2 comments about Slaves of the Machine: The Quickening of Computer Technology (Bradford Book).

1. I was recently assigned this book by a Java computer course as a general read. As I am not new to the ideas of computers and/or programming them, and even though this book is geared towards newcomers to the computer world, I still learnt interesting facts.

   "Slaves of the Machine" was written with a very clear and informal style, and even discusses some new facts that most computer knowledgeable people will find interesting, such as the history of the computers. At times I feel Rawlins exaggerates the movement of computers and is looking too far in future for us to comprehend (ie. humans catching viruses from computers).

   This is not to say it is not possible; it does send chills down my spine when I think about some of the topics that Rawlins discusses.

   This book will be a superb read for people who are new to the concept and theories of computers. Analogies are packed in this book and this makes grasping some of the issues much easier. Other topics discussed is how man programs the computer, and the current limits of the machines.

   If you ever wondered how computers came about and want some insight on where computers may take us in the future (or where we may take them), and whether you are a novice or experienced computer user, I would recommend this book. It's not filled with techie-stuff but written in plain, casual English.




2. _____________________________________________
   Prof. Rawlins has written an elegant small book on the history and
   future of computers, ranging from Charles Babbage's Analytical Engine
   (1842) to future machine intelligence. His book joins such
   distinguished predecessors as Hans Moravec's "Mind Children" and Eric
   Drexler's "Engines of Creation": speculative-science books more
   interesting (and certainly more rigorous) than most science-fiction.
   
   From Babbage, Dr. Rawlins turns to Alan Turing, "another farsighted
   English mathematician who dreamt of machines that manipulated
   information... Like Babbage before him, Turing saw so far ahead that he
   never understood why he had to explain everything he foresaw to the
   government." Like Babbage, he lost his funding and his heart.
   Convicted of homosexual acts in 1952, he was forced to undergo chemical
   castration. He killed himself in 1954.
   
   Rawlins treats the maddening inflexibility of present-day programs: we
   can blame David Hilbert (c. 1900). "Hilbert wanted a completely
   mechanical way to solve any mathematical problem; something like
   directions in a cookbook, only more precise... Although he never knew
   it, he was asking for computer programs... We'll eventually have to
   give up our Hilbertian total-control philosophy and let our machines be
   more adaptive. Because we're already losing control."
   
   "The answer to "Could computers think? is that it doesn't matter...
   What matters is whether we *think* they think." His discussion of AI is
   succint and illuminating: "A future of smart machines is strange
   indeed... it may be much harder to kill yourself by turning on a gas
   oven or running a car in a locked garage - both your oven and your car
   may figure out what you're trying to do and prevent you... Possessions
   might get more dangerous, too... Are we ready for a world of feral
   cars?"
   
   "As Thoreau said long ago, we've become the tools of our tools... One
   day, something vast and cool and strange may read these very words -- and
   chuckle with amusement.
   
   Welcome to tomorrow."
   
   Highly recommended.
   
   review copyright 1997 by Peter D. Tillman
   First published at SF Site

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No comments about Innovating for Failure: Government Policy and the Early British Computer Industry (History of Computing).

No comments about Oracle8i Para Linux - Edicion de Aprendizaje C/Cdr.

No comments about Oracle Pl&Sql& Oracle 9i (3rd Edition).

No comments about Oracle 8 PL/SQL Programmierung, m. CD-ROM. Version 7 bis Version 8i..

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No comments about Measuring the Information Society (SAGE Focus Editions).

No comments about The 6th Annual Computer Industry Almanac 1993 (Computer Industry Almanac).

5 comments about Oracle Databases on the Web: Learn to Create Web Pages That Interface with Database Engines.

1. I reviewed all of the Oracle Web books, and while there are no wonderful books, this was by far the best. I like the section of updating from a Web page the best. This book has paid for itself many times.



2. This is a clumsily written book that I found useful only for a little background information and as a reference for the htf/htp routines. When I run into a problem (e.g. when to use POST vs. GET in WebServer; or how to use the OWA utilities) there is a little information there but not enough. However, I haven't found a better reference yet.



3. It merely restates existing Oracle documentation. There are not enough practical examples; only the installation portion was of any value. It is written around OWS 2.0, not 3.0. I actually got more assistance from the 2 chapters OWS in "ORACLE How-To" by Edward Honour.



4. To address a few points made in some of the reviews of 'Oracle Databases on the Web', I would like to first point out that this book was written PRIOR to most of Oracle's own written documentation on Oracle WebServer and prior to any online documentation. This book was the first released for Oracle WebServer and so was the pioneer on this subject. Consequently, the book was targeted for beginner to intermediate development using Oracle WebServer. It was reviewed by an Oracle VP who was thrilled with its content, which led to subsequent major orders for the book by Oracle's Business Partner Alliance. If any written Oracle documentation did exist at the time, it was at best scattered and incomplete. Many documented code examples and product features did not work and had to be refined as presented in the book. The publication has already sold out 2 printings and I continue to receive positive comments even though it is based on OWS 2. All-in-all, this book serves well as the introduction into this new technology.



5. While most of the Oracle Web books focus on Java and other insignificant details, this was the only one that I found that had a simple, clear explaination of creating Web pages with Oracle.