- Table View
- List View
Eutopia: A Novel of Terrible Optimism (The Book of the Juke Series #1)
by David NickleThis debut horror novel by the author of acclaimed short story collection Monstrous Affections &“establishes him as a worthy heir to the mantle of Stephen King&” (National Post). Set in 1911, Eutopia &“mixes utopian vision, rustic Americana, and pure creepiness. . . . Nickle blends Little House on the Prairie with distillates of Rosemary&’s Baby and The X-Files to create a chilling survival-of-the-fittest story&” (Publishers Weekly). Situated on the edge of the woods and mountains of northern Idaho, the tiny settlement of Eliada is an industrialist&’s attempt to create heaven on earth. But its secrets are soon to be unveiled, as Jason Thistledown, the sole survivor of a mysterious plague in Montana, and Andrew Waggoner, a black doctor nearly lynched by the KKK, delve beneath the façade of the utopian mill town. What they discover is science warped by ideology—and an unearthly monster that preys on the faith of its own true believers . . . &“A story of piano-wire suspense, grotesque horrors, and, above all, visceral insight into the race politics of American horror, and how they are bound up with the American project itself.&” —Cory Doctorow, Boing Boing Praise for David Nickle &“His stories are dark, wildly imaginative, and deeply compassionate—even when they&’re laced with righteous anger.&” —Nathan Ballingrud, author of Wounds &“David Nickle is Canada&’s answer to Stephen King. His writing charms even as it slices like a blade between the ribs: sharp, subtle, and never less than devastating.&” —Helen Marshall, author of Gifts for the One Who Comes After
The French Cook: Soups And Stews (French Cook Ser.)
by Holly HerrickFrom the award-winning food writer and author of Tart Love, a step-by-step, French cooking class on soups & stews with plenty of recipes to try. Holly Herrick loves France and French cooking. And in this cookbook—her third in The French Cook series—she jumps into bowl after bowl of glorious French soups with inspired abandon and a generous dose of classical technique. Le Cordon Bleu trained chef and former resident of France focuses on the nuances and techniques for expertly layered flavors. Beginning with stocks, she continues with cold soups, classic soups and stews, creamy soups, and consommés in ensuing chapters, each one as delicious as the next. Similar to sauces (Herrick also penned The French Cook: Sauces), soups are the ideal conduit for creating maximum texture and flavor. Only, with soups and stews, the cooking canvas is much broader and there is a precise yet playful emphasis on presentation and garnishes. Whether a sumptuous French Onion Soup topped with croutons and bubbling Gruyere, or a riff on a classic sauce in the creamy, velvety Soup Soubise topped with fried shallots, all you need to know about making perfect French soups is neatly tucked between 128 beautiful pages.
Desert Kingdoms to Global Powers: The Rise of the Arab Gulf
by Rory MillerAn expert in Arab Gulf politics offers a revealing analysis of the region&’s stunning rise to global power and the challenges it confronts today. Once just sleepy desert sheikdoms, the Arab Gulf states of Saudi Arabia, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Bahrain, and Kuwait now exert unprecedented influence on international affairs—the result of their almost unimaginable riches in oil and gas. In this accessible study, Gulf politics expert Rory Miller examines the achievements of these countries since the 1973 global oil crisis. He also investigates how the shrewd Arab Gulf rulers who have overcome crisis after crisis meet the unpredictable future. The Arab Gulf region has become a global hub for travel, tourism, sports, culture, trade, and finance. But can the autocratic regimes maintain stability at home and influence abroad as they deal with the demands of social and democratic reform? Miller considers an array of factors—Islamism, terrorism, the Arab Spring, volatile oil prices, global power dynamics, and others—to assess the region&’s future possibilities.
Mastering the Art of Southern Cooking
by Nathalie Dupree Cynthia GraubartThis definitive guide to Southern cooking methods and techniques by the creators of the PBS show New Southern Cooking features more than 600 recipes. In Mastering the Art of Southern Cooking, Nathalie Dupree and Cynthia Graubart present the most comprehensive book on Southern cuisine in nearly a century. Based on years of research, Dupree and Graubart embrace the great Southern cookbooks and recipes of the past, enhancing them with the foods and conveniences of today. With more than 600 recipes and hundreds of step-by-step photographs, Dupree and Graubart make it easy to learn the techniques for creating the South&’s fabulous cuisine. From basics such as cleaning vegetables and scrubbing a country ham, to show-off skills like making a soufflé and turning out the perfect biscuit—all are explained and pictured with clarity and plenty of stories that entertain.
The French Cook: Souffles (The\french Cook Ser.)
by Greg PatentThe James Beard Award-winning author and baker shares the secret to baking perfectly airy and light soufflés with technique tips and a variety of recipes. One of the most decadent dishes in French cuisine, soufflés are also famously intimidating for the home cook. In this comprehensive soufflé cookbook, consummate baker Greg Patent takes readers from soufflé basics—such as a lesson on beating egg whites, and a review of sauce bases—to creating a wide array of soufflés: hot and cold, savory and sweet, molded and unmolded, as well as specialty show-off dishes, all following basic French culinary techniques. Savory recipes include Leek and Pancetta, Fennel, Salmon and cheese soufflés. Sweet recipes begin with some classic hot renditions of Chocolate, Vanilla Bean, Fresh Strawberry, and Grand Marnier Soufflé, then move into scrumptious cold recipes of Passion Fruit, Ste. Germaine Lime, Almond and Praline Soufflé Floating Islands
Reclaiming Our Health: A Guide to African American Wellness (Yale University Press Health & Wellness)
by Michelle A. Gourdine&“An interactive and empowering book&” to help African American men and women create a new vision of better health and navigate the health care system (BET.com). According to the federal Office of Minority Health, African Americans &“are affected by serious diseases and health conditions at far greater rates than other Americans.&” In fact, African Americans suffer an estimated 85,000 excess deaths every year from diseases we know how to prevent: heart disease, stroke, cancer, high blood pressure, and diabetes. In this important and accessible book, Dr. Michelle Gourdine provides African Americans with the knowledge and guidance they need to take charge of their wellbeing. Reclaiming Our Health begins with an overview of the primary health concerns facing African Americans and explains who is at greatest risk of illness. Expanding on her career and life experiences as an African American physician, Dr. Gourdine presents key insights into the ways African American culture shapes health choices—how beliefs, traditions, and values can influence eating choices, exercise habits, and even the decision to seek medical attention. She translates extensive research into practical information and presents readers with concrete steps for achieving a healthier lifestyle, as well as strategies for navigating the health-care system. This interactive guide with illustrations is a vital resource for every African American on how to live a healthier and more empowered life, and an indispensable handbook for health-care providers, policy makers, and others working to close the health gap among people of color. Says Gourdine, &“I wrote this book to empower our community to solve our own health problems and save our own lives.&”
The CIA & American Democracy
by Rhodri Jeffreys-JonesThis edition of the &“brief, yet subtle and penetrating account&” of the CIA includes a new prologue covering the agency&’s more recent history (Christian Science Monitor). Now in its third edition, Rhodri Jeffreys-Jones&’s comprehensive history of the Central Intelligence Agency is widely acclaimed for its thorough and even-handed analysis. A renowned U.S. intelligence expert, Jeffreys-Jones chronicles the evolution of the agency from its beginning in 1947 to the present day. With clarity and acuity, he examines the CIA&’s activities during some of the most dramatic episodes in American history, from McCarthyism to the Bay of Pigs, the assassination of John F. Kennedy, the Iran-Contra affair, and many others. A new prologue by the author also covers the CIA&’s history from the end of the Cold War to the terror attacks of September 11th, 2001. A landmark of intelligence history since its first edition in 1989, The CIA and American Democracy is &“a judicious and reasonable...sophisticated study&” (David P. Calleo, New York Times Book Review).
Le French Oven
by Hillary DavisThe author of French Comfort Food presents an array of authentic recipes using the cocotte—French cuisine&’s answers to the Dutch oven. Cast iron pots have been a mainstay of French cuisine for generations. In Le French Oven, Hillary Davis shares her love for this traditional cookware and the many delectable French foods that can be made with it. Using various techniques such as braising, stewing, roasting, baking, stovetop, and frying, Le French Oven features recipes for appetizers, soups, main courses, desserts, and more. Davis also includes information about the major French made cocotte brands, and how to use them to create fabulous dishes such as Warm Mushroom Custards with Garlic Toast, French Carrot Rice Soup, Basque-Style Paella, Two-Hands Praying Rack of Lamb Roast, Lemony Braised Chicken with Green Olives, and Beef Pot-au-Feu. The sweet recipes include fabulous fare such as Raspberry Clafoutis and Hot Brandied Peaches Over Ice Cream.
Improv Nation: How We Made a Great American Art
by Sam Wasson&“Like the best of his subjects, which include Stephen Colbert, Bill Murray and Tina Fey, Wasson has perfect timing.&”—Minneapolis Star-Tribune Finalist for the 2017 George Freedley Memorial Award In this richly reported, scene-driven narrative, Sam Wasson charts the meteoric rise of improv from its unlikely beginnings in McCarthy-era Chicago. We witness the chance meeting between Mike Nichols and Elaine May, hang out at the after-hours bar where Dan Aykroyd hosted friends like John Belushi, Bill Murray, and Gilda Radner, and go behind the scenes of cultural landmarks from The Graduate to The Colbert Report. Along the way, we befriend pioneers such as Harold Ramis, Chevy Chase, Steve Carell, Amy Poehler, Alan Arkin, Tina Fey, Judd Apatow, and many others. &“Compelling, absolutely unputdownable…And, in case you&’re wondering, yes, the book is funny. In places, very funny. A remarkable story, magnificently told.&”—Booklist &“One of the most important stories in American popular culture…Wasson may be the first author to explain [improv&’s] entire history…a valuable book.&”—The New York Times Book Review &“Improv Nation masterfully tells a new history of American comedy…It holds the element of surprise—true to the spirit of its subject.&”—Entertainment Weekly
The Big Book of Breakfast and Brunch (Betty Crocker Big Books)
by Betty CrockerA massive collection of recipes to make breakfast the most important—and most enjoyable—meal of the day.Whatever your morning routine, you&’ll find just what you need right here. Try grab-and-go recipes, cereal served up in creative ways, classic egg dishes, and fresh ideas for waffles, pancakes, and French toast. When the weekend rolls around, enjoy relaxing brunch dishes such as Puffed Pancake Brunch Casserole and Smoked Salmon Breakfast Squares.You&’ll want to try all 200 recipes, from quick-and-easy options like Triple Treat Antioxidant Smoothies and Green Tea Granola to leisurely delights perfect for low-key mornings, such as Snickerdoodle Pancakes and Mini Breakfast Quiches with Potato Crust. There&’s even a guide to brewing the best coffee and tea. Whatever you choose, these recipes are sure to help you rise and shine.
Wellington: The Story Of A Scottish Soldier And Statesman, Wellington's Quartermaster General (From Reason To Revolution Ser. #114)
by Rory MuirThe preeminent Wellington biographer presents a fascinating reassessment of the Duke&’s most famous victory and his political career after Waterloo. The Duke of Wellington&’s momentous victory over Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo was the culminating point of a brilliant military career. Yet Wellington&’s achievements were far from over. He commanded the allied army of occupation in France to the end of 1818, returned home to a seat in Lord Liverpool&’s cabinet, and became prime minister in 1828. He later served as a senior minister in Robert Peel&’s government and remained Commander-in-Chief of the Army for a decade until his death in 1852. In this richly detailed work, the second and concluding volume of Rory Muir&’s definitive biography, the author offers a substantial reassessment of Wellington&’s significance as a politician and a nuanced view of the private man behind the legendary hero. Muir presents new insights into Wellington&’s determination to keep peace at home and abroad, achieved by maintaining good relations with the Continental powers, resisting radical agitation, and granting political equality to the Catholics in Ireland. Countering one-dimensional image of Wellington as a national hero, Muir paints a nuanced portrait of a man whose austere public demeanor belied his entertaining, gossipy, generous, and unpretentious private self.
The Ballad of the Sad Café: And Other Stories
by Carson McCullersA Southern woman is undone by love and gossip in the classic novella, one of seven stories in this &“brilliant . . . panorama of remarkable talent&” (The New York Times). One of the most celebrated and enduringly popular works in Southern literature, this collection assembles Carson McCullers&’s best stories, including her beloved novella &“The Ballad of the Sad Café.&” A haunting tale of love and violence in a small Southern town, the novella introduces readers to Miss Amelia, a formidable woman whose home serves as the town&’s gathering place. Among other fine works, the collection also includes McCullers&’s first published story, &“Wunderkind,&” about a musical prodigy who suddenly realizes she will not go on to become a great pianist. First published in 1951, The Ballad of the Sad Café was adapted for the stage by the Edward Albee and later made into a film starring Vanessa Redgrave and Keith Carradine. &“McCullers's finest stories.&” —The New York Times
Beautiful, Simple, Exact, Crazy: Mathematics in the Real World
by Apoorva Khare Anne LachowskaTwo mathematicians explore how math fits into everything from art, music, and literature to space probes and game shows.In this vibrant work, which is ideal for both teaching and learning, Apoorva Khare and Anna Lachowska explain the mathematics essential for understanding and appreciating our quantitative world. They show with examples that mathematics is a key tool in the creation and appreciation of art, music, and literature, not just science and technology. The book covers basic mathematical topics from logarithms to statistics, but the authors eschew mundane finance and probability problems. Instead, they explain how modular arithmetic helps keep our online transactions safe, how logarithms justify the twelve-tone scale commonly used in music, and how transmissions by deep space probes are like knights serving as messengers for their traveling prince.Perfect for coursework in introductory mathematics and requiring no knowledge of calculus, Khare and Lachowska&’s enlightening mathematics tour will appeal to a wide audience.&“A whirlwind tour through mathematics and its applications to the real world, laced with stimulating exercises and fascinating historical insights. Destined to become a classic of mathematical exposition.&” —Eli Maor, author of e: the Story of a Number and Trigonometric Delights&“Khare and Lachowska introduce bite-size pieces of important math by surrounding them with interesting context, from the Monty Hall problem for probability to a story by Dino Buzzati for velocity. Math treated with seriousness and fun.&” —Michael Frame, co-author, with Benoit Mandelbrot, of Fractals, Graphics, and Mathematics Education&“An excellent book, well-suited for a thoughtful, quantitatively-rigorous &‘Math for Humanists&’ course.&” —William Goldbloom Bloch, author of The Unimaginable Mathematics of Borges&’ Library of Babel
The Reckoning
by James Byron HugginsThe international bestselling author of Dark Visions&“writes like a man possessed&” as a worldwide conspiracy and religious mystery unfold (Steve Jackson, New York Times bestselling author). HAUNTED BY HIS PAST In a world ruled by the purest survivors, the fiercest warriors, Gage was the strongest—an American executing his country&’s darkest missions with legendary cunning and skill. Until, wounded and dying in a scorched wasteland, he found mercy at the hands of an aging priest. Separated from the secret world he once dominated, he chose a life of exile, pursuing a lonely peace, a solitary faith. Only the murder of his mentor and the mysterious theft of an ancient manuscript can compel him to emerge from solitude. HUNTED BY A DEADLY FORCE Now his greatest battle begins. From the shadowed streets of New York to the inner recesses of the Vatican and beyond, he challenges the awesome might of an ageless evil. Bound by a promise to a dying friend, he wages war once more in the dark world he left behind. Praise for James Byron Huggins &“May be the thriller of the year.&”—BookPage on Cain &“Pure entertainment.&”—Publishers Weekly on Hunter &“An action-packed novel filled with combat, big explosions, chases, and suspenseful confrontations.&”—SF Site on Cain
Lake Monster Mysteries: Investigating the World's Most Elusive Creatures
by Benjamin Radford Joe NickellFun facts, folklore, and scientific studies about what really lurks in the cold, murky depths: &“A most enjoyable read.&” —John Kirk, author of In the Domain of the Lake Monsters For centuries, eyewitnesses around the world—from America to Africa, Argentina to Scotland—have reported sightings of dark, mysterious creatures that surface briefly from local lakes, only to quickly disappear. While the most famous lake monsters, those living in Loch Ness and Lake Champlain, have gained international notoriety, hundreds of lakes around the world are said to shelter these shadowy creatures. Lake Monster Mysteries is the first book to collectively approach these widespread mysteries from a scientific perspective. By using exhaustive research and results from firsthand investigations to help separate truth from myth, the authors foster our understanding of what really lurks in the cold, murky depths. Benjamin Radford and Joe Nickell, among the top lake monster authorities in the world, now share unique insights into many of the world&’s best-known lake monsters. They interview dozens of people and discuss the different types of sightings, delve into possible explanations, and examine hoaxes, evidence claims, and legends surrounding the monsters. The authors have conducted groundbreaking fieldwork and experiments at lakes, examined photographic evidence, and analyzed the most current sonar readings. Incorporating newly revealed information and up-to-date developments, the cases in Lake Monster Mysteries are in-depth, firsthand investigations that will inform and entertain both avid lake monster researchers and lovers of unexplained mysteries. Includes photos and illustrations
The Big Book of Bisquick (Betty Crocker Big Books)
by Betty Crocker175 of the best, most delicious and easiest recipes from America&’s favorite baking mix! Bisquick can do so much more than make pancakes. Since 1930, home cooks have relied on it to make delicious, home-baked treats and meals in a snap. This new collection brings together 175 classic and contemporary recipes you&’ll love, like Thai Chicken with Spicy Peanut Sauce, Overnight Blintz Bake, Triple Cheese Flatbread, and Banana S&’mores. Included are delicious appetizer, breakfast, bread, dinner, and dessert recipes, so there&’s something for every occasion. Also featured are the much-loved Impossibly Easy Pies, which makes their own crust during baking; families will want to try Easy Barbeque Chicken Pie for a fun twist on dinner. All Bisquick varieties are here—classic, Heart-Health, and Gluten-Free—so everyone can enjoy these special dishes. With 125 stunning photos, this collection is both inspiring and infinitely useful.
Baking Hacks: Fun and Inventive Recipes with Refrigerated Dough (Pillsbury Cooking)
by Pillsbury EditorsOver 125 easy recipes from the baking experts at Pillsbury that let you skip the hard part—and get to the delicious part! Refrigerated dough—crescent rolls, pizza crust, biscuits, pie crust, cookie dough, cinnamon rolls—is already a baking hack, as it allows cooks to make classic recipes quickly and easily. Now, the experts from the Pillsbury Kitchens show how to take dough basics and create even more recipes that "hack the hack." Sheet Pan Grilled Cheese from pizza dough and Brown Butter Peach Crumble Bars from refrigerated sugar cookies are just two examples of the more than 125 easy recipes in this cookbook. Special features call out specific product hacks, and icons throughout note 30-minute recipes and recipes made with three ingredients or less. For anyone who loves the ease and versatility of refrigerated dough, this book is a must-have.
Hard City
by Clark HowardThe searing novel of a brutal boyhood in 1940s Chicago—and a young man walking the knife&’s edge between a life of crime and a brighter future.The son of a single mother addicted to heroin, Richie grows up in poverty and hardship. His adolescence is a constant battle between hope—in the form of a kind boxing coach, a job in a bowling alley where he can sneak a nap, and a determination to track down his disreputable father—and brutality. Desperately lonely, Richie must contend with the criminal justice system, abusive foster homes, and a period of exile with his grandmother in Tennessee.In this gritty, semiautobiographical novel by an Edgar Award–winning author, the fate of this young man hangs in the balance as he finds himself tested by want, war, and the ever-present temptation to give up on the possibility of something better.&“Strongly satisfying [and] frequently compelling.&” —Kirkus Reviews &“Sustains a sense of tension, moving smoothly between flashbacks of the events of Richie&’s early years and the traumatic experiences of his adolescence, then on to his return to Chicago.&” —The New York Times
Fire in the Ocean (Gods Of The New World Ser. #2)
by K.D. KeenanA former PR exec is out to save the world from evil in this paranormal fantasy steeped in Ancient Hawaiian lore by the author of The Obsidian Mirror. After saving the world once, Sierra Carter has earned a little sun, surf, and sand in Hawaii. With her boyfriend away on business, she&’ll make do with the company of her friends Chaco, also known as Coyotl the trickster, and Fred, a mischievous mannegishi with the power to disappear at will. But when the motley crew is swept overboard during a whale watching trip, they are plunged into a new adventure that will test their magical mettle—and suddenly Hawaii is anything but a day at the beach. Pulled ashore on the island of Molokai, Sierra finds hospitality and powerful friends. When she is asked to prevent the construction of a potentially disruptive energy plant, she is drawn into a tangle of supernatural proportions. But the machinations of the ancient gods can be opaque at best—and sometimes downright lethal for mortals.
Immortality of the Gods: Legends, Mysteries, and the Alien Connection to Eternal Life
by Nick RedfernThe author of Bloodline of the Gods explores the theory that ancient aliens shared the secrets of immortality with Old Testament figures. While scientists debate the theoretical possibility of immortality, it may have already been achieved in the distant past. History is filled with accounts of fantastic beings, powerful gods, and half-human/half-alien entities that had extraordinarily long lifespans. Today, these stories are dismissed as mere folklore and mythology. But what if the accounts are all too real? In Immortality of the Gods, Nick Redfern considers the possibility that ancient aliens uncovered the secret to stopping the aging process. Examining the legends of the Anunnaki, Redfern investigates how these ancient deities may have achieved everlasting life, and why they might have shared their secrets with Noah, Methuselah, and other biblical figures. Redfern goes on to explore the saga of Gilgamesh, a long-lived part-human, part-extraterrestrial Sumerian ruler obsessed with immortality. Also in this volume, Redfern studies the claim that an undisclosed motivation for the 2003 invasion of Iraq was to uncover the millennia-old secrets of white powder gold, a manna-like substance that supposedly rejuvenates cells and tissue.
Melia Ridge: A Max Blake Mystery (The Max Blake Mysteries #7)
by William FlorenceIn the thrilling follow-up to Emerald Ridge, a PI and his fiancée head from Oregon to Rome—to find answers to mysteries both personal and political . . . Max Blake&’s fiancée, Caeli Brown, lost her archbishop uncle to gunfire—at least, that&’s what they thought. So they&’re puzzled when they receive another postcard from him. What&’s going on? Is Uncle Jack dead or not? Max and Caeli are soon on the road to the Vatican&’s Secret Archives Building in the heart of Rome, where they meet a mysterious prelate with a fixation for world domination—a man who may well hold the key to determining who actually shot American President John F. Kennedy in 1963—in this gut-wrenching, surprising, and sharply witty tale of international mystery and intrigue.
The Unbanking of America: How the New Middle Class Survives
by Lisa ServonWhy Americans are fleeing our broken banking system: &“Startling and absorbing…Required reading for fans of muckraking authors like Barbara Ehrenreich.&”—Publishers Weekly (starred review) What do an undocumented immigrant in the South Bronx, a high-net-worth entrepreneur, and a twentysomething graduate student have in common? All three are victims of our dysfunctional mainstream bank and credit system. Nearly half of all Americans live from paycheck to paycheck, and income volatility has doubled over the past thirty years. Banks, with their high monthly fees and overdraft charges, are gouging their lower- and middle-income customers while serving only the wealthiest Americans. Lisa Servon delivers a stunning indictment of America&’s banks, together with eye-opening dispatches from inside a range of banking alternatives that have sprung up to fill the void. She works as a teller at RiteCheck, a check-cashing business in the South Bronx, and as a payday lender in Oakland. She looks closely at the workings of a tanda, an informal lending club. And she delivers engaging, hopeful portraits of the entrepreneurs reacting to the unbanking of America by designing systems to creatively serve those outside the one percent. &“Valuable evidence on the fragility of the personal economies of most Americans these days.&”—Kirkus Reviews &“An intelligent plea for financial justice…[An] excellent book.&”—The Christian Science Monitor
Integrated Formal Methods: 19th International Conference, IFM 2024, Manchester, UK, November 13–15, 2024, Proceedings (Lecture Notes in Computer Science #15234)
by Nikolai Kosmatov Laura KovácsThis volume LNCS constitutes the refereed proceedings of the 19th International Conference on Integrated Formal Methods, IFM 2024, during 13-15 November 2024, held in Manchester, UK. The 19 full papers presented in this volume were carefully reviewed and selected from 58 submissions. The conference focuses on all aspects of the design of integrated techniques, including language design, verification and validation, automated tool support, and the use of such techniques in software engineering practice.
User Experience + Artificial Intelligence: Assessing the Qualities of AI-infused Systems (SpringerBriefs in Applied Sciences and Technology)
by Davide Spallazzo Martina Sciannamè Mauro CeconelloThis open access book addresses the thriving trend of embedding artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) capabilities in products and services reaching the lay public, focusing on the user experience (UX) they prompt from a designerly perspective. It offers a UX evaluation method designed explicitly for AI-infused systems to answer one of the core problems affecting the relationship and interactions people have with such artefacts. The work investigates how people perceive and make sense of systems integrating AI capabilities, trying to understand how their meaning and significance can affect the experience of such products and what design challenges may arise. Given the fundamental premise that current UX methods cannot address AI-infused artefacts, it introduces the results of Meet-AI, a research project exploring specific ways to tackle these problems. The book then presents a comprehensive analysis of current UX methods, and a literature review focused on detecting possible gaps and the most suitable qualities to describe AI-infused systems, and summarizes the findings from all previous investigations into a UX evaluation scale: AIXE (AI user eXperience Evaluation). The book also portrays how the tool has been validated and expanded to become a more comprehensive method. It further describes how the scale has been applied to a comparative study of domestic smart speakers, and introduces a reversed interpretation of the outcomes, framing them as heuristics to inform the early phases of the design process and paving the way for future experimentations in the meta-design dimension.
Building Embodied AI Systems: The Agents, the Architecture Principles, Challenges, and Application Domains (Information Systems Engineering and Management #14)
by Pethuru Raj Alvaro Rocha Simar Preet Singh Pushan Kumar Dutta B. SundaravadivazhaganThis book is primed to demystify the emerging and evolving trend of embodied systems. It explains how these unique systems facilitate establishing smarter environments such as multi-specialty hospitals, manufacturing floors, warehouses, retail stores, defense zones, eating joints, entertainment plazas, etc., in detail for the benefit of our esteemed readers. To get a complete and actionable understanding of any mission-critical environment, we must deploy embodied systems. These systems, such as robots, drones, etc., are physical entities that are embedded and empowered with software systems. They interact with the environment in real time, providing context-aware services. There are chapters exclusively delineating the technologies behind the realization and deployment of such enigmatic systems. The prominent industrial use cases are explained in the latter chapters.