A prime example of how to write a history of an immense and technical subject ....a winner.--New Scientist

"A prime example of how to write a history of an immense and technical subject ....a winner."—New Scientist As technology transforms our lives at an ever quickening rate, Donald Cardwell reminds us that technological innovation is not created in a vacuum—rather, it is the product of the successful interaction between social change, scientific developments, and political vision. In this wide-ranging, "spirited" (Booklist) survey of the machines and tools that humans have developed throughout history, Cardwell not only explains the mechanical technicalities but also delves into the underlying trends that have culminated in eras of great change. In particular, he highlights the eighteenth century as a watershed in the modern history of technology, analyzing how scientific developments in physics and chemistry spurred the mechanical innovations of the Industrial Revolution. From the steam engine to electrical power to nuclear energy to today's world of electronics and computers, this book opens a discussion of how science and technology together change our lives. Originally published as The Norton History of Technology.

Presents the stories behind the origins of various everyday objects and consumer products, covering items ranging from clothing and tools to housing and games, complemented by informative timelines and sidebars.

This book constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Global Perspectives on Design Science Research, DERIST 2010, held in St. Gallen, Switzerland, in June 2010. The 35 revised full papers presented together with 10 revised short papers were carefully reviewed and selected from 80 submissions. The papers are organized in topical sections on organising design research, reflecting design science research, design research techniques, design and context, design and organisation, design and information, design research exemplars, design and behaviour, designing collaboration, as well as design and requirements engineering.

This Handbook offers an insightful and comprehensive overview from a geographic perspective of the numerous and varied technologies that are shaping the contemporary world. It shows how geography and technology are intimately linked by examining the origins, growth, and impacts of 27 different technologies and highlighting how they influence the structure and spatiality of society.

A highly readable introduction to Christian apologetics that joins contemporary analytic philosophy with modern biblical scholarship. In this book, Paul Herrick presents the basics of classical Christian apologetics in the form of an inference to the best explanation argument that builds from the book’s first chapter to its last. Drawing on contemporary philosophy, logic, and biblical scholarship, Herrick incorporates thoughts from Socrates, Plato, Thomas Aquinas, and C. S. Lewis, as well as scholars such as William Lane Craig, J. P. Moreland, Richard Swinburne, and Craig Blomberg, to present a multifaceted argument for the Christian faith. With sections on the Socratic method, the Christian examination of conscience, the Big Bang, miracles, the historical reliability of the New Testament, the resurrection of Christ, and more, this book promises to be useful intellectually and spiritually for seekers, doubters, and those already in the faith.

Why are some countries better than others at science and technology (S&T)? Written in an approachable style, The Politics of Innovation provides readers from all backgrounds and levels of expertise a comprehensive introduction to the debates over national S&T competitiveness. It synthesizes over fifty years of theory and research on national innovation rates, bringing together the current political and economic wisdom, and latest findings, about how nations become S&T leaders. Many experts mistakenly believe that domestic institutions and policies determine national innovation rates. However, after decades of research, there is still no agreement on precisely how this happens, exactly which institutions matter, and little aggregate evidence has been produced to support any particular explanation. Yet, despite these problems, a core faith in a relationship between domestic institutions and national innovation rates remains widely held and little challenged. The Politics of Innovation confronts head-on this contradiction between theory, evidence, and the popularity of the institutions-innovation hypothesis. It presents extensive evidence to show that domestic institutions and policies do not determine innovation rates. Instead, it argues that social networks are as important as institutions in determining national innovation rates. The Politics of Innovation also introduces a new theory of "creative insecurity" which explains how institutions, policies, and networks are all subservient to politics. It argues that, ultimately, each country's balance of domestic rivalries vs. external threats, and the ensuing political fights, are what drive S&T competitiveness. In making its case, The Politics of Innovation draws upon statistical analysis and comparative case studies of the United States, Japan, South Korea, China, Taiwan, Thailand, the Philippines, Argentina, Brazil, Mexico, Canada, Turkey, Israel, Russia and a dozen countries across Western Europe.