Unlike some other reproductions of classic texts (1) We have not used OCR(Optical Character Recognition), as this leads to bad quality books with introduced typos. (2) In books where there are images such as portraits, maps, sketches etc We have endeavoured to keep the quality of these images, so they represent accurately the original artefact. Although occasionally there may be certain imperfections with these old texts, we feel they deserve to be made available for future generations to enjoy.

What happens when we let robots play the game of life? The challenge of studying evolution is that the history of life is buried in the past- we can't witness the dramatic events that shaped the adaptations we see today. But biorobotics expert John Long has found an ingenious way to overcome this problem: he creates robots that look and behave like extinct animals, subjects them to evolutionary pressures, lets them compete for mates and resources, and mutates their &lsquogenes'. In short, he lets robots play the game of life. In Darwin's Devices , Long tells the story of these evolving biorobots- how they came to be, and what they can teach us about the biology of living and extinct species. Evolving biorobots can replicate creatures that disappeared from the earth long ago, showing us in real time what happens in the face of unexpected environmental challenges. Biomechanically correct models of backbones functioning as part of an autonomous robot, for example, can help us understand why the first vertebrates evolved them. But the most impressive feature of these robots, as Long shows, is their ability to illustrate the power of evolution to solve difficult technological challenges autonomously- without human input regarding what a workable solution might be. Even a simple robot can create complex behaviour, often learning or evolving greater intelligence than humans could possibly program. This remarkable idea could forever alter the face of engineering, design, and even warfare. An amazing tour through the workings of a fertile mind, Darwin's Devices will make you rethink everything you thought you knew about evolution, robot intelligence, and life itself.

In these collected stories, Long explores watery, secluded jungle caves in South America, tackles remote thawing iceflows on Baffin Island, and solos cutting-edge rock climbs over a desert hungry for his failure.

The most comprehensive look at the subject yet. Advanced Rock Climbing picks up where John Long's How to Rock Climb leaves off, describing the climbing techniques and rope tricks of the modern rock climber. The guide covers both sport and traditional climbing, and self-rescue techniques, in Long's easy-to-read, entertaining style.

For most of the past 300 million years, the world's continents were interlinked as the supercontinents Pangaea and then Gondwana. Around 50 million years ago, Australia tore itself free from Antarctica to become the huge, splendidly isolated island it is today. Over time, its creatures began to evolve in ways not seen anywhere else on Earth, with tree-climbing crocodiles, gigantic venomous lizards, walking omnivorous bats and flesh-eating kangaroos roaming the continent. Prehistoric Australasia: Visions of Evolution and Extinction presents some of the most extraordinary creatures the world has ever seen – all unique to Australia, New Guinea, New Zealand and their surrounding islands. Over 100 meticulously painted panoramas by palaeoartist Peter Schouten are accompanied by descriptions of the unique environments and features of these animals, written by four of Australia's foremost palaeontologists. This book explores the nature and timing of extinction events in the Southern Hemisphere, considers whether some of these losses might be able to be reversed, and how we can use the fossil record to help save today's critically endangered species. Through stunning artwork and fascinating text, Prehistoric Australasia brings this globally unique transformation over time to glorious, colourful life. Features Offers fascinating glimpses into the prehistoric past of Australia, New Zealand and New Guinea. More than 100 paintings showcasing the changing biotas of Australasia over the last 3.6 billion years. Reveals the unique features of prehistoric animals and the environments where they lived.

The Emerging Role of Geomedia in the Environmental Humanities, edited by Mark Terry and Michael Hewson, provides the latest scholarship on the various methods and approaches being used by environmental humanists to incorporate geomedia into their research and analyses. Chapters in the book examine such applications as geographic information systems, global positioning systems, geo-doc filmmaking, and related geo-locative systems all being used as new technologies of research and analysis in investigations in the environmental humanities. The contributors also explore how these new methodologies impact the production of knowledge in this field of study as well as promote the impact of First Nation people perspectives.

"Process Modeling Style"focuses on other aspects of process modeling beyond notation that are very important to practitioners. Many people who model processes focus on the specific notation used to create their drawings. While that is important, there are many other aspects to modeling, such as naming, creating identifiers, descriptions, interfaces, patterns, and creating useful process documentation.Experience author John Longfocuses on those non-notational aspects of modeling, which practitioners will find invaluable.
Gives solid advice for creating roles, work products, and processesInstucts on how to organize and structure the parts of a processGives examples of documents you should use to define a set of processes"

From ancient megalodons to fearsome Great Whites, this book tells the complete, untold story of how sharks emerged as Earth's ultimate survivors, by world-leading paleontologist John Long.

Sharks have been fighting for their lives for 500 million years and today are under dire threat. They are the longest-surviving vertebrate on Earth, outlasting multiple mass extinction events that decimated life on the planet. But how did they thrive for so long? By developing superpower-like abilities that allowed them to ascend to the top of the oceanic food chain.

John Long, who for decades has been on the cutting edge of shark research, weaves a thrilling story of sharks' unparalleled reign. The Secret History of Sharks showcases the global search to discover sharks' largely unknown evolution, led by Long and dozens of other extraordinary scientists.

As the tale unfolds, Long introduces an enormous range of astonishing organisms: a thirty-foot-long shark with a deadly saw blade of jagged teeth protruding from its lower jaws and bizarre sharks fossilized while in their mating ritual. With insights into the threats to sharks today, how they contribute to medical advances, and the lessons they can teach us about our own survival, The Secret History of Sharks is a riveting look at scientific discovery with ramifications far beyond the ocean.

A competent and up-to-date instruction book of techniques needed for climbing big aid routes.

The legendary rock climber who redefined the boundaries of her sport tells her story.

From the age of thirteen when she began climbing, it was clear Lynn Hill had an unusual gift. Before long she was arguably the best rock climber in the world, establishing routes so bold and difficult that few others could follow. And in 1994, Lynn succeeded on a climb that no one—man or woman—has been able to repeat: the first "free ascent" of the Nose on Yosemite's El Capitan, which means that she climbed 3,000 feet of vertical granite without using gear to aid her ascent—and all in under twenty-three hours.

In Climbing Free Hill describes her famous climb and meditates on how she harnesses the strength and the courage to push herself to such extremes. She tells of her near-fatal 80-foot fall, her youth as a stunt artist for Hollywood, her friendships with climbing's most colorful personalities, and the tragedies and triumphs of her life in the vertical world. More than merely a story of adventure, this book stands out as a genuine, singular account of a life richly and boldly lived. 32 pages of color photographs, 35 black-and-white photographs.

"Lynn Hill isn't just one of the best female climbers in the world—she is among the greatest rock climbers of all time."—Jon Krakauer, author of Into the Wild and Into Thin Air

"[Hill's] story...is one of unbelievable determination, quiet inspiration and extraordinary courage."—Publishers Weekly Daily

"Lynn Hill is probably the greatest athlete the general public has never heard of."—Boulder Daily Camera, Judith Lovdokken

"A legend who has redefined the boundaries of adventure sports."—Wired

In the early 1970s, a small band of young rock climbers, decked out in bandanas, shades and cut-offs, came together and blew open the conventions of climbing. Dubbing themselves the Stonemasters, these now legendary adventurers established techniques that allowed for some of the most spectacular climbs to be done with a minimum of apparatus. Beyond their unsurpassed skills as climbers, the Stonemasters embodied a lifestyle--they were loud, proud, smoked dope, chalked their lightning-flash insignia across rockfaces, took the light stuff seriously and the serious stuff lightly--and the glamour of this lifestyle made a massive impact on 1970s youth culture across the world. Among the first Stonemasters were Rick Accomazzo, Richard Harrison, Mike Graham, Robs Muir, Gib Lewis, Bill Antel, Jim Hoagland, Tobin Sorenson, John Bachar and John Long, but the character or myth of the Stonemaster caught on like wildfire, spreading from coast to coast and across the ocean, and spawning Stonemasters everywhere. Here, Dean Fidelman's thrilling archival photos reveal for the first time an era defined by risk, camaraderie and non-conformity. Tales from original Stonemaster John Long and others recall the highs and lows of the early days--a magical time in the annals of adventure sports--in this exciting and beautifully produced volume.

Riding tubes in Venezuela. BASE jumping in Europe. Climbing big walls in Yosemite. Riding bulls in Texas. These first-person stories from acclaimed climber and adventurer John Long may be vastly different in content, but they share an identifiable emotional texture, tone and delivery, and fundamentally are of one piece. This is storytelling at its best-nonfiction that reads like fiction. In Stories from the Dirt, the action leaves you breathless, but it's the characters that really leave a lasting mark. Like all stories worth a damn, this collection is all about the people.

"How to Rock Climb , " now in its fifth edition, is the most thorough instructional rock climbing book in the world. All the fundamentals--from ethics to getting up the rock--are presented in John Long's classic style. Thoroughly revised and updated to reflect the modern standards of equipment, technique, and training methods, this guide includes sections on face climbing; crack climbing; ropes, anchors, and belays; getting off the rock; sport climbing; and much more. It is the essential how-to book for rock climbers everywhere. Now with more than 300 color photographs and illustrations, this is the most thorough and complete upgrade this best-selling title has seen since first publishing more than a decade ago.

Written by world renowned rock climbers and veteran Falcon authors John Long and Bob Gaines, this slim volume will be the go-to resource for the necessities of rock climbing safety. By getting back to basics, it will be a great resource for both beginners and experienced climbers looking to brush up on their skills.

How to Rock Climb!, now in its fifth edition, is the most thorough instructional rock climbing book in the world. All the fundamentals-from ethics to getting up the rock-are presented in John Long's classic style. Thoroughly revised and updated to reflect the modern standards of equipment, technique, and training methods, this guide includes sections on face climbing; crack climbing; ropes, anchors, and belays; getting off the rock; sport climbing; and much more. It is the essential how-to book for rock climbers everywhere. Now with more than 300 color photographs and illustrations, this is the most thorough and complete upgrade this best-selling title has seen since first publishing more than a decade ago.

32 classic big wave surfing stories from the sport's pioneers John Long's classic collection of big wave surfing stories heralded a new era in surfing literature. Focusing on those elite athletes who live to challenge the ocean's fury, The Big Drop is more than just another surfing book. It is both an extraordinary collection of thirty-two true tales and a treasure-trove of insight into the evolution of big-wave surfing-with particular focus on the pioneers of the 1950s and 1960s and the skills necessary to challenge huge waves. Providing a comprehensive look at the sport's eras, locations, and legends, with a host of stunning images and a glossary of surfing terms, it is a truly unforgettable look at the obsession of those who face down monstrous waves. Revealing the tantalizing and terrifying truth about riding big waves, The Big Drop is a must for any surfer inclined to tackle large surf in thought or in fact.

Traditional, or simply, " trad climbing," is a do-it-yourself adventure requiring the climbing team to negotiate the climb and to carry, hand-place and remove most if not all components of the roped safety system. In "The Trad Climber's Bible," two of the most revered and respected trad climbers in the world, John Long and Peter Croft, offer hard-won knowledge to aspiring trad climbers in a narrative format that is as informative as it is entertaining. With photos by iconic climbing photographer Greg Epperson and AMGA Certified Rock Instructor Bob Gaines, this full color book will appeal to climbers of all stripes.

Designed for quick use by climbers on site, this book shows how to properly place and configure natural anchors, passive chocks, mechanical chocks, fixed gear, knots, belay anchors, toprope anchors and rappel anchors. This field guide is up to date with the essential knowledge every climber can depend on.

This is the second of two books by the authors about engineering design principles for human-computer interaction (HCI-EDPs). The books report research that takes an HCI engineering discipline approach to acquiring initial such principles. Together, they identify best-practice HCI design knowledge for acquiring HCI-EDPs. This book specifically reports two case studies of the acquisition of initial such principles in the domains of domestic energy planning and control and business-to-consumer electronic commerce. The book begins by summarising the earlier volume, sufficient for readers to understand the case studies reported in full here. The themes, concepts, and ideas developed in both books concern HCI design knowledge, a critique thereof, and the related challenge. The latter is expressed as the need for HCI design knowledge to increase its fitness-for-purpose to support HCI design practice more effectively. HCI-EDPs are proposed here as one response to that challenge, and the book presents case studies of the acquisition of initial HCI-EDPs, including an introduction; two development cycles; and presentation and assessment for each. Carry forward of the HCI-EDP progress is also identified. The book adopts a discipline approach framework for HCI and an HCI engineering discipline framework for HCI-EDPs. These approaches afford design knowledge that supports "specify then implement" design practices. Acquisition of the initial EDPs apply current best-practice design knowledge in the form of "specify, implement, test, and iterate" design practices. This can be used similarly to acquire new HCI-EDPs. Strategies for developing HCI-EDPs are proposed together with conceptions of human-computer systems, required for conceptualisation and operationalisation of their associated design problems and design solutions. This book is primarily for postgraduate students and young researchers wishing to develop further the idea of HCI-EDPs and other more reliable HCI design knowledge. It is structured to support both the understanding and the operationalisation of HCI-EDPs, as required for their acquisition, their long-term potential contribution to HCI design knowledge, and their ultimate application to design practice.

Vertical, overhanging and upside-down climbing on indoor walls studded with bulbous handholds and footholds is the fastest-rising adventure sport. This book is a complete instruction guide to technique, safety, and getting the most out of your indoor climbing experience.