Computing

In this explosive memoir, a political consultant and technology whistleblower reveals the disturbing truth about the multi-billion-dollar (read more)

In this explosive memoir, a political consultant and technology whistleblower reveals the disturbing truth about the multi-billion-dollar data industry, revealing to the public how companies are getting richer using our personal information and exposing how Cambridge Analytica exploited weaknesses in privacy laws to help elect Donald Trump. When Brittany Kaiser joined Cambridge Analytica - the UK-based political consulting firm funded by conservative billionaire and Donald Trump patron Robert Mercer - she was an idealistic young professional working on her fourth degree in human rights law and international relations. A veteran of Barack Obama's 2008 campaign, Kaiser's goal was to utilize data for humanitarian purposes, most notably to prevent genocide and human rights abuses.

But her experience inside Cambridge Analytica opened her eyes to the tremendous risks that this unregulated industry poses to privacy and democracy. Targeted is Kaiser's eyewitness chronicle of the dramatic and disturbing story of the rise and fall of Cambridge Analytica. She reveals to the public how Facebook's lax policies and lack of sufficient national laws allowed voters to be manipulated in both Britain and the United States, where personal data was weaponised to spread fake news and racist messaging during the Brexit vote and the 2016 election. (hide)

Web applications occupy a large space within the IT infrastructure of a business or a corporation. They simply just don't touch a (read more)

Web applications occupy a large space within the IT infrastructure of a business or a corporation. They simply just don't touch a front end or a back end; today's web apps impact just about every corner of it. Today's web apps have become complex, which has made them a prime target for sophisticated cyberattacks.

As a result, web apps must be literally tested from the inside and out in terms of security before they can be deployed and launched to the public for business transactions to occur. The primary objective of this book is to address those specific areas that require testing before a web app can be considered to be completely secure. The book specifically examines five key areas:Network security: This encompasses the various network components that are involved in order for the end user to access the particular web app from the server where it is stored at to where it is being transmitted to, whether it is a physical computer itself or a wireless device (such as a smartphone). (hide)

THE CRYPTO GOLD RUSH IS ONLY JUST BEGINNING... Blockchain technology and the cryptocurrencies it enables are being described by some (read more)

THE CRYPTO GOLD RUSH IS ONLY JUST BEGINNING... Blockchain technology and the cryptocurrencies it enables are being described by some people as the biggest thing since the internet, but very few people understand it, or the opportunities it brings. Enter this down-to-earth guide to understanding what cryptocurrencies are, why it matters, and how to make money from them.

This book is for everyone who has heard of bitcoin and cryptocurrencies, wants to learn more - and make money on the back of it. Believe it or not, if you bought $1,000 of Bitcoin in 2010, you would now be worth over $220m! This has left the public stunned. People around the world are asking "What on earth is a crypto?", "Should I buy some Bitcoin?", "How do I even buy some cryptocurrencies?", "Isn't this just one big bubble?" and more. (hide)

Thanks to Facebook and Instagram, our childhoods have been captured and preserved online, never to go away. But what happens when (read more)

Thanks to Facebook and Instagram, our childhoods have been captured and preserved online, never to go away. But what happens when we can't leave our most embarrassing moments behind?Until recently, the awkward moments of growing up could be forgotten. But today we may be on the verge of losing the ability to leave our pasts behind.

In The End of Forgetting, Kate Eichhorn explores what happens when images of our younger selves persist, often remaining just a click away. For today's teenagers, many of whom spend hours each day posting on social media platforms, efforts to move beyond moments they regret face new and seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Unlike a high school yearbook or a shoe box full of old photos, the information that accumulates on social media is here to stay. (hide)

This book stems from the desire to systematize and put down on paper essential historical facts about the Web, a system that has (read more)

This book stems from the desire to systematize and put down on paper essential historical facts about the Web, a system that has undoubtedly changed our lives in just a few decades. But how did it manage to become such a central pillar of modern society, such an indispensable component of our economic and social interactions? How did it evolve from its roots to today? Which competitors, if any, did it have to beat out? Who are the heroes behind its success?These are the sort of questions that the book addresses. Divided into four parts, it follows and critically reflects on the Web's historical path.

"Part I: The Origins" covers the prehistory of the Web. It examines the technology that predated the Web and fostered its birth. In turn, "Part II: The Web" describes the original Web proposal as defined in 1989 by Tim Berners-Lee and the most relevant technologies associated with it.
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From the moment Alexa wakes you up, you glance at your Apple watch, check social media, app-order your daily coffee and navigate (read more)

From the moment Alexa wakes you up, you glance at your Apple watch, check social media, app-order your daily coffee and navigate your way to work, your data is being collected. In this new digital landscape unfurling around us, data is the new oil and you're the oil well. We're living in an extraordinary age: the age of trust.

We trust the language of algorithms and the intentions of tech giants. The Trust Manifesto is for anyone how has started to question that trust; who worry where it might end, who fear 'The Black Mirror Effect'. It is for those who wonder what an alternative internet would look like, built on trust, that works for all of us. (hide)

Up and Running with AutoCAD 2019: 2D Drafting and Design focuses on 2D drafting and design, making it more appropriate for a one-semester (read more)

Up and Running with AutoCAD 2019: 2D Drafting and Design focuses on 2D drafting and design, making it more appropriate for a one-semester course. The book provides step-by-step instruction, examples and insightful explanations. From the beginning, the book emphasizes core concepts and the practical application of AutoCAD in engineering, architecture and design.

Equally useful in instructor-led classroom training, self-study, or as a professional reference, the book is written with the user in mind by a long-time AutoCAD professional and instructor based on what works in the industry and the classroom. (hide)

A hands-on guide to using Excel in the business context First published in 2012, Using Excel for Business and Financial Modelling (read more)

A hands-on guide to using Excel in the business context First published in 2012, Using Excel for Business and Financial Modelling contains step-by-step instructions of how to solve common business problems using financial models, including downloadable Excel templates, a list of shortcuts and tons of practical tips and techniques you can apply straight away. Whilst there are many hundreds of tools, features and functions in Excel, this book focuses on the topics most relevant to finance professionals. It covers these features in detail from a practical perspective, but also puts them in context by applying them to practical examples in the real world.

Published:29 Mar 2019 (hide)

Designed with flexibility and readers' needs in mind, this purpose driven book offers new UX practitioners succinct and complete (read more)

Designed with flexibility and readers' needs in mind, this purpose driven book offers new UX practitioners succinct and complete intructions on how to conduct user research and rapidly design interfaces and products in the classroom or the office. With 16 challenges to learn from, this comprehensive guide outlines the process of a User Experience project cycle from assembling a team to researching user needs to creating and veryifying a prototype. Practice developing a prototype in as little as a week or build your skills in two-, four-, eight-, or sixteen-week stretches.

Gain insight into individual motivations, connections, and interactions; learn the three guiding principles of the design system; and discover how to shape a user's experience to achieve goals and improve overall immediate experience, satisfaction, and well-being. Written for professionals looking to learn or expand their skills in user experience design and students studying technical communication, information technology, web and product design, business, or engingeering alike, this accessible book provides a foundational knowledge of this diverse and evolving field. A companion website will include examples of contemporary UX projects, material to illustrate key techniques, and other resources for students and instructors. (hide)

While tools for analyzing streaming and real-time data are gaining adoption, the ability to visualize these data types has yet to (read more)

While tools for analyzing streaming and real-time data are gaining adoption, the ability to visualize these data types has yet to catch up. Dashboards are good at conveying daily or weekly data trends at a glance, though capturing snapshots when data is transforming from moment to moment is more difficult-but not impossible. With this practical guide, application designers, data scientists, and system administrators will explore ways to create visualizations that bring context and a sense of time to streaming text data.
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