This book explores quantum computing as a transformative technology and its applications in communications, cryptography, teleportation, IoT, AI, and blockchain, in addition to the revolutionary concept of quantum internet. It also explains the concept of dark, small, thick data, and clarifies what the concept of a data lake. Other exciting technologies like edge/fog computing, CDN, SDN, wearable technology and IoE topics are discussed in details in the book. Information security applications like zero trust model, zero-day vulnerability and heuristic analysis, and use of AI in cybersecurity are explored. Two of the most intriguing concepts in computing "affective computing" and "autonomic computing" are explained and simplified. The blockchain applications presented include blockchain and supply chain, crowdsourcing, cryptocurrency, and IoT. The book ends with a look at using technology to fight COVID-19 and future pandemics.

This book applies both industrial engineering and computational intelligence to demonstrate intelligent machines that solve real-world problems in various smart environments. The title presents fundamental concepts and the latest advances in Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) techniques and their application to smart environments. Though managers and engineers often use multi-criteria analysis in making complex decisions, many core problems are too difficult to model mathematically or have simply not yet been modelled. In response, as well as AI-based approaches, this book covers various optimization techniques, decision analytics and data science in applying soft computing techniques to a defined set of smart environments, including smart and sustainable cities, disaster response systems and smart campuses. This state-of-the-art book will be essential reading for both undergraduate and graduate students, researchers, practitioners and decision makers interested in advanced MCDM techniques for management and engineering in relation to smart environments.

1. The book will discuss most relevant real-life applications and case studies of Network Technologies. 2. The book will provide deeper knowledge regarding emerging research trends and future research directions in Network Technologies. 3. The book will provide theoretical, algorithmic, simulation, and implementation-based research developments in Network Technologies. 4. The book will follow theoretical approach to describe fundamentals of Network Technologies for the beginners as well as practical approach to depict simulation and implementation of real-life applications for intermediate and advanced readers.

Contains papers presented at the Third International Symposium on Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering (1997), which provide evidence that computer-based models, and in particular numerical methods, are becoming essential tools for the solution of many problems encountered in the field of biomedical engineering. The range of subject areas presented include the modeling of hip and knee joint replacements, assessment of fatigue damage in cemented hip prostheses, nonlinear analysis of hard and soft tissue, methods for the simulation of bone adaptation, bone reconstruction using implants, and computational techniques to model human impact. Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering also details the application of numerical techniques applied to orthodontic treatment together with introducing new methods for modeling and assessing the behavior of dental implants, adhesives, and restorations.
For more information, visit the "http: //www.uwcm.ac.uk/biorome/international symposium on Computer Methods in Biomechanics and Biomedical Engineering/home page, or "http: //www.gbhap.com/Computer_Methods_Biomechanic s_Biome dical_Engineering/" the home page for the journal.

This text provides a process oriented discussion of the theory, methodology and philosophy of geologic and mine modelling using two commercial software packages: Techbase, a leader for mineral exploration and modelling bedded deposits; and Lynx, for modelling geology.

'IT in Business: A Manager's Casebook' examines the impact of new IT initiatives from the business angle. The case material is derived from the year's best research projects from three leading UK Business Schools - Bath, Cranfield and Warwick.

This incisive exploration of managing processes in IT companies is essential reading for IT managers in 'end-user' businesses who have to deliver strong business benefits from IT. In a climate of rapid and continual change, such contemporary information is invaluable.
'IT in Business: A Manager's Casebook' tackles managerial issues using specific case studies such as Tesco, Johnsons News Limited and the Department of Health to illustrate these points.
David Targett is the Professor of Information Management at Imperial College Management School, University of London. For eight years, 1990-98, he was the Professor of Information Systems and Director of the Centre for Research into Strategic Information Systems (CRSIS) at the University of Bath. Previously, he was at the London Business School and before becoming an academic he was an industrial engineer in the motor industry.
David Grimshaw is Senior Lecturer in Information Systems at Cranfield School of Management and was previously at the University of Leeds and Warwick Business School, University of Warwick. He has wide teaching experience and has taught in Australia, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Portugal, Russia and Singapore. He has ten years' practical experience in information systems and as an independent consultant has advised many companies on strategic information systems planning and on geographical information systems.
Philip Powell is Professor of Information Systemsat Goldsmiths College, University of London. Prior to this he was Reader in Information Systems and ICAEW Academic Fellow in the Operational Research and Systems Group, and Director of the Information Systems Research Unit at Warwick Business School. Before becoming an academic he worked in insurance, accounting and computing. He has taught in Southampton, Australia and Portugal and held a number of other posts overseas.
Includes projects from three of the leading business schools - Bath, Cranfield, and Warwick
Full of case studies from organizations such as Amtrak and Unilever
Provides up-to-the-minute information on what real-life developments and initiatives that are developing in this area

This book is about information systems development failures and how to avoid them.
It considers what goes wrong with information systems development projects and what actions may be taken to avoid potential difficulties.The reduction of the impact, or even the elimination of the problems, is discussed in terms of an information systems risk management programme.
Stop I.T.Project failure helps to ensure that IS project managers are successful in helping to deliver application systems. However, IS development risk can never be entirely eliminated and consequently the practitioner needs to bear in mind that an IS development project is never without risk, and hence there is a continuing potential for something to go wrong.
The book covers the key issues and variables and makes specific practical suggestions about the good management practice that is required to implement IS project risk processes.
Dr. Dan Remenyi has spent more than 25 years working in the field of corporate computers and information systems. He has worked with computers as an IS professional, business consultant and user. In all these capacities he has been primarily concerned with benefit realisation and obtaining the maximum value for money from the organisations' information systems investment and effort. He has worked extensively in the field of information systems project management, specialising in the area of project risk identification and management. He has written a number of books and papers in the field of IT management and regularly conducts courses and seminars as well as working as a consultant in this area. Dr.Dan Remenyi holds a B.Soc.Sc., an MBA and a PhD. He is a Visiting Professor atChalmers University of Technology in Gothenberg, Sweden and an associate member of faculty at Henley Management College in the United Kingdom.
asks what goes wrong with IT projects
shows how to perform a financial analysis for the risks looks at how to minimise the impact
shows you how to manage a risk program

Helping you understand the technological foundations for a wide range of digital devices, New Perspectives Computer Concepts Comprehensive, 21st edition, presents what every learner should know about using technology to complete your education, launch a successful career and engage in issues that shape today's world. The book's proven learning path is structured with today's busy reader in mind. Leading tech author June Parsons combines the latest on emerging technology with detailed illustrations and interactive activities that help you quickly understand technical topics. This edition provides updated information on current operating systems, digital rights management, the deep web and dark web, videoconferencing, the pandemic's impact on tech jobs, work-at-home and more. A unique module provides a hands-on introduction to programming, while MindTap offers anywhere, anytime learning solutions.

In this book, Kathleen Tyner examines the tenets of literacy through a historical lens to demonstrate how new communication technologies are resisted and accepted over time. New uses of information for teaching and learning create a "disconnect" in the complex relationship between literacy and schooling, and raise questions about the purposes of literacy in a global, networked, educational environment. The way that new communication technologies change the nature of literacy in contemporary society is discussed as a rationale for corresponding changes in schooling.
Digital technologies push beyond alphabetic literacy to explore the way that sound, image, and text can be incorporated into education. Attempts to redefine literacy terms--computer, information, technology, visual, and media literacies--proliferate and reflect the need to rethink entrenched assumptions about literacy. These multiple literacies are advanced to help users make sense of the information glut by fostering the ability to access, analyze, and produce communication in a variety of forms.
Tyner explores the juncture between two broad movements that hope to improve education: educational technology and media education. A comparative analysis of these two movements develops a vision of teaching and learning that is critical, hands on, inquiry-based, and suitable for life in a mobile, global, participatory democracy.

This book describes, for the first time in pedagogical form, an approach to computer-based work in complex sociotechnical systems developed over the last 30 years by Jens Rasmussen and his colleagues at Riso National Laboratory in Roskilde, Denmark. This approach is represented by a framework called "cognitive work analysis." Its goal is to help designers of complex sociotechnical systems create computer-based information support that helps workers adapt to the unexpected and changing demands of their jobs. In short, cognitive work analysis is about designing for adaptation.
The book is divided into four parts. Part I provides a motivation by introducing three themes that tie the book together--safety, productivity, and worker health. The ecological approach that serves as the conceptual basis behind the book is also described. In addition, a glossary of terms is provided. Part II situates the ideas in the book in a broader intellectual context by reviewing alternative approaches to work analysis. The limitations of normative and descriptive approaches are outlined, and the rationale behind the formative approach advocated in this book is explored. Part III describes the concepts that comprise the cognitive work analysis framework in detail. Each concept is illustrated by a case study, and the implications of the framework for design and research are illustrated by example. Part IV unifies the themes of safety, productivity, and health, and shows why the need for the concepts in this book will only increase in the future. In addition, a historical addendum briefly describes the origins of the ideas described in the book.

This text in the series "Innovations in GIS", continues the theme of directions in geographical information systems research established by the four previous Research UK (GISRUK) conferences. The chapters reflect the interdisciplinary nature of GIS research and includes coverage of such themes as: virtual GIS; spatial analysis; artificial intelligence; spatial agents and fuzzy systems; and space-time GIS and GIS applications.

Considering computer contracting? If you are, then read this book. It explores the many aspects of the computer contracting world and gives sound practical advice to both the newcomer and the experienced contractor. It will also be invaluable if you are an employer wrestling with the perennial problem of finding staff in this highly competitive marketplace. Let this book show you how to break loose from being an employee to working freelance. The author, a freelancer himself, considers what it takes to become a contract worker and gives you invaluable information throughout to help you get started in the world of computer contracting. This book looks at: * why contract workers are used at all - what kind of companies actually employ contractors, and why? * how you make the transition from full-time working - what does it actually take temperamentally to be a successful contractor? * how you start - what does forming your own company involve, and why is it even necessary? * how you go about finding a contract, and negotiating the right rate. * what agencies do for you - and how can you find who are the best? * the financial differences between being a full-time employee and a contractor - how do you manage your affairs? * how you keep your experience up to date when you do not have a regular employer to help train you. * what sort of opportunities are available, and what sort of rates of pay you can expect. * your possible career progressions after contracting. The contracting scene is ever changing. In this wide-ranging book, the current outlook for contract staff is analysed as well as the trends in the computer industry which are driving these changes. Some doors are opening whilst other close - let this book be your guide. If you have marketable skills, the right attitude and would like to be your own boss, there could not be a better time to consider computer contracting.

This revised text provides an updated account of principles and survey modelling in hydraulic, coastal and offshore engineering. Topics covered include discrete forms of conservation laws, numerical methods, the foundations of computational hydraulics, and applications of computational hydraulics.

Hypertext, email, word-processing: electronic technologies have revolutionized the way we write language. How does language on screen work differently from language on the page? What new literacy skills are needed and how do we teach them?
"Page to Screen" collects some of the best contemporary thinkers in the fields of literacy and technology to discuss the impacts of new media on language. The contributors analyze the potential of new forms of text, the increased emphasis on visual representation, new forms of rhetoric, learning in the age of global communication networks and new approaches to storytelling.
Timely and important, this collection tackles important questions about the future of language and the way we use and teach it.

Today's healthcare organizations must focus on a lot more than just the health of their clients. The infrastructure it takes to support clinical-care delivery continues to expand, with information technology being one of the most significant contributors to that growth. As companies have become more dependent on technology for their clinical, administrative, and financial functions, their IT departments and expenditures have had to scale quickly to keep up. However, as technology demands have increased, so have the options for reliable infrastructure for IT applications and data storage. The one that has taken center stage over the past few years is cloud computing. Healthcare researchers are moving their efforts to the cloud because they need adequate resources to process, store, exchange, and use large quantities of medical data. Cloud Computing in Medical Imaging covers the state-of-the-art techniques for cloud computing in medical imaging, healthcare technologies, and services. The book focuses on Machine-learning algorithms for health data security Fog computing in IoT-based health care Medical imaging and healthcare applications using fog IoT networks Diagnostic imaging and associated services Image steganography for medical informatics This book aims to help advance scientific research within the broad field of cloud computing in medical imaging, healthcare technologies, and services. It focuses on major trends and challenges in this area and presents work aimed to identify new techniques and their use in biomedical analysis.

An ideal reference source for CEOs, marketing and sales managers, sales consultants, and students of international marketing, Guide to Software Export provides a step-by-step approach to initiating or expanding international software sales. It teaches you how to examine critically your candidate product for exportability; how to find distributors, agents, and resellers abroad; how to identify the best distribution structure for export; and much, much more Not content with providing just the guidelines for setting up, expanding, and managing your international sales channels, Guide to Software Export advises you on pitfalls to avoid, important legal and financial considerations associated with software export, and essential market and distribution information. In an effort to cover all the bases, this comprehensive text also discusses: negotiating partnerships electronic marketing evaluating the competition cultural assumptions and biases adapting software for use in Asian markets information sources on the Internet distribution channel strategiesIf you re not satisfied with your company 's international sales performance or you want to get into the global market, Guide to Software Export can help you guide your company through the transition. With the book 's easy-to-follow advice and checkpoints, you are sure to bring new levels of success to your company, so act now and get out in the forefront of software exporting.

Data is an intrinsic part of our daily lives. Everything we do is a data point. Many of these data points are recorded with the intent to help us lead more efficient lives. We have apps that track our workouts, sleep, food intake, and personal finance. We use the data to make changes to our lives based on goals we have set for ourselves. Businesses use vast collections of data to determine strategy and marketing. Data scientists take data, analyze it, and create models to help solve problems. You may have heard of companies having data management teams or chief information officers (CIOs) or chief data officers (CDOs), etc. They are all people who work with data, but their function is more related to vetting data and preparing it for use by data scientists. The jump from personal data usage for self-betterment to mass data analysis for business process improvement often feels bigger to us than it is. In turn, we often think big data analysis requires tools held only by advanced degree holders. Although advanced degrees are certainly valuable, this book illustrates how it is not a requirement to adequately run a data science project. Because we are all already data users, with some simple strategies and exposure to basic analytical software programs, anyone who has the proper tools and determination can solve data science problems. The process presented in this book will help empower individuals to work on and solve data-related challenges. The goal of this book is to provide a step-by-step guide to the data science process so that you can feel confident in leading your own data science project. To aid with clarity and understanding, the author presents a fictional restaurant chain to use as a case study, illustrating how the various topics discussed can be applied. Essentially, this book helps traditional businesspeople solve data-related problems on their own without any hesitation or fear. The powerful methods are presented in the form of conversations, examples, and case studies. The conversational style is engaging and provides clarity.

"A First Course in Machine Learning by Simon Rogers and Mark Girolami is the best introductory book for ML currently available. It combines rigor and precision with accessibility, starts from a detailed explanation of the basic foundations of Bayesian analysis in the simplest of settings, and goes all the way to the frontiers of the subject such as infinite mixture models, GPs, and MCMC." -Devdatt Dubhashi, Professor, Department of Computer Science and Engineering, Chalmers University, Sweden "This textbook manages to be easier to read than other comparable books in the subject while retaining all the rigorous treatment needed. The new chapters put it at the forefront of the field by covering topics that have become mainstream in machine learning over the last decade." -Daniel Barbara, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, USA "The new edition of A First Course in Machine Learning by Rogers and Girolami is an excellent introduction to the use of statistical methods in machine learning. The book introduces concepts such as mathematical modeling, inference, and prediction, providing 'just in time' the essential background on linear algebra, calculus, and probability theory that the reader needs to understand these concepts." -Daniel Ortiz-Arroyo, Associate Professor, Aalborg University Esbjerg, Denmark "I was impressed by how closely the material aligns with the needs of an introductory course on machine learning, which is its greatest strength...Overall, this is a pragmatic and helpful book, which is well-aligned to the needs of an introductory course and one that I will be looking at for my own students in coming months." -David Clifton, University of Oxford, UK "The first edition of this book was already an excellent introductory text on machine learning for an advanced undergraduate or taught masters level course, or indeed for anybody who wants to learn about an interesting and important field of computer science. The additional chapters of advanced material on Gaussian process, MCMC and mixture modeling provide an ideal basis for practical projects, without disturbing the very clear and readable exposition of the basics contained in the first part of the book." -Gavin Cawley, Senior Lecturer, School of Computing Sciences, University of East Anglia, UK "This book could be used for junior/senior undergraduate students or first-year graduate students, as well as individuals who want to explore the field of machine learning...The book introduces not only the concepts but the underlying ideas on algorithm implementation from a critical thinking perspective." -Guangzhi Qu, Oakland University, Rochester, Michigan, USA

Documents, such as drawings, memos and specifications, form an essential function in the design and construction industry. Throughout the lifecycle of a built asset, starting from an initial design idea, right through to a final built form and its ongoing management, thousands, even millions of documents can be used to convey various forms of information to a range of interested parties. In many ways, therefore, the success of a design, or construction-based company, relies upon an understanding of the use of documents, as well as the technologies and techniques that are used to create them.

The Digital Document provides an extensive background to the issues and technologies surrounding this very important topic. It examines a technical subject in an insightful manner that is neither intimidating nor confusing, even to the novice computer user. By introducing the subject through a series of preliminary reviews of current practices and essential computing technologies, the reader is able to better appreciate the benefits and capabilities of a wide range of digital document types. This book explores the role of documents in a professional practice, examines the components, capabilities, viability, and use of digital documents in the design and construction industry, and identifies and explains many of the
standards in use today.
In order to facilitate a better understanding of digital document technologies, a number of essential reviews are provided including:
- the definition and purpose of a document
- how documents are typically used by design professionals
- the nature of the digital document environment
- the data types which make up digital documents
The Digital Document is an essential reference for the architect, engineer or design professional that wants to find out more about effective communication in the digital workplace.
Bruce Duyshart is an IT Project Manager with Lend Lease Corporation and specialises in the development and implementation of digital media and information management technologies on design and construction projects. He holds a Masters degree in Architecture and is also an academic associate of the Faculty of Architecture, Building and Planning at the University of Melbourne. He has written numerous papers on emerging technologies in the architecture, engineering and construction industry, and has developed Internet web sites for the Royal Australian Institute of Architects and Architecture Media.
Only book available on this subjectMeets an increasing awareness of the importance of digital documentsEndorsed by influential organisations and institutions: Lend Lease, The University of Melbourne and the Royal Australian Institute of Architects

Translating traditional coaching methods and competencies for use in the online world, this informative and timely guide shows coaches how to transform their face-to-face practice into one that utilises technological means of communication with clients, mentors, and everyone else associated with their practice. The book offers up-to-the-minute practical and ethical information from two world-expert coaches, leaning on their combined 50 years of experience and study. It covers the practice of online coaching via email, chat, audio/telephone and video methods, as well as the ethics of online coaching (including an ethical framework), case material, supervision, mentoring and training, and a look into the future of the coaching profession in light of technological developments and the culture of cyberspace. Whether you are a coach-in-training or established Coaching Master, this book is an accessible and invaluable tool for taking and maintaining your coaching services online.

Prepare for the coming convergence of AI and quantum computing A collection of essays from 20 renowned, international authors working in industry, academia, and government, Convergence: Artificial Intelligence and Quantum Computing explains the impending convergence of artificial intelligence and quantum computing. A diversity of viewpoints is presented, each offering their view of this coming watershed event. In the book, you'll discover that we're on the cusp of seeing the stuff of science fiction become reality, with huge implications for ripping up the existing social fabric, global economy, and current geopolitical order. Along with an incisive foreword by Hugo- and Nebula-award winning author David Brin, you'll also find: Explorations of the increasing pace of technological development Explanations of why seemingly unusual and surprising breakthroughs might be just around the corner Maps to navigate the potential minefields that await us as AI and quantum computing come together A fascinating and thought-provoking compilation of insights from some of the leading technological voices in the world, Convergence convincingly argues that we should prepare for a world in which very little will remain the same and shows us how to get ready.

The advent of very compact, very powerful digital computers has made it possible to automate a great many processes that formerly required large, complex machinery. Digital computers have made possible revolutionary changes in industry, commerce, and transportation. This book, an expansion and revision of the author's earlier technical papers on this subject, describes the development of automation in aircraft and in the aviation system, its likely evolution in the future, and the effects that these technologies have had -- and will have -- on the human operators and managers of the system. It suggests concepts that may be able to enhance human-machine relationships in future systems. The author focuses on the ability of human operators to work cooperatively with the constellation of machines they command and control, because it is the "interactions among" these system elements that result in the system's success or failure, whether in aviation or elsewhere.
Aviation automation has provided great social and technological benefits, but these benefits have not come without cost. In recent years, new problems in aircraft have emerged due to failures in the human-machine relationship. These incidents and accidents have motivated this inquiry into aviation automation. Similar problems in the air traffic management system are predicted as it becomes more fully automated. In particular, incidents and accidents have occurred which suggest that the principle problems with today's aviation automation are associated with its complexity, coupling, autonomy, and opacity. These problems are not unique to aviation; they exist in other highly dynamic domains as well. The author suggests that a different approach to automation -- called "human-centered automation" -- offers potential benefits for system performance by enabling a more cooperative human-machine relationship in the control and management of aircraft and air traffic.

This textbook intends to be a comprehensive and substantially self-contained two-volume book covering performance, reliability, and availability evaluation subjects. The volumes focus on computing systems, although the methods may also be applied to other systems. The first volume covers Chapter 1 to Chapter 14, whose subtitle is ``Performance Modeling and Background". The second volume encompasses Chapter 15 to Chapter 25 and has the subtitle ``Reliability and Availability Modeling, Measuring and Workload, and Lifetime Data Analysis". This text is helpful for computer performance professionals for supporting planning, design, configuring, and tuning the performance, reliability, and availability of computing systems. Such professionals may use these volumes to get acquainted with specific subjects by looking at the particular chapters. Many examples in the textbook on computing systems will help them understand the concepts covered in each chapter. The text may also be helpful for the instructor who teaches performance, reliability, and availability evaluation subjects. Many possible threads could be configured according to the interest of the audience and the duration of the course. Chapter 1 presents a good number of possible courses programs that could be organized using this text. Volume I is composed of the first two parts, besides Chapter 1. Part I gives the knowledge required for the subsequent parts of the text. This part includes six chapters. It covers an introduction to probability, descriptive statistics and exploratory data analysis, random variables, moments, covariance, some helpful discrete and continuous random variables, Taylor series, inference methods, distribution fitting, regression, interpolation, data scaling, distance measures, and some clustering methods. Part II presents methods for performance evaluation modeling, such as operational analysis, Discrete-Time Markov Chains (DTMC), and Continuous Time Markov Chains (CTMC), Markovian queues, Stochastic Petri nets (SPN), and discrete event simulation.

This book, about a newly emerging area of research in instructional technology, has as its title the acronym "CSCL." Initially, CSCL was chosen as an acronym for Computer-Supported Collaborative Learning. However, some would argue that "collaborative" is often not a descriptive term for what learners do in instructional settings; further, as the field develops, the technology used to support collaboration may not always involve computers, at least not in the direct ways they have been used to support instruction in the past. To avoid getting bogged down in this terminological debate, this book uses CSCL as a designation in its own right, leaving open to interpretation precisely what words it stands for.
The authors talk a great deal about the theory underlying their work. In part, this is because that is what they were asked to do, but it is also an indication of the state of the field. In an established paradigm in which the theories and methods are well agreed upon, such discussion is less central. CSCL, however, has not yet reached the stage of "normal" science. There is much to be worked out yet. This book is offered with the hope that it will help to define a direction for future work in this field.
The chapters appear in alphabetical order (except for the introductory chapter and the afterword) -- not for lack of a better way to organize the chapters, but rather because the organizational possibilities are too numerous and this order does not privilege one over another. By not imposing a topical organizing structure on this collection, it is hoped that readers will feel freer to explore the chapters in a way that best suits their needs.
COPY FOR BIND-CARD CD-ROM info ................................. There is an accompanying CD-Rom for this proceedings that will become available September 1998. Purchasers of the proceedings may obtain a copy of this CD-ROM at no cost by contacting Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc. phone: (201) 236-9500 toll-free: 1-800-9-BOOKS-9 (1-800-926-6579) 9am-5pm EST fax: (201) 236-0072 e-mail: [email protected] Web site: www.erlbaum.com address: 10 Industrial Avenue, Mahwah, NJ 07430-2262
The CD-ROM was funded through a grant from the National Science Foundation.

Conducting computer analyses for the purposes of revealing information of significance to the press represents an extension of one of the most important forms of American journalism into the contemporary era of new technologies. Investigative reporting had its start with the establishment of the metropolitan newspaper during the early decades of the 1900s. At the time, it was a continuation of the evolving tradition of freedom of the press that had characterized American political life since colonial times. As it developed, investigative reporting stressed "facts" rather than the opinions of the editor or reporter. In turn, that tradition had its own intellectual roots. Today, computer-assisted investigative reporting (CAIR) extends that "marketplace of ideas" into systematic examinations of the electronic records of government. In addition, computer analyses of other kinds of information systematically gathered by journalists can provide the press with insights into trends and patterns unlikely to be revealed by other means.
This unique volume addresses procedures and issues in investigative journalism that have not been explained in other publications. It sets forth -- for the first time -- a detailed and specific "methodology" for conducting computer-assisted investigative analyses of both large and small scale electronic records of government and other agencies. That methodology consists of the logic of inquiry, strategies for reaching valid conclusions, and rules for reporting what has been revealed by the analyses to the public in clear ways. Such systematic methodologies are essential in social and other sciences and the development of a counterpart for investigative journalism has been badly needed.
That systematic methodology is developed within a context that explains the origin and major characteristics of those elements that have come together in American society to make computer-assisted investigative reporting both possible and increasingly a part of standard newsroom practices. These include the development of traditional investigative journalism, the evolution of computer technology, the use of computers by government to keep records, the legal evolution of freedom of information laws, the rapid adoption of computers in newsrooms, the increasing importance of precision journalism, and the sharp increase in recent times of computer-assisted investigative reporting by American newspapers both large and small. The issues addressed in this book are discussed in a very readable context with an abundance of examples and illustrations drawn from the real world of journalism as it is practiced daily in newsrooms around the country. Explanations of concepts, principles, and procedures are set forth in layperson's terms that require very little in the way of knowledge of computers or statistical methods.