The "Encyclopedia of Computers and Computer History" provides a complete A-to-Z reference guide to computers, their development, and their usage in today's world. Beginning with "Abacus," this two-volume set provides over 900 pages of facts, definitions, biographies, histories, and explanations of a remarkable variety of computer-related subjects.
The "Encyclopedia"'s 600 entries--many of which represent the first reference treatment of their subjects--address the diverse topics that form the backbone of the information revolution. Entries include essays on major corporations, computing machines, software, networking, computing concepts, research, laboratories, and pioneering individuals in computing history. In addition to these essays, each entry is also followed by a helpful list of further reading on that subject.
Contributors to the "Encyclopedia" represent a wide cross-section of accomplished scholars in the fields of computer science and scientific history. Their informative, accessible essays enable readers to learn about computer history in a non-intimidating way.
An invaluable addition to any library collection, the "Encyclopedia of Computers and Computer History" is an indispensable resource for undergraduates, graduate students, and anybody with an interest in, or question about, computers.

This book bridges the gap between Soft Computing techniques and their applications to complex engineering problems. In each chapter we endeavor to explain the basic ideas behind the proposed applications in an accessible format for readers who may not possess a background in some of the fields. Therefore, engineers or practitioners who are not familiar with Soft Computing methods will appreciate that the techniques discussed go beyond simple theoretical tools, since they have been adapted to solve significant problems that commonly arise in such areas. At the same time, the book will show members of the Soft Computing community how engineering problems are now being solved and handled with the help of intelligent approaches. Highlighting new applications and implementations of Soft Computing approaches in various engineering contexts, the book is divided into 12 chapters. Further, it has been structured so that each chapter can be read independently of the others.

This book bridges the gap between Soft Computing techniques and their applications to complex engineering problems. In each chapter we endeavor to explain the basic ideas behind the proposed applications in an accessible format for readers who may not possess a background in some of the fields. Therefore, engineers or practitioners who are not familiar with Soft Computing methods will appreciate that the techniques discussed go beyond simple theoretical tools, since they have been adapted to solve significant problems that commonly arise in such areas. At the same time, the book will show members of the Soft Computing community how engineering problems are now being solved and handled with the help of intelligent approaches. Highlighting new applications and implementations of Soft Computing approaches in various engineering contexts, the book is divided into 12 chapters. Further, it has been structured so that each chapter can be read independently of the others.

This book is the sixth official archival publication devoted to RoboCup. It documents the achievements presented at the 6th Robot World Cup Soccer and Rescue Competition and Conference held in Fukuoka, Japan in June 2002. The 17 revised full papers and 21 poster papers were carefully reviewed and selected from 76 submissions. Also included in the book are an introductory survey and league reports summarizing the results of the various leagues running competition. The book is mandatory reading for the rapidly growing RoboCup community as well as a valuable source of reference and inspiration for R&D professionals interested in multi-agent systems, distributed artificial intelligence, and intelligent robotics.

Neural networks are a computing paradigm that is finding increasing attention among computer scientists. In this book, theoretical laws and models previously scattered in the literature are brought together into a general theory of artificial neural nets. Always with a view to biology and starting with the simplest nets, it is shown how the properties of models change when more general computing elements and net topologies are introduced. Each chapter contains examples, numerous illustrations, and a bibliography. The book is aimed at readers who seek an overview of the field or who wish to deepen their knowledge. It is suitable as a basis for university courses in neurocomputing.

Das Buch wurdigt den grossen Pionier der Informatik, dessen Erfindungen das Computerzeitalter mitbegrundet haben. Erstmals wird die Architektur der Rechenmaschinen detailliert beschrieben. Ein Stuck Lebens-, Computer- und Zeitgeschichte reflektieren Zuses gescheiterte Versuche der Patentanmeldung. Highlight fur Leser: Eine Java-Simulation der Z3, im Buch vorgestellt und uber Internet zuganglich!

Neuronale Netze sind ein Berechenbarkeitsparadigma, das in der Informatik zunehmende Beachtung findet. In diesem Buch werden theoretische Ansatze und Modelle, die in der Literatur verstreut sind, zu einer modellubergreifenden Theorie der kunstlichen neuronalen Netze zusammengefugt. Mit standigem Blick auf die Biologie wird - ausgehend von einfachsten Netzen - gezeigt, wie sich die Eigenschaften der Modelle verandern, wenn allgemeinere Berechnungselemente und Netztopologien eingefuhrt werden. Jedes Kapitel enthalt Beispiele und ist ausfuhrlich illustriert und durch bibliographische Anmerkungen abgerundet. Das Buch richtet sich an Leser, die sich einen Uberblick verschaffen oder vorhandene Kenntnisse vertiefen wollen. Es ist als Grundlage fur Neuroinformatikvorlesungen an deutschsprachigen Universitaten geeignet."

This history of computing focuses not on chronology (what came first and who deserves credit for it) but on the actual architectures of the first machines that made electronic computing a practical reality. The book covers computers built in the United States, Germany, England, and Japan. It makes clear that similar concepts were often pursued simultaneously and that the early researchers explored many architectures beyond the von Neumann architecture that eventually became canonical. The contributors include not only historians but also engineers and computer pioneers.An introductory chapter describes the elements of computer architecture and explains why "being first" is even less interesting for computers than for other areas of technology. The essays contain a remarkable amount of new material, even on well-known machines, and several describe reconstructions of the historic machines. These investigations are of more than simply historical interest, for architectures designed to solve specific problems in the past may suggest new approaches to similar problems in today's machines.Contributors: Titiimaea F. Ala'ilima, Lin Ping Ang, William Aspray, Friedrich L. Bauer, Andreas Brennecke, Chris P. Burton, Martin Campbell-Kelly, Paul Ceruzzi, I. Bernard Cohen, John Gustafson, Wilhelm Hopmann, Harry D. Huskey, Friedrich W. Kistermann, Thomas Lange, Michael S. Mahoney, R. B. E. Napper, Seiichi Okoma, Hartmut Petzold, Raul Rojas, Anthony E. Sale, Robert W. Seidel, Ambros P. Speiser, Frank H. Sumner, James F. Tau, Jan Van der Spiegel, Eiiti Wada, Michael R. Williams."