Networked information technology (NIT) systems are synonymous with network-centric or net-centric systems and constitute the cornerstone of the fast-growing information age. NIT systems' field of application ranges from the traditional worldwide telecommunication systems, banking and financial transactions, on-line travel reservation systems, and remote data acquisition and control to the present-day e-commerce and distance learning to tomorrow's patient medical records, remote surgery, intelligent transportation systems, and communications and control in deep space. To date, however, the design and development of NIT systems have been ad-hoc, and lacking a scientific theory. A new text presents a scientific theory of NIT systems and logically develops the fundamental principles to help synthesize control algorithms for these systems. The algorithms are referred to as asynchronous, distributed decision-making (ADDM) algorithms, and their characteristics include correct operation, robustness, reliability, scalability, stability, and performance. The book explains through several case studies and actual research the conception, development, experimental testing, validation, and rigorous performance analysis of practical ADDM algorithms for real-world systems from a number of diverse disciplines. It concludes by exploring the benefits and impact of ADDM algorithms in the future. Topics and features: *develops a logical yet practical approach to synthesizing ADDM algorithms for NIT systems *addresses design of NIT systems using a scientific manner *essential for NIT engineers who plan to design, build, deploy, maintain, and evolve NIT systems that span virtually every aspect of human behavior *includes actual case studies to help readers develop clarity and application of key principles

I felt deeply honored when Professor Sumit Ghosh asked me to write the foreword to his book with an extraordinary perspective. I have long admired him, ?rst as a student leader at Stanford, where he initiated the ?rst IEEE Computer Society's student chapter, and later as an esteemed and inspiring friend whose transdisciplinary research broadened and enhanced the horizons of practitioners of computer science and engineering, including my own. His ideas, which are derived from his profound vision, deep critical thinking, and personal intuition, reach from information technology to bioscience, as - hibited in this excellent book. To me, an ordinary engineer, it opens up a panoramic view of the Universe of Knowledge that keeps expanding and - spiring,likethegoodIndianproverb,whichsays,"agoodbookinformsyou,an excellent book teaches you, and a great book changes you. " I sincerely believe that Professor Ghosh's book will help us change and advance the methods of systems engineering and technology. Vision Inspired vision sees ahead of others what will or may come to be, a vivid, imagined concept or anticipation. An inspired vision personi?es what is good and what like-minded individuals hope for. Our vision is one of creating an Internet of minds, where minds are Web sites or knowledge centers, which create, store, and radiate knowledge through interaction with other minds connected by a universal shared network. This vision will not just hasten the death of distance, but will also - carcerate ignorance.

It was our great pleasure to extend a welcome to all who participated in SERA 2003, the ?rst world-classs International Conference on Software Engineering Research and Applications, which was held at Crowne Plaza Union Square Hotel, San Francisco, California, USA. The conference was sponsored by the International Association for Computer and Information Science (ACIS), in cooperation with the Software Engine- ing and Information Technology Institute at Central Michigan University. This conference was aimed at discussing the wide range of problems encountered in present and future high technologies. In this conference, we had keynote speeches by Dr. Barry Boehm and Dr. C.V. Ramamoorthy and invited talks by Dr. RaymondYeh, Dr. Raymond Paul, Dr. Mehmet S, ahinoglu, which were fruitful to all who participated in SERA 2003. We would like to thank the publicity chairs and the members of our program c- mittees for their work on this conference. We hope that SERA 2003 was enjoyable for all participants."