Technology & Engineering Audiobooks | Science & Technology

'You Are Not Expected to Understand This': How 26 Lines of Code Changed the World

In this audiobook, Mack Sanderson and Emily Schwing reveal the stories behind the computer coding that touches all aspects of life—for better or worse Few of us give much thought to computer code or how it comes to be. The very word “code” makes it sound immutable or even inevitable. “You Are Not Expected to Understand This” demonstrates that, far from being preordained, computer code is the result of very human decisions, ones we all live with when we use social media, take photos, drive our cars, and engage in a host of other activities. Everything from law enforcement to space exploration relies on code written by people who, at the time, made choices and assumptions that would have long-lasting, profound implications for society. Torie Bosch brings together many of today’s leading technology experts to provide new perspectives on the code that shapes our lives. Contributors discuss a host of topics, such as how university databases were programmed long ago to accept only two genders, what the person who programmed the very first pop-up ad was thinking at the time, the first computer worm, the Bitcoin white paper, and perhaps the most famous seven words in Unix history: “You are not expected to understand this.” This compelling book tells the human stories behind programming, enabling those of us who don’t think much about code to recognize its importance, and those who work with it every day to better understand the long-term effects of the decisions they make. With an introduction by Ellen Ullman and contributions by Mahsa Alimardani, Elena Botella, Meredith Broussard, David Cassel, Arthur Daemmrich, Charles Duan, Quinn DuPont, Claire L. Evans, Hany Farid, James Grimmelmann, Katie Hafner, Susan C. Herring, Syeda Gulshan Ferdous Jana, Lowen Liu, John MacCormick, Brian McCullough, Charlton McIlwain, Lily Hay Newman, Margaret O’Mara, Will Oremus, Nick Partridge, Benjamin Pope, Joy Lisi Rankin, Afsaneh Rigot, Ellen R. Stofan, Lee Vinsel, Josephine Wolff, and Ethan Zuckerman.

Tbd (Author), Emily Schwing, Mack Sanderson (Narrator)

Audiobook

101 Amazing Facts about Ships

Do you know how many cannons a Tudor ship could carry? How many people go missing from cruise ships every year? What is a hawsehole? And why are submarines painted black? In this fantastic audiobook, John Harnish talks us through over one hundred amazing facts about ships and boats, covering categories such as famous ships, seafaring terminology, naval ship classes and much more. So if you want to know which ship is the world's fastest, or who made the deepest solo dive in a submarine, this is the perfect book for you!

Jack Goldstein (Author), John Harnish (Narrator)

Audiobook

21 Day English Guide for Tourists Visiting America: Learn How to Speak English in 21 Days With 1 Hou

“21 Day English Guide for Tourists Visiting America' is a practical, concise and complete language book designed with our modern busy lifestyles in mind. This guide was designed to help speakers of another language quickly and efficiently master English skills for tourists.In order to do this, we have divided this book into 21 lessons to be mastered in 21 days, investing only one hour a day. Each lesson will cover a common scenario tourists will face when traveling to an English speaking country. By the time you finish the 21 days, you should be able to communicate well in English when: • Buying your tickets • Checking in at the airport, going through security, and boarding the plane • Requesting, asking, and answering questions while on the plane • Claiming your bags and going through Immigration and Customs • Renting a car or taking the bus, subway, a cab, or the train • Making a hotel reservation and checking in/out • Going to restaurants, bars, and coffee shops • Going shopping and asking for prices (from clothing stores to pharmacies) • Asking for directions • Basic ways to express how you feel if you get sick. • You will also find some important tips, and dos and don’ts when traveling to the USA. About the Expert: Veronica Cordido is an English-Spanish-English translator, English as a Second Language (ESL) instructor, and author of English and Spanish language guides and books designed for foreigners to master the basics of both languages fast and easily. Having been there as a foreigner more than 20 years ago, and having found in languages her passion, she combines the best of both experiences, the one as a student and the one as a teacher, into her own teaching methods. HowExpert publishes quick 'how to' guides on all topics from A to Z by everyday experts.

Howexpert, Veronica Cordido (Author), Marie Dubuque (Narrator)

Audiobook

2100: Una historia del futuro. Claves geopolíticas y tecnológicas para entender el mundo que vivirán

¿Cuáles serán las grandes potencias del siglo XXI? ¿Cómo será el mundo del mañana? ¿Qué vivirán nuestros nietos? ¿El ser humano alcanzará la inmortalidad? 2100 se perfila como un escenario en el que un nuevo orden planetario desbancará a EE.UU. del primer puesto, y llevará a países como la India o a continentes como África a convertirse en las nuevas grandes potencias. Una sociedad donde la inteligencia artificial determinará nuestro día a día, los coches autónomos nos trasladarán sin piloto y los drones llevarán la compra a la azotea de nuestras casas tras visitar una tienda virtual. Es posible que asistamos a la boda de algún familiar con un androide, un implante cerebral nos diga cuál es nuestra presión arterial. Un mundo nuevo forjado a partir del desastre que vaticina el convulso tiempo en el que vivimos, pero que augura un futuro esperanzador, donde el ser humano pueda edificar de nuevo sus sueños. Borja F. Zurrón, autor de los conocidos canales de Youtube Memorias de Pez y Memorias de tiburón, nos dibuja en 2100:Una historia del futuro, cómo será el porvenir de la humanidad a 75 años vista. Un libro para entender las grandes revoluciones que se encuentran a la vuelta de la esquina y los increíbles cambios que darán forma al futuro que vivirán nuestros nietos. «Haría falta todo un cataclismo, un cisne negro de proporciones bíblicas para que Estados Unidos pierda su hegemonía mundial antes de 2050. Sin embargo, a un plazo mayor, con una China ya madura y militarmente capacitada y una India desarrollada que alcance los 2.000 millones de habitantes, el escenario se vuelve mucho más borroso».

Borja Fernández Zurrón (Author), Aram Delhom (Narrator)

Audiobook

25 Accidental Inventions: Amazing Mistakes That Worked

This audiobook is narrated by a digital voice. 25 Accidental Inventions, by Mistake, that Changed the World Many of the inventions we use in our everyday lives originate from unexpected moments, when scientists, engineers and inventors stumbled upon brilliant solutions while pursuing other goals. From the creation of Penicillin to the discovery of X-rays, and from Microwaves to Hot Air Balloons, our world is full of fascinating stories of happy accidents that revolutionized the way we live. This book will reveal 25 unique stories of how unforeseen circumstances, error and curiosity gave rise to technologies and products that changed the course of history. Inspiring stories that celebrate human creativity and remind us that sometimes it is through trial and error that we end up finding the most brilliant solutions. Discover how chance can combine with creativity.

Mike Ciman (Author), Digital Voice Mike G (Narrator)

Audiobook

320-PS-JIM - Red Baron, ahoi!

Die beiden Trucker Jim und Chris brauchen dringend einen neuen Auftrag. Das Geld wird langsam knapp und so sind sie erleichtert, als sie das Angebot bekommen, eine Ladung Stahl und Eisen nach Catersville zu transportieren.Doch der Transport, der eigentlich eine ganz gewöhnliche Routinefahrt werden sollte, gestaltet sich problematisch. Ein gewaltiger Regen herrscht seit Tagen und Jim und Chris befürchten, dass sie ihren Zeitplan nicht einhalten können, wenn sie den Weg durch die Berge nehmen. Dieser ist zwar kürzer, aber dafür auch erheblich gefährlicher bei diesem Unwetter. Sie entschließen deshalb, durch das Dalton County zu fahren. Das ist zwar ein Umweg, aber sicherlich die angenehmere Strecke für den Red Baron. Ein entsetzlicher Anblick erwartet die beiden Trucker, als sie Dalton erreichen. Der Stausee vor Dalton hat dem heftigen Regen nicht standgehalten und ist gebrochen. Unmengen von Wasser sind in Richtung Dalton geflossen und hinterlassen das gesamte Gebiet in einem gigantischen Chaos... Sie sind die Cowboys der Highways und erleben Abenteuer in Amerika. Die Rede ist von Jim Stonewall und Chris Morris, die mit ihrem M.A.N.-Truck tausende Meilen zurücklegen und dabei ständig in gefährliche Situationen verstrickt werden. Mit den einheimischen Kollegen Steve Barcley und Barry Winwood rivalisieren sie um die besten Aufträge. Sobald es brenzlich wird, halten die Männer jedoch zusammen - In dieser Folge beim erneuten Aufeinandertreffen mit 'Red Baron' ...

Alfred Wallon (Author), Kirsten Schumann (Narrator)

Audiobook

3D Printing

The use of 3D printing-digitally controlled additive manufacturing-is growing rapidly. Consumer models of 3D printers allow people to fabricate small plastic objects, from cabinet knobs to wedding cake toppers. Industrial uses are becoming widespread, as businesses use the technology to fabricate prototypes, spare parts, custom-fitted prosthetics, and other plastic or metal items, often at lower cost and with greater efficiency than standard manufacturing. In this volume in the MIT Press Essential Knowledge series, John Jordan offers an accessible introduction to 3D printing. Jordan outlines the stages of 3D printing, from idea to software model to a printable file that slices the planned object into printable layers to the finished object itself. He describes additive technologies, consumer 3D printing in homes and schools, mass customization, and industrial uses. He considers the possible unintended consequences of 3D printing on jobs, as companies scramble to find employees with an uncommon skill set; on business models and supply chains, as manufacturing is decentralized; and on patent law, as machines can be programmed to copy protected property. Finally, Jordan looks at new and emerging uses, including bioprinting, building construction, and micromachines.

John M. Jordan (Author), Bj Harrison (Narrator)

Audiobook

A Brief History of Intelligence: Why the Evolution of the Brain Holds the Key to the Future of AI

A Brief History of Intelligence bridges the gap between AI and neuroscience by telling the evolutionary story of how the brain came to be. The entirety of the human brain’s 4-billion-year story can be summarised as the culmination of five evolutionary breakthroughs, starting from the very first brains, all the way to the modern human brains. Each breakthrough emerged from new sets of brain modifications, and equipped animals with a new suite of intellectual faculties. These five breakthroughs are the organising map to this book, and they make up our itinerary for our adventure back in time. Each breakthrough also has fascinating corollaries to breakthroughs in AI. Indeed, there will be plenty of such surprises along the way. For instance: the innovation that enabled AI to beat humans in the game of Go – temporal difference reinforcement learning – was an innovation discovered by our fish ancestors over 500 million years ago. The solutions to many of the current mysteries in AI – such as ‘common sense’ – can be found in the tiny brain of a mouse. Where do emotions come from? Research suggests that they may have arisen simply as a solution to navigation in ancient worm brains. Unravelling this evolutionary story will reveal the hidden features of human intelligence and with them, just how your mind came to be.

Max Bennett (Author), George Newbern (Narrator)

Audiobook

A Brief History of Motion: From the Wheel, to the Car, to What Comes Next

Tom Standage's fleet-footed and surprising global histories have delighted fans and sold hundreds of thousands of copies. Now, he returns with a provocative account of an overlooked form of technology-personal transportation-and explores how it has shaped societies and cultures over millennia. Beginning around 3,500 BCE with the wheel-a device that didn't catch on until a couple thousand years after its invention-Standage zips through the eras of horsepower, trains, and bicycles, revealing how each successive mode of transit embedded itself in the world we live in, from the geography of our cities to our experience of time to our notions of gender. Standage explores the social resistance to cars and the upheaval that their widespread adoption required. Cars changed how the world was administered, laid out, and policed, how it looked, sounded, and smelled-and not always in the ways we might have preferred. Today-after the explosive growth of ride-sharing and years of breathless predictions about autonomous vehicles-the social transformations spurred by coronavirus and overshadowed by climate change create a unique opportunity to critically reexamine our relationship to the car. With A Brief History of Motion, Standage overturns myths and invites us to look at our past with fresh eyes so we can create the future we want to see.

Tom Standage (Author), Liam Gerrard (Narrator)

Audiobook

A Complete Guide to Safety Officer Interview Questions and Answers

This audiobook is narrated by a digital voice. 'A Complete Guide to Safety Officer Interview Questions and Answers' is an essential resource for anyone preparing for a safety officer job interview. This safety officer book provides a list of the most commonly asked interview questions for safety officer positions, along with expert guidance on how to answer them effectively. It covers all aspects of the safety officer role, including risk assessment, hazard identification, emergency response planning, safety regulations, and more. The guide includes sample answers to each question, as well as tips on how to tailor your responses to demonstrate your qualifications and experience. It also features practical advice on how to prepare for the interview, including researching the company, reviewing the job description, and practising your responses. Whether you are a seasoned safety officer or just starting out in your career, 'A Complete Guide to Safety Officer Interview Questions and Answers' is the ultimate resource for acing your next interview and landing your dream job in the safety industry.

Chetan Singh (Author), Digital Voice Parag G (Narrator)

Audiobook

A Deadly Wandering: A Tale of Tragedy and Redemption in the Age of Attention

An ordinary Utah college student named Reggie Shaw fatally strikes two rocket scientists while texting and driving. Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times reporter Matt Richtel follows Reggie from the moment of the tragedy, through the police investigation, the state's groundbreaking prosecution, and ultimately, Reggie's wrenching admission of responsibility. Richtel parallels Reggie's journey with leading-edge scientific findings regarding human attention and the impact of technology on our brains. Remarkably, today Reggie is a leading advocate who has helped spark a national effort targeting distracted driving, and the arc of his story provides a window through which Richtel pursues actionable solutions to help manage this crisis individually and as a society. A propulsive listen filled with fascinating scientific detail, riveting narrative tension, and rare emotional depth, A Deadly Wandering is an audiobook that can change, and save, lives.

Matt Richtel (Author), Fred Berman (Narrator)

Audiobook

A Home of Last Resort

Sonia Smith (Author), MALLORIE RODAK (Narrator)

Audiobook

Technology & Engineering Audiobooks in Science & Technology