Brian W. Kernighan – författare

A brand-new edition of the popular introductory textbook that explores how computer hardware, software, and networks workComputers are everywhere. Some are highly visible, in laptops, tablets, cell phones, and smart watches. But most are invisible, like those in appliances, cars, medical equipment, transportation systems, power grids, and weapons. We never see the myriad computers that quietly collect, share, and sometimes leak personal data about us. Governments and companies increasingly use computers to monitor what we do. Social networks and advertisers know more about us than we should be comfortable with. Criminals have all-too-easy access to our data. Do we truly understand the power of computers in our world?In this updated edition of Understanding the Digital World, Brian Kernighan explains how computer hardware, software, and networks work. Topics include how computers are built and how they compute; what programming is; how the Internet and web operate; and how all of these affect security, privacy, property, and other important social, political, and economic issues. Kernighan touches on fundamental ideas from computer science and some of the inherent limitations of computers, and new sections in the book explore Python programming, big data, machine learning, and much more. Numerous color illustrations, notes on sources for further exploration, and a glossary explaining technical terms and buzzwords are included.Understanding the Digital World is a must-read for readers of all backgrounds who want to know more about computers and communications.

An essential guide to recognizing bogus numbers and misleading dataNumbers are often intimidating, confusing, and even deliberately deceptive—especially when they are really big. The media loves to report on millions, billions, and trillions, but frequently makes basic mistakes or presents such numbers in misleading ways. And misunderstanding numbers can have serious consequences, since they can deceive us in many of our most important decisions, including how to vote, what to buy, and whether to make a financial investment. In this short, accessible, enlightening, and entertaining book, leading computer scientist Brian Kernighan teaches anyone—even diehard math-phobes—how to demystify the numbers that assault us every day.With examples drawn from a rich variety of sources, including journalism, advertising, and politics, Kernighan demonstrates how numbers can mislead and misrepresent. In chapters covering big numbers, units, dimensions, and more, he lays bare everything from deceptive graphs to speciously precise numbers. And he shows how anyone—using a few basic ideas and lots of shortcuts—can easily learn to recognize common mistakes, determine whether numbers are credible, and make their own sensible estimates when needed.Giving you the simple tools you need to avoid being fooled by dubious numbers, Millions, Billions, Zillions is an essential survival guide for a world drowning in big—and often bad—data.

An essential guide to recognizing bogus numbers and misleading dataNumbers are often intimidating, confusing, and even deliberately deceptive—especially when they are really big. The media loves to report on millions, billions, and trillions, but frequently makes basic mistakes or presents such numbers in misleading ways. And misunderstanding numbers can have serious consequences, since they can deceive us in many of our most important decisions, including how to vote, what to buy, and whether to make a financial investment. In this short, accessible, enlightening, and entertaining book, Brian Kernighan teaches anyone—even diehard math-phobes—how to demystify the numbers that assault us every day. Giving you the simple tools you need to avoid being fooled by dubious numbers, Millions, Billions, Zillions is an essential survival guide for a world drowning in big—and often bad—data.

The popular introductory textbook that explains how computer hardware, software, and networks work—now fully updated for today’s fast-changing digital ageUnderstanding the Digital World has established itself as the essential computer science textbook for nonmajors and a must-read for anyone who wants to know more about computers and communications. It explains how computers are built and how they compute, what programming is, how the Internet and the web work, Python programming, AI and machine learning, the inherent limitations of computers, and much more. Now completely updated, this informative and accessible book covers all facets of the digital world, revealing how computers affect security, privacy, property, and many other vital social, political, and economic issues.Now covers large language models and chatbots like ChatGPTFeatures timely new discussions of how LLMs are changing how we live and work, including how the use of AI is transforming programming itselfGives updated examples of new technologies like self-driving cars and how they affect usProvides added coverage of data breaches, facial recognition and biometrics, tracking, and other privacy issuesOffers expanded coverage of hardware like multiple cores and GPUsAdditional historical discussions cover topics such as Leibniz’s work on binary numbersIncludes suggestions for further reading and a glossary of technical terms and buzzwords

The popular introductory textbook that explains how computer hardware, software, and networks work—now fully updated for today’s fast-changing digital ageUnderstanding the Digital World has established itself as the essential computer science textbook for nonmajors and a must-read for anyone who wants to know more about computers and communications. It explains how computers are built and how they compute, what programming is, how the Internet and the web work, Python programming, AI and machine learning, the inherent limitations of computers, and much more. Now completely updated, this informative and accessible book covers all facets of the digital world, revealing how computers affect security, privacy, property, and many other vital social, political, and economic issues.Now covers large language models and chatbots like ChatGPTFeatures timely new discussions of how LLMs are changing how we live and work, including how the use of AI is transforming programming itselfGives updated examples of new technologies like self-driving cars and how they affect usProvides added coverage of data breaches, facial recognition and biometrics, tracking, and other privacy issuesOffers expanded coverage of hardware like multiple cores and GPUsAdditional historical discussions cover topics such as Leibniz’s work on binary numbersIncludes suggestions for further reading and a glossary of technical terms and buzzwords