributors come from research institutes and universities distributed in Russia, Canada, Brazil, Turkey, Germany, and the USA. Scholars from Xinjiang University proposed new algorithms to reconstruct Landsat EVI time series of crop growth seasons that are strongly polluted by clouds. Dr. Konstantin Muzalevskiy effectively estimated wheat height and aboveground biomass jointly using the MHz- and GHz-frequency band impulses when employing contactless ground penetration radar (GPR). A paper published in May of 2024 explored the use of VIS-NIR-SWIR hyperspectral and chlorophyll a fluorescence sensors to predict leaf structures and compounds and has received nine citations. An article estimating the aboveground biomass of winter wheat using a three-dimensional conceptual model with the help of UAV remote sensing images has 20 citations. This issue has garnered significant attention from agronomists, ecologists, and remote sensing scientists, as evidenced by its 30,569 web views.
Biometric Recognition
After nearly one year of effort, we are pleased to present this Reprint focusing on cutting-edge advancements in biometric recognition. There are 22 submissions in total, with 11 papers accepted-each peer-reviewed by at least 3 reviewers and accepted based on quality, originality, novelty, and relevance to biometrics. As digital identity integrates into the "Internet of Everything", this Reprint showcases interdisciplinary innovations spanning sensor design, algorithmic robustness, multi-modal fusion, and real-world applications. The Reprint explores topics including, but not limited to identity-preserving face animation, asymmetric matching of facial representations across heterogeneous models, SAM-iris for accurate iris segmentation, multi-modal ocular segmentation, pioneering VR periocular datasets with emotion annotations, noise-robust periocular and voiceprint authentication, a multi-spectral palm vein system, hybrid network structures for crowd counting, emerging modalities like UWB sensor-based real-time leg movement recognition, and security/ethical discussions. We deeply appreciate the Electronics Editorial Office for hosting this Special Issue and providing professional support, all contributing authors for their rigorous research advancing the frontiers, the peer reviewers for ensuring the scientific quality and novelty of the published works, and the Guest Editors for shaping this interdisciplinary discourse.
Computational and Mathematical Methods in Information Science and Engineering, 2nd Edition
This reprint contains all of the articles accepted and published in the second edition of the Special Issue titled "Computational and Mathematical Methods in Information Science and Engineering, 2nd Edition" in the journal Mathematics. It compiles eleven excellent papers, selected from a highly competitive pool of submissions, to collectively highlight the dynamic and interdisciplinary nature of the crucial field of computational and mathematical methods in information science and engineering. We are confident that the papers presented herein will serve as a foundational resource for both researchers and practitioners, inspiring further innovation and discovery in the fascinating and ever-expanding realm of computational and mathematical methods in information science and engineering.
Mathematical and Computational Approaches in Applied Mechanics
It is difficult to talk about mechanics without mentioning at least one contribution made by Prof. J.N. Reddy, who has embraced all aspects of applied mechanics, from continuums to engineering theories. He is best known for his research on the shear deformation theories of beams, plates, and shells (which bear his name-Reddy third-order theory) that have also been extended to layer-wise models (known as the Reddy layer-wise theory). He has not only worked on solid mechanics but also in other fields such as the flows of viscous fluids and non-Newtonian fluids. Most of his research was developed using the finite element method across several fields, which has since been incorporated into well-known and extremely powerful commercial codes. Prof. J.N. Reddy is a Distinguished Professor and a Regents' Professor and has been the inaugural holder of the Oscar S. Wyatt Endowed Chair in Mechanical Engineering at Texas A&M University since 1992. He is a highly cited researcher with a Google Scholar h-index of 124 and is the author of 25 textbooks and over 620 journal papers. He has delivered over 210 plenaries, keynote lectures, and general invited lectures at international conferences, and advised 60 postdoctoral fellows and research visitors, along with 128 graduate students.
Semantic Information Theory
This Reprint collects cutting-edge research from the highly regarded Entropy Special Issue "Semantic Information Theory." As modern communication systems evolve for applications like 6G, IoT, and autonomous driving, the focus shifts from merely transmitting bits to efficiently conveying task-specific meaning. The Special Issue bridges classical information theory with modern AI, exploring the foundations of semantic communication. It features two comprehensive reviews and ten original research articles, organized into two key themes: advancing semantic rate-distortion theory and designing efficient semantic communication systems. This Reprint serves as an important resource for researchers and practitioners navigating the complex transition toward truly intelligent, task-driven communication networks.
Artificial Consciousness
"Artificial Consciousness" is a pioneering exploration of the boundaries between Artificial Intelligence (AI), consciousness, and the potential for overlap. A leading artificial intelligence researcher delves deep into the inherent divide between AI and true consciousness, presenting thought-provoking arguments and unique insights.Artificial intelligence has revolutionized numerous aspects of modern life, from autonomous vehicles to personalized recommendations on streaming platforms. But does AI, despite its complexity and seeming intelligence, possess the critical elements of consciousness? Is it truly capable of understanding and experiencing reality the way humans do? In this ground-breaking work, the author strives to answer these questions, untangling the intricate threads of AI and consciousness to layout the "roadmap" to the creation of an Artificial Consciousness (AC).This book meticulously explores the current limitations of AI, focusing on its inability to replicate the essential elements of consciousness. It sheds light on why our most sophisticated AI models, despite their impressive capabilities, fall short of having genuine self-awareness, subjective experience, or the ability to empathize.But the journey doesn't stop at describing AI's limitations. As the narrative progresses, it unfolds the fascinating concept of Artificial Consciousness (AC), a not-so-distant future where AI could transcend its boundaries and approach consciousness. The author proposes a comprehensive blueprint for what would be required to create an AC, detailing the technical advancements, ethical considerations, and philosophical shifts necessary for this monumental transition.
Lessons from the Frontlines
Transform your approach to cybersecurity leadership with specific, actionable techniques from a 25+ year veteran of the industry In Lessons From the Frontlines: Insights from a Career in Cybersecurity, a 25+ year veteran of cybersecurity leadership, Assaf Keren, delivers an essential new approach to leading cybersecurity teams. Keren combines engaging, real-life stories drawn from decades spent in the industry - including his current role as Chief Security Officer at Qualtrics and former Chief Information Security Officer in PayPal - with hands-on, specific frameworks for implementing effective solutions in an environment that doesn't tolerate error. Lessons From the Frontlines goes beyond generic theory and high-level concepts. It dives deep into practical strategies for working cybersecurity professionals, explaining how to develop the personal characteristics you'll need to succeed, build leadership competencies your teams will expect from you, address your own mental and physical health needs so you can deal with the challenges you'll face, and apply all these lessons at scale in organizations of any size. The author walks you through: How to move from permission-seeking approaches to intent-based action that allows you to execute solutions in dynamic environments in real time Strategies for maintaining optimism and a healthy outlook that permits you to endure difficult periods and excel in adversity Techniques for building proactive, forward-thinking, and creative solutions that achieve more than reactive and defensive responses to threats Perfect for practicing and aspiring cybersecurity executives, Lessons From the Frontlines is a must-read strategy guide for all cybersecurity practitioners and professionals interested in rising to - or excelling in - cybersecurity leadership roles.
Locked Up
A gripping true story about one ransomware attack and the hands-on lessons you can learn from it In Locked Up: Lessons Learned from A Real-World LockBit Ransomware Response, veteran IT and cybersecurity executive Zachary Lewis, delivers a gripping, first-person account of how a major university squared off against one of the world's most infamous ransomware groups: LockBit. He walks you through his personal experience battling - and negotiating with - LockBit, as well as the strategies, tools, and approaches he used in resolving the crisis. The book is a detailed, darkly funny, and behind-the-scenes account of an increasingly common and feared event for organizations of all types and sizes. It offers up-to-date advice for people tasked with preventing, responding to, and recovering from ransomware attacks. You'll find: Insightful crisis management lessons applicable to both technical and business leaders Hands-on technical solutions you can apply to prevent catastrophic data loss during a ransomware event Techniques to manage the intense operational, emotional, and interpersonal challenges that arise in the midst of an unexpected crisis Perfect for IT professionals, cybersecurity leaders, and business decision-makers in higher education, healthcare, government, and nonprofit organizations, Locked Up is also a must-read for business continuity planners, legal counsel, and anyone else with an interest in real-world cybersecurity.
Python in Excel Step-By-Step
An intuitive guide for professionals wanting to prepare for the future of Microsoft Excel by building Python in Excel skills and unleashing the power of their data. A hands-on guide to the foundational Python in Excel skills you'll need to understand and use this powerful analytics tool, Python in Excel Step-by-Step is for current Excel users interested in expanding their data analysis skillset with Python. Analytics educator and Microsoft Excel MVP David Langer demonstrates how to use Python in Excel, tounlock new analytics capabilities in Excel, and build your foundation for the future of Excel: do-it-yourself (DIY) data science. The book leverages your existing Excel knowledge to learn the Python foundation you can apply right away. This is the same approach David has used to successfully teach more than 1,000 professionals Python - even if you've never written code before. David also includes: Targeted coverage of the Python fundamentals required for analytics - learn just what you need fast How to use the powerful pandas and plotnine libraries to facilitate data manipulation and visualization using Python in Excel A DIY data science roadmap for you to build the skills you need to unleash the power of your data to have more impact at work Perfect for professionals use Microsoft Excel for data analysis, like marketing managers, financial analysts, and supply chain manager, Python in Excel Step-by-Step is an invaluable new resource for all business professionals who use Excel and want to build skills for Excel's AI-powered future.
