Adopting Web Services will affect many processes within any organization. To throw light on the most important issues, we have commissioned Experts in the Industry to share their insights. The resultant papers cover a broad spectrum from architecture to business strategies without diverting into deep technological fashions. Each study in the collection will answer specific business challenges thrown up by Web Service architectures. Before changing, commissioning, or evaluating a Web Service initiative, all IT Managers, System Architects, Lead Developers, and Business Visionaries should study and reference this book.

Introduced 160 years ago as an attempt to generalize complex numbers to higher dimensions, quaternions are now recognized as one of the most important concepts in modern computer graphics. They offer a powerful way to represent rotations and compared to rotation matrices they use less memory, compose faster, and are naturally suited for efficient interpolation of rotations. Despite this, many practitioners have avoided quaternions because of the mathematics used to understand them, hoping that some day a more intuitive description will be available.
The wait is over. Andrew Hanson's new book is a fresh perspective on quaternions. The first part of the book focuses on visualizing quaternions to provide the intuition necessary to use them, and includes many illustrative examples to motivate why they are important-a beautiful introduction to those wanting to explore quaternions unencumbered by their mathematical aspects. The second part covers the all-important advanced applications, including quaternion curves, surfaces, and volumes. Finally, for those wanting the full story of the mathematics behind quaternions, there is a gentle introduction to their four-dimensional nature and to Clifford Algebras, the all-encompassing framework for vectors and quaternions.
* Richly illustrated introduction for the developer, scientist, engineer, or student in computer graphics, visualization, or entertainment computing.
* Covers both non-mathematical and mathematical approaches to quaternions.
* Companion website with an assortment of quaternion utilities and sample code, data sets for the book's illustrations, and Mathematica notebooks with essential algebraic utilities.

GEORGE LUCAS HAS NOTHING TO APOLOGIZE FOR Or does he? What if George Lucas was brought to trial before the Fanboy throngs at comic con? How would he defend Star WarsTM, and how would you vote: to condemn, or acquit? Hilarious and forceful, The Apology of George Lucas is half satire, half rigorous defense of the legendary filmmaker using the most famous philosophical defense in western civilization: Plato's Apology of Socrates.

This book should be of interest to all educators, both administrators and teachers. In the book, Randy provides practical strategies that employ writing as the tool for teaching students to both think and write well. Designed for teachers of all disciplines, in the book he clearly explains "what" to do and "why" these practices work, based on research. For educational leaders, the book provides "the big picture" view of how writing across the curriculum produces better thinkers, writers, and more literate students. For classroom teachers, Randy provides practical strategies that work. This book is divided into three sections. Section I delineates the reasons "why" writing must be used across the curricula to produce better thinkers, writers, and more literate students, and why these assets are essential for individual and societal success. Section II provides dozens of practical strategies that can be used by teachers of all disciplines to achieve the goal of producing good thinkers and writers. Additionally, Randy explains the research behind these strategies. Section III addresses the major problem that stands in the way of writing being used across the curricula as a tool for teaching: teachers not knowing how to provide quality feedback in efficient ways. The perceived "paper load" limits the writing opportunities for students and thus inhibits student growth. This section explains how to provide "quality" feedback "efficiently."

For families of an infant leaving the NICU, nothinga s more exciting--and challenging--than the critical transition to home life with their baby. Support the NICU-to-home transition with this accessible book, the complete guide to helping parents meet their babya s special needs and promote optimal development in the first year after homecoming.

Invaluable for a wide range of professionals--including early interventionists, OTs, PTs, public health nurses, physicians, and social workers--this book is the key to providing family-centered, developmentally supportive guidance in the months after the NICU. Professionals will deepen their understanding of the emotional and physical challenges of the NICU experience, and theya ll get in-depth guidance on how to support parents effectively as they

• develop a loving and satisfying relationship with their baby
• manage the changes to their daily routines and home environment
• recognize, interpret, and respond to the babya s signals and behaviors
• actively encourage motor and language development
• support the babya s management of sleep/wake cycles
• identify concerns about the babya s development
• learn the timing, intensity, and amount of activity that work for their unique baby
• promote their babya s self-regulation
• locate and access community resources and social supports

To illuminate the incredible strength of parents of premature infants, the book includes powerful stories of real families who share their experiences of supporting and loving their babies in the NICU and beyond. Readers will also receive printable handouts to share with families--Coming Home: What to Expect; Reading Your Babya s Cues; Feeding Your Baby; Positioning and Handling Strategies; Communicating With Your Baby; Playing With Your Baby; Helping Your Baby Learn; and more--and lists of resources, websites, and organizations that provide additional information and support.

With this definitive guide from two leading experts in infant development and early intervention, professionals will provide sensitive, effective support and guidance to new parents as they make a smooth transition to home life and develop strong relationships with their babies."

Bombs fell. Billions died. Now you must pick up the pieces and rebuild this Broken Earth. Broken Earth is an adventure-setting that takes place in a post-apocalyptic version of Earth. n it, heroes struggle to rebuild what was once the northern Midwest of the United States, and a tiny bit of southern Central Canada. As an adventure-setting, Broken Earth includes many compelling locations and adventures, but also gives the heroes freedom to explore the world. This book contains everything a GM needs to run a prolonged campaign in the Broken Earth setting, including locations, NPCs, plot points, mutant monsters, and a detailed first adventure that brings the party together. It also has new edges, races, and powers for players to use with their Broken Earth characters.

It's About More Than Killing All the Monsters Alternate Objectives is the latest of the Advanced Encounters series. Like all books in the series, it provides advice and tools for the GM to create more memorable encounters. Alternate Objectives focuses on creating battles where they PCs have goals beyond slaying the bad guys: things like rescuing prisoners or obtaining a powerful artifact before the opponents. Alternate Objectives details several types of objectives and things to consider when building them. It then describes other elements that could be relevant in a range of encounters containing alternate objectives but are not tied to specific objectives. Finally Alternate Objectives provides six sample encounters along with adventure hooks and variations. The include: Stealing a necklace off an enemy's neck and getting away. Escaping from a collapsing ice cave. Extinguishing a fire while battling elemental bugs. Protecting a prince from assassins. Holding back efreet long enough to open a portal and escape the City of Brass. Convincing a fallen angel to return to the light before he kills the PCs.

Bombs fell. Billions died. Now you must pick up the pieces and rebuild this Broken Earth. Broken Earth is an adventure setting that takes place in a post-apocalyptic version of Earth. It deals with a small fraction of the world, what was once the northern Midwest of the United States, and a tiny bit of southern Central Canada. As an adventure setting, Broken Earth includes many compelling locations and adventures, but also gives the heroes freedom to explore the world. The book gives the GM everything you need to run a prolonged campaign in the Broken Earth setting, including locations, NPCs, plot points, mutant monsters, and a detailed first adventure that brings the party together.

Bring Your Encounters to the Next Level Terrain Toolbox is the first book in the Advanced Encounter series, which offers advice and tools for DMs to create more memorable encounters. Terrain Toolbox is designed to increase creative use of terrain in your game, making battles more dynamic. The book begins with general advice for designing terrain effect and powers. It discusses why we use terrain, different things terrain can do, and how the terrain might change throughout an encounter. Terrain Toolbox also contains forty-eight sample terrains, including blood mage's circle, solid clouds, and lightning pillars. Each sample terrain includes advice on how to use the terrains, and most include mechanical and cosmetic variations.

It's About More Killing All the Monsters Alternate Objectives is the latest of the Advanced Encounters series. Like all books in the series, it provides advice and tools for the GM to create more memorable encounters. Alternate Objectives focuses on creating battles where they PCs have goals beyond slaying the bad guys: things like rescuing prisoners or obtaining a powerful artifact before the opponents. Alternate Objectives details several types of objectives and things to consider when building them. It then describes other elements that could be relevant in a range of encounters containing alternate objectives but are not tied to specific objectives. Finally Alternate Objectives provides six sample encounters along with adventure hooks and variations. The include: Stealing a necklace off an enemy's neck and getting away. Escaping from a collapsing ice cave. Extinguishing a fire while battling elemental bugs. Protecting a prince from assassins. Holding back efreet long enough to open a portal and escape the City of Brass. Convincing a fallen angel to return to the light before he kills the PCs.

Terrain Toolbox is the first book in the Advanced Encounter series, which offers advice and tools for DMs to create more memorable encounters. Terrain Toolbox is designed to increase creative use of terrain in your game, making battles more dynamic. The book begins with general advice for designing terrain effect and powers. It discusses why we use terrain, different things terrain can do, and how the terrain might change throughout an encounter. Terrain Toolbox also contains forty-eight sample terrains, including blood mage's circle, solid clouds, and lightning pillars. Each sample terrain includes advice on how to use the terrains, and most include mechanical and cosmetic variations.

Only one out of every twenty-four high school athletes goes on to play college sports. That means that over 95 percent of student-athletes miss out on the opportunity of a lifetime. In the competitive world of college athletics, the difference between becoming a recruited athlete and giving up on your dreams comes down to more than just talent on the court or field. It requires planning, hard work, and an understanding of how college sports budgets and scholarship distributions impact your recruiting options."Be a Recruited Athlete-The Secret to College Recruiting" gives you the tools you need to connect with college coaches, interpret their intentions, and evaluate real opportunities. Author Hans J. Hanson, founder of The College Sports Track-a personalized service that helps families in the college search, sports recruiting, and scholarship process-shares the secrets that have helped thousands of students realize their dreams of college athletics. Learn how to build value, create leverage, gain trust, and generate options. Master the sports scholarship strategy. Distinguish between "understanding opportunity" and the "hope, wait, and wish strategy." Understand NCAA rules for coaches' contact with prospects.Becoming a recruited athlete requires more than talent. It is a choice. "With Be a Recruited Athlete-The Secret to College Recruiting, " the choice is yours.

Only one out of every twenty-four high school athletes goes on to play college sports. That means that over 95 percent of student-athletes miss out on the opportunity of a lifetime. In the competitive world of college athletics, the difference between becoming a recruited athlete and giving up on your dreams comes down to more than just talent on the court or field. It requires planning, hard work, and an understanding of how college sports budgets and scholarship distributions impact your recruiting options."Be a Recruited Athlete-The Secret to College Recruiting" gives you the tools you need to connect with college coaches, interpret their intentions, and evaluate real opportunities. Author Hans J. Hanson, founder of The College Sports Track-a personalized service that helps families in the college search, sports recruiting, and scholarship process-shares the secrets that have helped thousands of students realize their dreams of college athletics. Learn how to build value, create leverage, gain trust, and generate options. Master the sports scholarship strategy. Distinguish between "understanding opportunity" and the "hope, wait, and wish strategy." Understand NCAA rules for coaches' contact with prospects.Becoming a recruited athlete requires more than talent. It is a choice. "With Be a Recruited Athlete-The Secret to College Recruiting, " the choice is yours.