Understanding Networked Applications: A First Course (The Morgan Kaufmann Series in Networking) (Paperback)

~ (Author) "The networking of computers-a technology more than twenty years old-is substantially impacting individuals and organizations, including government, business, and education..." (more)
Key Phrases: deferred style, networked computing applications, networked computing infrastructure, Key Concepts, Further Reading, World Wide Web (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Designed for use in undergraduate and graduate courses in Information/Library Science, Telecom, Business, Engineering and Medical Infomatics programs, this textbook offers nonexperts an accessible, thoughtful introduction to the applications and infrastructure in networked computing, providing information to make the right technological and organizational decisions in working with developers to design or acquire effective computing solutions.

Understanding the rich conjunction of networking and computing is essential for anyone involved in the formulation and implementation of new application ideas, whether in business, education, or government. Most non-computer science students entering the IT profession today have not been adequately prepared to work with, let alone take advantage of the computing infrastructures they'll encounter in the real world. The only courses that currently discuss aspects of this environment in any detail are in Computer Science departments, and are at a level that is considerably too advanced for their needs and backgrounds. And these courses are not likely to cover the economic, societal, and governmental issues that are also important for them to understand.

This is probably the first book in computing that takes a top-down approach, starting with applications. The focus is on explaining core concepts and terminology, getting into technical detail only where necessary. Example and analogies from everyday life help students to better understand concepts such as object-oriented programming, data mining, encryption, firewalls, etc. which might otherwise seem intimidating. Peppered throughout are sidebars that contain anecdotes, more detailed explanations, and additional examples that give students a refreshing break from the running text.

* Takes a functional, top-down approach, moving from application opportunities to a forward-looking view of the possibilities and limitations of networking and computing technologies.
* Uses plain English to explain important networked computing terminology and concepts, such as security, middleware, and electronic payments.
* Offers frank and enlightening discussions of general application categories, hardware and software infrastructure, up-and-coming communication technologies, and policy issues--social, economic, and governmental--affecting the future of networked computing.

From the Back Cover

Designed for use in undergraduate and graduate courses in Information/Library Science, Telecom, Business, Engineering and Medical Infomatics programs, this textbook offers nonexperts an accessible, thoughtful introduction to the applications and infrastructure in networked computing, providing information to make the right technological and organizational decisions in working with developers to design or acquire effective computing solutions.

Understanding the rich conjunction of networking and computing is essential for anyone involved in the formulation and implementation of new application ideas, whether in business, education, or government. Most non-computer science students entering the IT profession today have not been adequately prepared to work with, let alone take advantage of the computing infrastructures they'll encounter in the real world. The only courses that currently discuss aspects of this environment in any detail are in Computer Science departments, and are at a level that is considerably too advanced for their needs and backgrounds. And these courses are not likely to cover the economic, societal, and governmental issues that are also important for them to understand.

This is probably the first book in computing that takes a top-down approach, starting with applications. The focus is on explaining core concepts and terminology, getting into technical detail only where necessary. Example and analogies from everyday life help students to better understand concepts such as object-oriented programming, data mining, encryption, firewalls, etc. which might otherwise seem intimidating. Peppered throughout are sidebars that contain anecdotes, more detailed explanations, and additional examples that give students a refreshing break from the running text.

Features

• Takes a functional, top-down approach, moving from application opportunities to a forward-looking view of the possibilities and limitations of networking and computing technologies.
  
• Uses plain English to explain important networked computing terminology and concepts, such as security, middleware, and electronic payments.
  
• Offers frank and enlightening discussions of general application categories, hardware and software infrastructure, up-and-coming communication technologies, and policy issues--social, economic, and governmental--affecting the future of networked computing.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 650 pages
• Publisher: Morgan Kaufmann; 1st edition (October 11, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1558605371
• ISBN-13: 978-1558605374
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 7.8 x 1.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #799,956 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Introduction for Non-Technical professionals, June 1, 2000

By	B. Barnett "2pacLives" (Seattle) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

The book is well and clearly written, does not presume any background knowledge, and is filled with analogies and illustrations that make fundamental computing concepts clear to the novice. Each chapter contains an excellent bibliography of additional (mostly technical) sources.

I purchased the book as a non-technical professional who is involved in the design of Internet applications and the adaptation of traditional business processes to the Internet. I wanted a broader appreciation for the technical issues involved in creating networked (especially Internet) applications in order to serve more effectively as a bridge between business unit managers and software engineers. I found the book to be an excellent point of departure from which to start deepeing my understanding of a wide variety of issues in application design.