Bøger af Paul Parsons

The indispensable guide to the building blocks of the universe: the elements

Interest in visualization design has increased in recent years. While there is a large body of existing work from which visualization designers can draw, much of the past research has focused on developing new tools and techniques that are aimed at specific contexts. Less focus has been placed on developing holistic frameworks, models, and theories that can guide visualization design at a general level-a level that transcends domains, data types, users, and other contextual factors. In addition, little emphasis has been placed on the thinking processes of designers, including the concepts that designers use, while they are engaged in a visualization design activity. In this book we present a general, holistic framework that is intended to support visualization design for human-information interaction. The framework is composed of a number of conceptual elements that can aid in design thinking. The core of the framework is a pattern language-consisting of a set of 14 basic, abstract patterns-and a simple syntax for describing how the patterns are blended. We also present a design process, made up of four main stages, for creating static or interactive visualizations. The 4-stage design process places the patterns at the core of designers' thinking, and employs a number of conceptual tools that help designers think systematically about creating visualizations based on the information they intend to represent. Although the framework can be used to design static visualizations for simple tasks, its real utility can be found when designing visualizations with interactive possibilities in mind-in other words, designing to support a human-information interactive discourse. This is especially true in contexts where interactive visualizations need to support complex tasks and activities involving large and complex information spaces. The framework is intended to be general and can thus be used to design visualizations for diverse domains, users, information spaces, and tasks in different fields such as business intelligence, health and medical informatics, digital libraries, journalism, education, scientific discovery, and others. Drawing from research in multiple disciplines, we introduce novel concepts and terms that can positively contribute to visualization design practice and education, and will hopefully stimulate further research in this area.

Deep-sky observing - that's looking at the stars, nebulae and galaxies - is easily the most popular field for amateur astronomers. The big problem faced by non-professional observers is what to look at - what's visible at a paticular time of year. The Deep-sky Observer's Year is a month-by-month guide to the best objects to view. Objects are given a "star rating" according to how difficult they are to observe or image (i.e. photograph) with a particular size of telescope. The book includes many images produced by amateur astronomers, as well as photographs from NASA, ESA and ESO. There is also some background information about the objects that can be seen, along with lots of useful tips, hints, and resources (especially about what's available on the Internet) for deep-sky observers.

Fascinating stories and far-out facts about the universe from IFLScience.

Kaosteori, foreningsteori, relativitetsteori? Schrödingers kat og Newtons love? Ja, ja, selvfølgelig kender du dem eller har hørt om dem. Men ved du nok om dem til at kunne deltage i en diskussion ved middagsbordet eller til at imponere stamgæsterne i baren med din viden? TEORIER på 30 sekunder forklarer på revolutionerende vis de 50 mest betydningsfulde og spændende videnskabelige teorier. Vi har udfordret førende videnskabelige eksperter til at lægge deres elskede fagsprog på hylden og forklare de mest komplicerede teorier på et halvt minut — på højst to sider, 300 ord og et billede. Det kan godt være, at tiden er relativ, men i en verden, hvor alt lader til at snurre hurtigere og hurtigere rundt, er den også dyrebar. Med denne bog får du indblik i tankerne hos vores førende forskere og forstår de vigtigste elementer i det videnskabelige univers – altsammen på kortere tid end det tager dig at klø dig selv i nakken.Redaktøren Paul Parsons har tidligere været redaktør på BBC’s Focus magazine. Han har skrevet om populærvidenskab i alt lige fra den engelske avis Daily Telegraph til FHM. Hans bog The Science of Doctor Who var en af de 12 nominerede kandidater til at vinde Royal Society Prize for Science Books i 2007.

As a new age of space exploration dawns, Ten Short Lessons in Space Travel takes a timely look at the ten fundamental lessons in the discoveries and explorations of outer space. From the amazing technology that has enabled us to look beyond the clouds to the space tourism of the twenty-first century, this is a cutting-edge guide for curious minds.

Instant Mathematics pulls together all the pivotal mathematical theories and discoveries into one concise volume.

Everything you ever wanted to know about physics in 35 bite-size chapters.