Covering more than basic computer commands and procedures, this encyclopaedia summarizes how technology has developed, the future of computer programs and applications, and the significance of computer components. Following an introduction and overview, there are approximately 750 to 800 entries.

This A-to-Z biographical dictionary explores the diverse group of inventors, scientists, entrepreneurs and visionaries in the computer science field. The information provided gives a glimpse into their drive and the challenges they face in creating a new kind of business and culture.

The news media is a 24-hour presence, endlessly pumping images and information through the air, beaming it down from space, transmitting it through cables and phone lines across the Internet. Out of this torrent of information, all delivered in about the same tone of importance, it is sometimes difficult to sift through and determine what really is significant. From newspapers and magazines to radios, televisions, and the Internet, today's consumers often rely on the news media for unbiased, reliable information on current events. However, the news media is an industry that does much more...

Drug Abuse explores all aspects of this complex and important issue in an unbiased and well-organized manner. It identifies specific drugs and covers the history of U.S. drug regulation, current approaches to treating addiction, and the way drug abuse has shaped public policy. This valuable reference examines laws such as the 1937 Marijuana Tax Act and the 1970 Controlled Substances Act, court cases such as Leary v. United States, and the role various federal agencies play in regulating drugs.

Until recently, the odds of an individual becoming the victim of a terrorist attack in a democracy like the United States were miniscule. However, the ability of a small number of terrorists - like those who just attacked the World Trade Center and the Pentagon - to strike a sudden devastating blow highlights how increasingly vulnerable we are. The proliferation and availability of sophisticated weapons have made the issue of terrorism more urgent than ever. Terrorist groups no longer rely solely on firepower to make theie message heard; with cyberterrorism and bioterrorism, the range of...

This text deals with issues related to the topic of campaign and election reform. It examines questions such as how candidates raise campaign funds and what contributors expect from them in return and whether there should be legal limits on how much money candidates can raise or spend.

With an overview of the topic that provides historical context, this work focuses mainly on developments in gun control within the US. The revised edition offers greater coverage of how gun-related issues are being handled in other parts of the world, as well as detail on the proliferation of small arms such as AK-47 rifles and grenade launchers.

Privacy can mean different things to different people. It can mean seclusion, or it could mean the ability to control access to personal information. Most Americans expect that a letter will get to its destination unopened and that no one will be allowed to secretly listen in on phone calls without a court order. If the police suspect someone has committed a crime, they have to obtain a warrant from a judge before searching the person's home. Besides protecting specific places and activities, privacy can also mean protection for intimacy and family life, and indeed, the right to make...

"Internet Predators" discusses the struggle to combat criminal and antisocial activity online and to prevent victimization - without excessively restricting the freedom that has helped make the online world a vital part of the U.S. economy and society. It focuses on the individual online user and on what service providers, regulatory agencies, law enforcement officials, legislators, and others can and should do to protect the online public.

Many scientists and inventors contributed to the understanding of robotics and their development in the modern age. Modern Robotics presents succinct biographies of the men and women who were and are the leaders in bringing about this change through research and new technologies. From Jacques de Vaucanson to Grey Walter to Joseph Engelberger, here is a lively introduction to the field through the stories of its top trailblazers.