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Thoroughly revised, this third edition focuses on modern techniques used to generate synthetic three-dimensional images in a fraction of a second. With the advent or programmable shaders, a wide variety of new algorithms have arisen and evolved over the past few years.

This edition discusses current, practical rendering methods used in games and other applications. It also presents a solid theoretical framework and relevant mathematics for the field of interactive computer graphics, all in an approachable style..
Price: $87.22 [Notify me when price goes down.]

Get the definitive reference for deploying, configuring, and supporting Office Communications Server 2007 with expert insights direct from the Microsoft Office Communications Server Team. This official Microsoft RESOURCE KIT delivers in-depth technical guidance on architecture, deployment, security, administration, performance tuning, and troubleshooting Communications Server 2007. You ll also discover the essential information for working with VOIP and phone integration features. In addition, you get more than 150 timesaving scripts, tools, and other job aids for automating administration, plus an eBook for the entire RESOURCE KIT on CD.

Provides the information that every administrator needs about troubleshooting, security enhancements, phone integration, VOIP, group policy and automating administration

CD includes additional job aids and a fully searchable version of the entire RESOURCE KIT book.
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Manage opportunities and challenges quickly and strategically
The fact is, the world changes continuously and rapidly Its foolhardy to believe that strategies should not do so as well. Nonprofit leaders already know this, but traditional strategic planning has locked them into a process thats divorced from todays reality. Thats why plans sit on the shelf and why smart executives are always seeking workarounds in between planning periods.

The Nonprofit Strategy Revolution offers a nimble and powerful alternative. In this ground-breaking book, strategy expert David La Piana introduces Real-Time Strategic Planning, a fluid, organic process that engages staff and board in a program of systematic readiness and continuous responsiveness. With it, your nonprofit will be able to identify, understand, and act on challenges and opportunities as they arise, not in six months when the plan is done.

A framework to fuel change
Strategic thinking begins with a clear understanding of strategy. To help you grasp this essential but often-confusing concept, the Strategy Pyramid offers a simple, graphical framework. You'll learn about the three types of strategies-- organizational, programmatic, and operational--and how they align to contribute to the overall aim. Instead of a hodgepodge of unrelated goals and activities that ultimately lead to inertia or total chaos, you'll learn to develop true strategies--coordinated actions that pull the organization in the same direction, toward the same ends. That is revolutionary.

Complete guidance for forming strategies
At the heart of this practical book is the Real-Time Strategic Planning Cycle. Based on four years of research and testing with a variety of nonprofits, this proven process guides you through the steps to sound strategy.

You'll find tools for:
- Clarifying your competitive advantage--where your organization fits in its marketplace, who your competitors are, and what sets you apart from the pack.
- Generating a strategy screen--criteria for evaluating strategies. The next time a critical issue pops up, you'll have strategic principles in place and be able to respond quickly.
- Handling big questions--the opportunities or threats that require development of a new strategy in order to respond.
- Developing and testing strategies-- reduce the chances of picking the wrong strategy.
- Implementing and adapting strategies--learn how to continuously probe for crises and opportunities--not just once every three years.

This useful guide also includes: Exhibits and case examples showing how concepts play out in real-life; A total of 27 tools,10 of which are essential for forming strategies; Theory to Action sidebars telling you which tool to use for a given task; A CD with all the tools and interactive worksheets youll need.

Get started in one day Kick off the process with a one-day Real-Time Strategic Planning session. In seven hours youll have formed the backbone needed to develop strategies going forward.

The Facilitators Guide to Real-Time Strategic Planning (also on the CD) gives you everything you need: the days agenda, instructions for preparing flip charts, prework to be done, handouts, and worksheets. Because the work is done by the staff, not a consultant, your organization will learn key skills, take ownership of the process, and increase its capacity to think and act strategically.

Use The Nonprofit Strategy Revolution and get the clarity and direction you need for maximum mission success..
Price: $32.95 [Notify me when price goes down.]

There's a great deal of excitement surrounding the use of Linux in embedded systems -- for everything from cell phones to car ABS systems and water-filtration plants -- but not a lot of practical information. Building Embedded Linux Systems offers an in-depth, hard-core guide to putting together embedded systems based on Linux.

Updated for the latest version of the Linux kernel, this new edition gives you the basics of building embedded Linux systems, along with the configuration, setup, and use of more than 40 different open source and free software packages in common use. The book also looks at the strengths and weaknesses of using Linux in an embedded system, plus a discussion of licensing issues, and an introduction to real-time, with a discussion of real-time options for Linux.

This indispensable book features arcane and previously undocumented procedures for:

• Building your own GNU development toolchain
• Using an efficient embedded development framework
• Selecting, configuring, building, and installing a target-specific kernel
• Creating a complete target root filesystem
• Setting up, manipulating, and using solid-state storage devices
• Installing and configuring a bootloader for the target
• Cross-compiling a slew of utilities and packages
• Debugging your embedded system using a plethora of tools and techniques
• Using the uClibc, BusyBox, U-Boot, OpenSSH, thttpd, tftp, strace, and gdb packages

By presenting how to build the operating system components from pristine sources and how to find more documentation or help, Building Embedded Linux Systems greatly simplifies the task of keeping complete control over your embedded operating system.

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Price: $21.00 [Notify me when price goes down.]

If you have programming experience and a familiarity with i-the dominant language in embedded systems--"Programming Embedded Systems," Second Edition is exactly what you need to get started with embedded software. This software is ubiquitous, hidden away inside our watches, DVD players, mobile phones, anti-lock brakes, and even a few toasters. The military uses embedded software to guide missiles, detect enemy aircraft, and pilot UAVs. Communication satellites, deep-space probes, and many medical instruments would have been nearly impossible to create without embedded software.

The first edition of "Programming Embedded Systems" taught the subject to tens of thousands of people around the world and is now considered the bible of embedded programming. This second edition has been updated to cover all the latest hardware designs and development methodologies.

The techniques and code examples presented here are directly applicable to real-world embedded software projects of all sorts. Examples use the free GNU software programming tools, the eCos and Linux operating systems, and a low-cost hardware platform specially developed for this book. If you obtain these tools along with "Programming Embedded Systems," Second Edition, you'll have a full environment for exploring embedded systems in depth. But even if you work with different hardware and software, the principles covered in this book apply.

Whether you are new to embedded systems or have done embedded work before, you'll benefit from the topics in this book, which include: How building and loading programs differ from desktop or server computers Basic debugging techniques--a critical skill when working with minimallyendowed embedded systems Handling different types of memory Interrupts, and the monitoring and control of on-chip and external peripherals Determining whether you have real-time requirements, and whether your operating system and application can meet those requirements Task synchronization with real-time operating systems and embedded Linux Optimizing embedded software for size, speed, and power consumption Working examples for eCos and embedded Linux

So whether you're writing your first embedded program, designing the latest generation of hand-held whatchamacalits, or managing the people who do, this book is for you. "Programming Embedded Systems" will help you develop the knowledge and skills you need to achieve proficiency with embedded software.

Praise for the first edition: ""This lively and readable book is the perfect introduction for those venturing into embedded systems software development for the first time. It provides in one place all the important topics necessary to orient programmers to the embedded development process."
--Lindsey Vereen, Editor-in-Chief, Embedded Systems Programming.
Price: $37.03 [Notify me when price goes down.]

Windows Embedded CE is a Microsoft operating system that addresses the needs of handheld, mobile, and embedded devices. This timely book will help you become familiar with the Windows Embedded CE environment quickly and efficiently. You’ll explore how different pieces of Windows Embedded CE come together to develop and build various devices and discover what makes Windows Embedded CE the best embedded development environment from the cost, risks, and time-to-market perspectives..
Price: $29.99 [Notify me when price goes down.]

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Price: $4.99 [Notify me when price goes down.]

"I sincerely wish (this book) had been available when I had to learn all this stuff the hard way." --Steve Vinoski "An excellent job of introducing and defining the jargon associated with embedded systems. This makes the text extremely easy to read." --David Cuka An Embedded Software Primer is a clearly written, insightful manual for engineers interested in writing embedded-system software. The example-driven approach puts you on a fast track to understanding embedded-system programming and applying what you learn to your projects. This book will give you the necessary foundation to work confidently in this field. Building on a basic knowledge of computer programming concepts, this book will help you to: *Learn core principles and advanced techniques of embedded-system software. *Find out what a real-time operating system (RTOS) does and how to use one effectively. *Experiment with sample code and the A C/OS RTOS version 1.11 (on the accompanying CD). *Apply what you learn, no matter which microprocessor or RTOS you use. After reading this book, you will be able to tackle the challenges of embedded system programming and quickly reap the benefits of your new skills.020161569XB04062001.
Price: $38.99 [Notify me when price goes down.]

“The GPU Gems series features a collection of the most essential algorithms required by Next-Generation 3D Engines.”
—Martin Mittring, Lead Graphics Programmer, Crytek

This third volume of the best-selling GPU Gems series provides a snapshot of today’s latest Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) programming techniques. The programmability of modern GPUs allows developers to not only distinguish themselves from one another but also to use this awesome processing power for non-graphics applications, such as physics simulation, financial analysis, and even virus detection—particularly with the CUDA architecture. Graphics remains the leading application for GPUs, and readers will find that the latest algorithms create ultra-realistic characters, better lighting, and post-rendering compositing effects.

Major topics include

• Geometry
• Light and Shadows
• Rendering
• Image Effects
• Physics Simulation
• GPU Computing

Contributors are from the following corporations and universities:

3Dfacto
Adobe Systems
Apple
Budapest University of Technology and Economics
CGGVeritas
The Chinese University of Hong Kong
Cornell University
Crytek
Czech Technical University in Prague
Dartmouth College
Digital Illusions Creative Entertainment
Eindhoven University of Technology
Electronic Arts
Havok
Helsinki University of Technology
Imperial College London
Infinity Ward
Juniper Networks
LaBRI–INRIA, University of Bordeaux
mental images
Microsoft Research
Move Interactive
NCsoft Corporation
NVIDIA Corporation
Perpetual Entertainment
Playlogic Game Factory
Polytime
Rainbow Studios
SEGA Corporation
UFRGS (Brazil)
Ulm University
University of California, Davis
University of Central Florida
University of Copenhagen
University of Girona
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
University of North Carolina Chapel Hill
University of Tokyo
University of Waterloo

Section Editors include NVIDIA engineers: Cyril Zeller, Evan Hart, Ignacio Castaño, Kevin Bjorke, Kevin Myers, and Nolan Goodnight.

The accompanying DVD includes complementary examples and sample programs.

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Price: $45.95 [Notify me when price goes down.]

Written by an expert in the game industry, Christer Ericson's new book is a comprehensive guide to the components of efficient real-time collision detection systems. The book provides the tools and know-how needed to implement industrial-strength collision detection for the highly detailed dynamic environments of applications such as 3D games, virtual reality applications, and physical simulators.

Of the many topics covered, a key focus is on spatial and object partitioning through a wide variety of grids, trees, and sorting methods. The author also presents a large collection of intersection and distance tests for both simple and complex geometric shapes. Sections on vector and matrix algebra provide the background for advanced topics such as Voronoi regions, Minkowski sums, and linear and quadratic programming.

Of utmost importance to programmers but rarely discussed in this much detail in other books are the chapters covering numerical and geometric robustness, both essential topics for collision detection systems. Also unique are the chapters discussing how graphics hardware can assist in collision detection computations and on advanced optimization for modern computer architectures. All in all, this comprehensive book will become the industry standard for years to come.

*Presents algorithms and data structures with wide applications to the fields of game development, virtual reality, physically based simulation, CAD/CAM, architectural and scientific visualization, molecular modeling, engineering simulation, GIS, ray tracing, and more.
*Describes tested, real-world methods, liberally illustrated by C & C++ code.
*Reviews necessary concepts from mathematics and computational geometry, and includes extensive references to other sources and research literature..
Price: $55.69 [Notify me when price goes down.]