Macmillan Encyclopedia of Computers

The purpose of this well-written and interesting encyclopedia is to "provide an authoritative comprehensive work on all aspects of computers." The more than 200 articles range in length from biographies of 500 words to broad topics like "Ethics and Computers" and "Education, Computers in" with over 5,000 words. Volume 1 opens with an alphabetical list of the articles; a detailed index concludes volume 2. Adequate "see" and "see also" references aid access The topics covered can be classified as biographical, technical, historical, or pertaining to applications of computers in various areas. Biographical entries include current people such as Dan Bricklin, Bill Gates, and Steven Jobs as well as historical figures like George Boole and Herman Hollerith. Examples of technical topics covered include "Binary Numbers", "Data Compression and Fractuals", "Hypertext", "Robotics", and "Supercomputers". Important programming languages are covered in entries like "COBOL" and "Pascal". There are no entries for specific software packages, but they are discussed in general articles like "Spreadsheets", "Word Processing", and "Games, Computer". Among the historical topics are "Cards, Jacquard and Hollerith", and "History of Computing". Articles can be found on the use of computers in such fields as banking, insurance, politics, religion, retailing, the arts, and sports. Entries are provided on applications of current interest, such as "Desktop Publishing", "Multimedia", and "Voice Mail". There is even the entry "Careers in Computing". Liberal use is made of charts, graphs, photographs, and diagrams to assist in understanding entries. All of the articles are signed by the academicians or professionals in the computer field who wrote them; their credentials are listed in volume 1. Entries are written in nontechnical language that most laypeople will be able to comprehend with a little effort The entry "Decision Making" is a good example of the coverage of this encyclopedia. It begins with a general introductory section that gives a conceptual framework for the topic. Four categories of decision making--rule based, model based, classical, and decision processes--are then described in several paragraphs each. Drawings of a decision table and decision tree illustrate the concepts. The article concludes with a discussion of the importance of decision making and the place of computing and artificial intelligence in this process. A list of nine references is provided for additional information. Every article concludes with a list of references or a list for further reading, and some contain both Volume 2 concludes with 32 pages of appendixes listing computing associations and manufacturers of peripherals, mainframes, computer components, personal computers, and supercomputers. Short company descriptions and addresses are given for most of the manufacturers This encyclopedia offers the reader an excellent introduction to the world of computers, and the brief bibliographies at the ends of entries will lead to more detailed information. Good current dictionaries briefly define computer terms (Spencer's "Computer Dictionary" and "Microsoft Press Computer Dictionary" are two examples). The "McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Electronics and Computers" ["RBB" O 1 88] is a spin-off of the previous edition of the "McGraw-Hill Encyclopedia of Science and Technology" and is written at a more technical level than the set under review. Even in a rapidly changing field like computing, the "Macmillan Encyclopedia of Computers" will be a standard work for some time to come. Academic and large public libraries should consider purchase; high schools will find it useful too.

Booknews

An authoritative, comprehensive, and current reference on all aspects of computers, written by leaders in computer science, information systems, and computer education, and targeted to students and other nonspecialists. The approximately 200 articles cover topics including the broad spectrum of computers in government, education, industry, and business; the history, design, and roles of hardware and software; programming and programming languages; ethical and equity issues; social impacts; applications; and careers. The articles are arranged alphabetically and vary in length from 500-word capsule biographies to 5000-word (or longer) entries on such overarching topics as ethics and computers and use of computers in education. Entries of interest may be accessed by an alphabetical list of articles and a keyword index. Within entries, small capitals are used to identify words and phrases that form the titles of other articles. Figures and illustrations are included as appropriate. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)