Jim Bennett – författare

From the Bronze Age mariners of the Mediterranean to contemporary sailors using satellite-based technologies, the history of navigation at sea, the art of finding a position and setting a course, is fascinating. The scientific and technological developments that have enabled accurate measurements of position were central to exploration, trade, and the opening up of new continents, and the resulting journeys taken under their influence have had a profound influence on world history. In this Very Short Introduction Jim Bennett looks at the history of navigation, starting with the distinctive cultures of navigation that are defined geographically - the Mediterranean Sea, and the Pacific, Indian, and Atlantic Oceans. He shows how the adoption of mathematical methods, the use of instruments, the writing of textbooks and the publication of charts all combined to create a more standardised practice. Methods such as longitude-finding by chronometer and lunar distance were complemented by the routine business of recording courses and reckoning position 'by account'. Bennett also introduces the incredible array of instruments relied on by sailors, from astrolabes, sextants, and chronometers, to our more modern radio receivers, electronic equipment, and charts, and highlights the crucial role played by the individual qualities of endeavour and resourcefulness from mathematicians, scientists, and seamen in finding their way at sea. The story of navigation combines the societal, the technical, and the human, and it was vital for shaping the modern world.ABOUT THE SERIES: The Very Short Introductions series from Oxford University Press contains hundreds of titles in almost every subject area. These pocket-sized books are the perfect way to get ahead in a new subject quickly. Our expert authors combine facts, analysis, perspective, new ideas, and enthusiasm to make interesting and challenging topics highly readable.

A fun introduction to the art of calligraphy—plus how-tos and practice exercises Calligraphy For Dummies, 2nd Edition is an approachable place to start for anyone interested in lettering with flair. This book provides helpful tips and tricks for learning this expressive artform, including choosing your pen and paper, taking care of your materials, understanding foundational concepts, and putting your own spin on classic alphabet styles. Once you've gotten the basics down, this book also helps spark interesting project ideas, including ways you can elevate letters, invitations, posters, and beyond. With plenty of practice opportunities and guidance, this easy-to-use resource will have you dotting your i's and crossing your t's—the fancy way. Inside: Learn classic calligraphy lettering and techniques, as well as digital calligraphyDiscover the world of ink, pens, and paper, and choose the best materials for your projectAdd your own artistic touch to alphabet stylesAdd beautiful lettering to your other art and craft projectsPick up an exciting new hobby or brush up, with Calligraphy For Dummies, 2nd Edition.

Description

Xamarin is a toolset that allows users to write native mobile apps in C# and run them on both iOS and Android devices.

 

Xamarin in Action teaches readers how to build Xamarin apps on iOS and Android from scratch while maximizing code re-use. By the end, readers will be able to build a high quality production-ready Xamarin app on iOS and Android from scratch with a high level of code reuse.

 

Key Features

• Layer-by-layer guide

• Hands-on lessons

• Teaches you to build production ready apps

 

Audience

This book is for C# developers with a few months through many years of experience who want to build native mobile apps for iOS and Android using the language and toolset they already know.

 

About the technology

Xamarin gives users the ability to share large portions of code across two platforms while still letting them write native apps that can take full advantage of the device and OS features specific to each platform.

 

Jim Bennett is a Xamarin MVP, Microsoft MVP, Xamarin Certified Developer and an active community member. He's also a frequent speaker at events all around the world, including Xamarin user groups and Xamarin and Microsoft conferences. He regularly blogs about Xamarin development at https://jimbobbennett.io.