Book Description
Since the publication of the first edition, Mathematica has matured considerably and the computing power of desktop computers has increased greatly. This enables the presentation of more complex curves and surfaces as well as the efficient computation of formerly prohibitive graphical plots. Incorporating both of these aspects, CRC Standard Curves and Surfaces with Mathematica, Second Edition is a virtual encyclopedia of curves and functions that depicts nearly all of the standard mathematical functions rendered using Mathematica. While the easy-to-use format remains unchanged from the previous edition, many chapters have been reorganized and better graphical representations of numerous curves and surfaces have been produced. An introductory chapter describes the basic properties of curves and surfaces, includes two handy tables of 2-D and 3-D curve and surface transformations, and provides a quick understanding of the basic nature of mathematical functions. To facilitate more efficient and more thorough use of the material, the whole gamut of curves and surfaces is divided into sixteen individual chapters. The accompanying CD-ROM includes Mathematica notebooks of code to construct plots of all the functions presented in the book. New to the Second Edition · Chapters on minimal surfaces and Green's functions that involve Poisson, wave, diffusion, and Helmholtz equations · Knots and links in the 3-D curves chapter · Archimedean solids, duals of Platonic solids, and stellated forms in the regular polyhedra chapter · Additional curves and surfaces in almost every chapter · Expanded index for quick access to curves or surfaces of interest and to find definitions of common mathematical terms · Upgraded Mathematica notebooks with more uniform formatting, more complete documentation on particular curves and surfaces, an explanation of the plotting algorithms, and more explicit designations of variable parameters to easily adjust curve or surface plots
Customer Reviews:
A great updated book on expressing surfaces in Mathematica.......2007-01-20
This book is a virtual encyclopedia of curves and functions, and depicts nearly all of the standard mathematical functions rendered using the software package Mathematica. Along with lots of examples, historical notes, and citations, this expanded second edition features four new chapters: Green's Functions, Regular Surfaces, Irregular and Miscellaneous Surfaces, and Minimal Surfaces. It includes coverage on Riemann's continuous but nowhere differentiable function. The book also updates the Mathematica code, called "notebooks," to the latest version (5.0), which allows much more detailed illustrations, and makes these notebooks available on an enclosed CD-ROM, usable on any platform, so that you can easily render and manipulate the functions presented in the book. The book does not provide a tutorial on Mathematica, nor does it delve deeply into the pure mathematics of it all, so you should already be familiar with both. Chapter one is the closest thing to a tutorial in the book. The rest of the chapters read more like a catalog. Highly recommended for anyone involved in scientific visualization who has access to Mathematica, which is a very expensive program. The following is the table of contents:
Chapter 1 - Introduction
1.1. Concept of a Curve
1.2. Concept of a Surface
1.3. Coordinate Systems
1.3.1. Cartesian Coordinates
1.3.2. Polar Coordinates
1.3.3. Cylindrical Coordinates
1.3.4. Spherical Coordinates
1.4. Qualitative Properties of Curves and Surfaces
1.4.1. Derivative
1.4.2. Symmetry
1.4.3. Extent
1.4.4. Asymptotes
1.4.5. Periodicity
1.4.6. Continuity
1.4.7. Singular Points
1.4.8. Critical Points
1.4.9. Zeroes
1.4.10. Integrability
1.4.11. Multiple Values
1.4.12. Curvature
1.5. Classification of Curves and Surfaces
1.5.1. Algebraic Curves
1.5.2. Transcendental Curves
1.5.3. Integral Curves
1.5.4. Piecewise Continuous Functions
1.5.5. Classification of Surfaces
1.6. Basic Curve and Surface Operations
1.6.1. Translation
1.6.2. Rotation
1.6.3. Linear Scaling
1.6.4. Reflection
1.6.5. Rotational Scaling
1.6.6. Radial Translation
1.6.7. Weighting
1.6.8. Nonlinear Scaling
1.6.9. Shear
1.6.10. Matrix Method for Transformation
1.7. Method of Presentation
1.7.1 Equations
1.7.2 Plots
Chapter 2 - Algebraic Functions
2.1 Functions with xn/m
2.2 Functions with xn and (a + bx)m
2.3 Functions with a2 + x2 and xm
2.4 Functions with a2 - x2 and xm
2.5 Functions with a3 + x3 and xm
2.6 Functions with a3 - x3 and xm
2.7 Functions with a4 + x4 and xm
2.8 Functions with a4 - x4 and xm
2.9 Functions with (a + bx)1/2 and xm
2.10 Functions with (a2 - x2)1/2 and xm
2.11 Functions with (x2 - a2)1/2 and xm
2.12 Functions with (a2 + x2)1/2 and xm
2.13 Miscellaneous Functions
2.14 Functions Expressible in Polar Coordinates
2.15 Functions Expressed Parametrically
Chapter 3 - Transcendental Functions
3.1 Functions with sinn(ax) and cosm(bx) (n,m integers)
3.2 Functions with 1 ± a sinn(cx) and 1 ± b cosm(cx)
3.3 Functions with a sinn(cx) + b cosm(cx)
3.4 Functions of More Complicated Arguments
3.5 Inverse Trigonometric Functions
3.6 Logarithmic Functions
3.7 Exponential Functions
3.8 Hyperbolic Functions
3.9 Inverse Hyperbolic Functions
3.10 Trigonometric and Exponential Functions Combined
3.11 Trigonometric Functions Combined with Powers of x
3.12 Logarithmic Functions Combined with Powers of x
3.13 Exponential Functions Combined with Powers of x
3.14 Hyperbolic Functions Combined with Powers of x
3.15 Combinations of Trigonometric Functions, Exponential Functions, and Powers of x
3.16 Miscellaneous Functions
3.17 Functions Expressible in Polar Coordinates
3.18 Functions Expressed Parametrically
Chapter 4 - Polynomial Sets
4.1 Orthogonal Polynomials
4.2 Non-orthogonal Polynomials
Chapter 5 - Special Functions in Mathematical Physics
5.1 Exponential and Related Integrals
5.2 Sine and Cosine Integrals
5.3 Gamma and Related Functions
5.4 Error Functions
5.5 Fresnel Integrals
5.6 Legendre Functions
5.7 Bessel Functions
5.8 Modified Bessel Functions
5.9 Kelvin Functions
5.10 Spherical Bessel Functions
5.11 Modified Spherical Bessel Functions
5.12 Airy Functions
5.13 Riemann Functions
5.14 Parabolic Cylinder Functions
5.15 Elliptic Integrals
5.16 Jacobi Elliptic Functions
Chapter 6 - Green's Functions
6.1 Green's Function for the Poisson Equation
6.2 Green's Function for the Wave Equation
6.3 Green's Function for the Diffusion Equation
6.4 Green's Function for the Helmholtz Equation
6.5 Miscellaneous Green's Functions
6.6 Harmonic Functions - Solutions to Laplace's Equation
Chapter 7 - Special Functions in Probability and Statistics
7.1 Discrete Probability Densities
7.2 Continuous Probability Densities
7.3 Sampling Distributions
Chapter 8 - Nondifferentiable and Discontinuous Functions
8.1 Functions with a Finite Number of Discontinuities
8.2 Functions with an Infinite Number of Discontinuities
8.3 Functions with a Finite Number of Discontinuities in First Derivative
8.4 Functions with an Infinite Number of Discontinuities in First Derivative
Chapter 9 - Random Processes
9.1 Elementary Random Processes
9.2 General Linear Processes
9.3 Integrated Processes
9.4 Fractal Processes
9.5 Poisson Processes
Chapter 10 - Polygons
10.1 Regular Polygons
10.2 Star Polygons
10.3 Irregular Triangles
10.4 Irregular Quadrilaterals
10.5 Polyiamonds
10.6 Polyominoes
10.7 Polyhexes
10.8 Miscellaneous Polygons
Chapter 11 - Three-Dimensional Curves
11.1 Helical Curves
11.2 Sine Waves in Three Dimensions
11.3 Miscellaneous 3-D Curves
11.4 Knots
11.5 Links
Chapter 12 - Algebraic Surfaces
12.1 Functions with ax + by
12.2 Functions with x2/a2 ± y2/b2
12.3 Functions with (x2/a2 + y2/b2 ± c2)1/2
12.4 Functions with x3/a3 ± y3/b3
12.5 Functions with x4/a4 ± y4/b4
12.6 Miscellaneous Functions
12.7 Miscellaneous Functions Expressed Parametrically
Chapter 13 - Transcendental Surfaces
13.1 Trigonometric Functions
13.2 Logarithmic Functions
13.3 Exponential Functions
13.4 Trigonometric and Exponential Functions Combined
13.5 Surface Spherical Harmonics
Chapter 14 - Complex Variable Surfaces
14.1 Algebraic Functions
14.2 Transcendental Functions
Chapter 15 - Minimal Surfaces
15.1 Elementary Minimal Surfaces
15.2 Complex Minimal Surfaces
Chapter 16 - Regular and Semi-Regular Solids with Edges
16.1 Platonic Solids
16.2 Archimedean Solids
16.3 Duals of Platonic Solids
16.4 Stellated (Star) Polyhedra
Chapter 17 - Irregular and Miscellaneous Solids
17.1 Irregular Polyhedra
17.2 Miscellaneous Closed Surfaces with Edges
A New Edition After 14 Years.......2007-01-18
In the 14 years since the previous edition of this book was published:
Mathematica has matured, expanded and improved tremendously The power of the desktop PC has increased many-fold in both processing speed and in memory capacity Several useful but complex curves and surfaces were deliberately left out of the earlier edition because of the first two points.
Taken together, this has almost required this offering of a new edition. Virtually every chapter has been re-written. Even the older curves and surfaces have been re-coded to take advantages of new capabilities within Mathematica. Several new chapters have been writteh to cover:
Green's functions
Minimal Surfaces
Knots and Links added to 3-D curves
the chapter on regular polyhedra has been greatly expanded.
The CD supplied with the books contains Mathematica notebooks of code to construct plots of all the functions presented in the book.
Product Description
Our first knowledge of differential geometry usually comes from the study of the curves and surfaces in $I\!\!R^3$ that arise in calculus. Here we learn about line and surface integrals, divergence and curl, and the various forms of Stokes' Theorem. If we are fortunate, we may encounter curvature and such things as the Serret-Frenet formulas. With just the basic tools from multivariable calculus, plus a little knowledge of linear algebra, it is possible to begin a much richer and rewarding study of differential geometry, which is what is presented in this book. It starts with an introduction to the classical differential geometry of curves and surfaces in Euclidean space, then leads to an introduction to the Riemannian geometry of more general manifolds, including a look at Einstein spaces. An important bridge from the low-dimensional theory to the general case is provided by a chapter on the intrinsic geometry of surfaces. The first half of the book, covering the geometry of curves and surfaces, would be suitable for a one-semester undergraduate course. The local and global theories of curves and surfaces are presented, including detailed discussions of surfaces of rotation, ruled surfaces, and minimal surfaces. The second half of the book, which could be used for a more advanced course, begins with an introduction to differentiable manifolds, Riemannian structures, and the curvature tensor. Two special topics are treated in detail: spaces of constant curvature and Einstein spaces. The main goal of the book is to get started in a fairly elementary way, then to guide the reader toward more sophisticated concepts and more advanced topics. There are many examples and exercises to help along the way. Numerous figures help the reader visualize key concepts and examples, especially in lower dimensions. For the second edition, a number of errors were corrected and some text and a number of figures have been added.
Customer Reviews:
Fast moving.......2006-11-25
This is a very fast moving book, covering a huge amount of material at a fairly sophisticated level in under 380 pages. For example, differential forms are introduced in about 2 pages so that the Maurer-Cartan structural equations can be defined. The first 4 chapters makes up a very concise course in curves and surfaces, while the last 4 chapters cover Riemannian geometry. In comparison, do Carmo's two books take 500 pages for the former and 320 pages for the latter.
For this reason I think the claim that this could be used as an undergraduate text is overly optimistic. For that I would use a more self-contained text like Millman & Parker (ISBN: 0132641437). But it would make an excellent text for a graduate survey, or as a second text for someone wanting to make the transition from classical theory (learned from, say, one of the Dover books like Struik, ISBN: 0486656098) to more modern methods. Also, you'll probably want to supplement with a gentler introduction to differential forms.
Of interest to students of physics, the book covers curves and surfaces in Minkowski space, as well as Einstein spaces.
A excellent introduction for the 21st century.......2006-03-23
While there is exist many classic texts on differential geometry, I have particularly appreciated this book for its up-to-date treatment, numerous well-done figures, broad coverage, elegant type-setting, and clear expositions. The book covers all the basics expected from an introduction to differential geometry, including curves and 2-D surfaces, but with a look towards the more advanced material in the second half of the book. It alternates between Ricci style notation and Koszul style notation, often carefully explaining the relation between the two and giving examples (I found this particularly helpful). There are, however, some sections where the english is a bit rough (perhaps the fault of the translator). It is also quite brisk throughout, often mentioning advanced topics before they are treated in detail. For example, it already mentions submanifolds, tangent spaces, and tangent bundles in the first chapter on "Notations and Prerequisites from Analysis." It will require serious attention, especially if one has not encountered a good dose of abstract mathematics before. Nonetheless, I have found myself returning to it over several years as an excellent reference and source of many additional topics that I skipped on a first reading. For example, the final chapter on Einstein spaces is a valuable, though demanding, bonus. Thanks to the AMS for publishing a fine edition of a top-notch German author's work.
A beautiful geometry.......2005-10-12
This book is very useful for students who are interested in geometry. The book is organized from elementary facts to advanced geometry very well. This book provides to students the reason why they study the geometry. This book explains very easily that the geometry of curves and surfaces can be generalized to high dimensional Riemannian manifolds naturally.
Moreover, the edition of this book is very beautiful and helpful for readers. For example, the important results are placed in boxes.
Attractive book on differential geometry.......2003-09-22
Differential geomety is perhaps the most beautiful part of higher mathematics. It combines geometry, analysis and intuition in a wonderful way. This attractive book is a concise and modern book that manages to be both pedagogical and accurate in a pleasant way. In only 350 pages most of the differential geometry that a non-expert will ever need is outlined. Illustrations and notation seem optimal for their purpose. The book is a worthy successor of classics like Struik, Stoker, and Kreyzig.
Average customer rating:
- No CD-Rom!
- Good introduction to differential geometry
- Great Book!
- Excellent overall book
- Impressive both in size and content
|
Modern Differential Geometry of Curves and Surfaces with Mathematica, Second Edition
Alfred Gray
Manufacturer: CRC
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Schaum's Outline of Differential Geometry (Schaum's)
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Differential Geometry
ASIN: 0849371643 |
Book Description
The Second Edition combines a traditional approach with the symbolic manipulation abilities of Mathematica to explain and develop the classical theory of curves and surfaces. You will learn to reproduce and study interesting curves and surfaces - many more than are included in typical texts - using computer methods. By plotting geometric objects and studying the printed result, teachers and students can understand concepts geometrically and see the effect of changes in parameters.Modern Differential Geometry of Curves and Surfaces with Mathematica explains how to define and compute standard geometric functions, for example the curvature of curves, and presents a dialect of Mathematica for constructing new curves and surfaces from old. The book also explores how to apply techniques from analysis.Although the book makes extensive use of Mathematica, readers without access to that program can perform the calculations in the text by hand. While single- and multi-variable calculus, some linear algebra, and a few concepts of point set topology are needed to understand the theory, no computer or Mathematica skills are required to understand the concepts presented in the text. In fact, it serves as an excellent introduction to Mathematica, and includes fully documented programs written for use with Mathematica.Ideal for both classroom use and self-study, Modern Differential Geometry of Curves and Surfaces with Mathematica has been tested extensively in the classroom and used in professional short courses throughout the world.
Customer Reviews:
No CD-Rom!.......2004-06-10
The main purpose of this textbook is supposed to be the combination of the visualization of curves and surfaces along with the traditional differential geometry materials. This book makes a great effort to realize this lofty goal with some success as a reference book. As a main textbook, however, it fails to deliver what it promised by overlooking one small point: the lack of CD-Rom. The readers are expected to type in the sample programs manually. This can be very time-consuming especially for inexperienced students. Inevitably, a lot of valuable class time has be consumed helping students looking for and correcting errors, many of which are small typographic errors completely unrelated to either their mathematical understanding or their computer skill.
Instructors can attempt writing their own Mathematica class-notes, but copyright issue will come up if they don't be careful distributing the notebook files to the students. All such hassle can easily be eliminated with the CD-Rom(s). Hopefully this issue is resolved when the next edition is printed. Until then, I cannot recommend this book as a main textbook.
Good introduction to differential geometry.......2002-05-08
The visualization of complicated geometrical objects
is now routine thanks to the excellent software that
has been developed over the past two decades. Now
students and professionals can have a better
appreciation of the geometrical properties of these
objects thanks to these software packages. In this
book the author has done a great job of doing this,
having chosen one of the best tools for this purpose:
Mathematica. The book is a hefty one, totaling almost
1100 pages, but its perusal is worth the effort for
those who want a more intuitive appreciation behind
the concepts of differential geometry. Physicists in
particular, who usually need a pictorial approach to
complement the learning of a subject, should really
enjoy this book. It could definitely be used as a
textbook in a beginning course in differential
geometry since there are problems at the end of each
chapter and most of the results in the book are proven
with the required mathematical rigor, I.e. this book
is not just code and pictures, and a substantial
portion of it is devoted to definitions and rigorous
proofs. This is especially true for the discussion on
differentiable manifolds and Riemannian geometry. The
author also includes a brief biography of the
mathematicians who have been involved in differential
geometry at various places in the book. The
Mathematica code in the book though can be revised to
make it look more like standard mathematical notation,
thanks to the new features of Mathematica that have
appeared since this book was published (1997). The use
of color shading is not done in the book, except for a
short insert with pictures of several surfaces, but
the reader can easily experiment with the color
functions available in Mathematica if needed. A very
lengthy appendix that lists the functions and code
used in the book is included.
Some of the concepts that are usually
difficult to grasp intuitively for those approaching
differential geometry for the first time but are here
illustrated nicely include: 1. The computation of the
curvature of plane curves and the plotting of this
curvature. The curvature of the famous Lissajous
curves, very familiar from oscilloscope traces, is
computed. The author might have spent a little more
time explaining why the curvature plots have the shape
they do however. 2. The treatment of osculating curves
to plane curves. 3. The finding of curves whose
curvature is equal to the arc length times a Bessel
function. The resulting plots are very entertaining.
4. The computation of the torsion of a curve in space.
The discussion on torus knots is particularly well-
done. 5. The author's discussion on surfaces in
Euclidean space motivates well the concept of a
differentiable manifold. He plots a few surfaces with
coordinate patches that have a singularity, and shows
how to plot surfaces that defined nonparametrically.
Kummer's surface, of particular importance in
algebraic geometry, is plotted here. Even more useful
is the author's treatment of nonorientable surfaces,
wherein he shows the reader how to plot the Moebius
strip, the Klein bottle, and two realizations of the
projective plane using Mathematica. Several examples
of the Gaussian curvature of surfaces are plotted. The
Gauss map, one of the most important tools for the
physicist, is given detailed treatment. 6. Rare in
textbooks at this level of differential geometry is a
discussion of minimal surfaces, but the author gives a
very nice treatment in this book. The Enneper's,
Scherk's Henneberg's and Catalan's minimal surfaces
are plotted along with the Gauss map of Enneper's
surface. Minimal surfaces are extremely important in
theoretical physics, such as superstring and membrane
theories, and are also very important in optimization
theory, so it was nice to see a discussion of them
included in the book. In recent years galleries of
minimal surfaces have appeared on the Web, and this
book allows one to plot these without too much effort.
The author even introduces the use of complex analysis
in the study of minimal surfaces. Readers interested
in understanding the mathematics of string theory will
appreciate this discussion. In addition, the
Weierstrass representation, which allows generation of
new minimal surfaces, is introduced. Readers familiar
with the Weierstrass function for elliptic curves will
see it used here for this generation.
Great Book!.......2000-04-05
Gray does not intend for you to buy his book if you don't haveaccess to Mathematica and simply want to learn about differentialgeometry from an axiomatic standpoint. Of course if you don't have access to Mathematica, this isn't for you, and even if you do have Mathematica, you will probably want to have a good "standard" text to go along with your learning. Having said this, the book and Mathematica make an excellent addition to anyone's diferential geometry course.
Excellent overall book.......2000-01-25
I strongly disagree with the reviewer at the bottom of this page. Having taken a differential geometry course last year using do Carmo's book (also excellent) I came to appreciate the intuition that this book lends to the reader. Also, this book makes greater use of elementary linear algebra than is common in some more standard texts, for example in defining the second fundamental form in terms of the Shape Operator. For students wanting to compliment their course notes or standard text with a book which will thoroughly explain both the fundamentals and isolated topics, this book is highly recommended.
Impressive both in size and content.......1999-12-10
I would recommend this book to anyone that needs an intuitive introduction to the subject that is complete in many ways and that provides visualization and examples using mathematica when needed. Before purchasing this I was expecting the treatment to be 'informal' and using mathematica rather than mathematical rigour to introduce concepts and results. This is not the case however. In my opinion the author has struck the right balance between a formal maths treatment and the abilities provided by mathematica to make the book easier to read and coprehend.
Amazon.com
The business world is undergoing a profound revolution as the new millennium inches closer, and one of the best assessments of its implications and possibilities comes from Institute for the Future president Ian Morrison in his The Second Curve: Managing the Velocity of Change. This thoughtful work advances one simple yet striking concept: business leaders must stop focusing on the short-term and start planning for the long run. Making the most of current profits is the first curve in business, Morrison writes; shifts in technology and the marketplace signify the second. Understanding how these critical changes develop and knowing what they mean, he contends, will help business leaders make the necessary leap from one to the other.
Book Description
"A REAL EYE OPENER . . . THE FUTURE IS GROWTH AND THAT GROWTH IS ON THE SECOND CURVE."
--George Harvey, Chairman, President, and CEO Pitney Bowes, Inc.
In The Second Curve, Ian Morrison creates a revolutionary new business model that can be used no matter what the market upheaval. His theory is deceptively simple: you must ride the first curve--a company's traditional business carried out in a familiar corporate climate--to the all-important second curve. The second curve is the future--the new technologies, new consumers, and new markets that companies must command to survive and thrive.
In the many companies Morrison profiles, leaders have learned to master both the first and second curves, to anticipate the rate and pace of change, to know when and how to jump from the first curve to the second, and whether and when to play both. This book sets forth all the crucial strategies and explains how businesses can apply them to rapidly changing situations.
"In a highly readable manner, Ian Morrison has pinpointed the key strategic problems facing our company and many others. His broad-ranging examples and insightful analyses are relevant throughout our organization."
--Peter Bury, President and CEO
Cable and Wireless Innovations, Inc.
"This is a book for anyone trying to figure out how to make money on the Internet, what country to invest in, or how to earn profits beyond the next fiscal year."
--World Business
From the Trade Paperback edition.
Customer Reviews:
Pretty obvious, formula-driven, consultant-speak stuff........1997-07-12
Sort of like a combination of "In Search of Excellence" and in search of flatulence -- companies that win and companies that lay an egg. All this 1-2-3 wave business can make you seasick. Basically it would make a good set of business school cases. But the cases don't really fit into an overarching framework that has the explanatory power Morrison pretends
A topical, provocative book replete with real-life anecdotes.......1996-06-04
The business book is as ubiquitous an item as a laptop computer in
airplanes. In every flight that I've ever been on in the US, there are
legions of rent-an-MBAs, wearing grey Hickey-Freeman suits and Cole-Haan
wingtips, sipping a beer and grimacing as they try to ingest the latest
idea from Tom Peters. They've learned about searching for excellence,
the discipline of market leaders, constructing a virtual corporation and
being part of a learning organization. They've been folded, spindled,
mutilated and re-engineered. They have ridden the third wave and
preached the fifth discipline. They have read the machinations of
Machiavelli, the homilies of Dale Carnegie and the leadership secrets of
Attila the Hun. They know that if they meet the Buddha on the road, they
should kill him; that if it ain't broken, they should break it; that the
future is always shocking and that you always swim with sharks.
It was therefore with some cynicism that I picked up a new business book
off the shelf at Keplers this weekend. Even the title put me off. "The
Second Curve - Managing the Velocity of Change," by an Ian Morrison, who
bore the grandiose title of President of the Institute of the Future.
But I had some familiarity and liking for the writing of Paul Saffo, who
works at the same institute. And my stack of books at home was getting
quite short. So I took a twenty-five dollar bet.
I am glad I did. "The Second Curve" kept me engrossed through the
afternoon and the night, and I stayed up till two finishing it,
something I do increasingly rarely nowadays. Mr. Morrison is that rarest
of birds, an original thinker. More importantly, he is not an armchair
theorist. Almost all his writing is bolstered by real-world anecdotes
and experience from twenty years of being called upon as a consultant.
In tone, it is reminiscent of "The Art of the Long View", another book
that I highly recommend.
The author's principal thesis is that technology is causing a sea change
in almost every facet of our lives. The first curve is the one that
people are used to and which still shows a reasonable pace of growth.
Think, for instance, of the full-service brokerage services offered by a
place like Merill-Lynch. The second curve is the one that understands
that, in essence, such a company does nothing more than transactions and
brokering information. Both of these can be automated and done much
cheaper via the Internet. Enter Lombard OnLine. All transactions for
twenty bucks! Unlimited company reports for free! After all, the only
things you're consuming is a few extra cycles of cpu and a few extra
kilobaud of bandwidth.
Financial institutions still think of themselves as their physical
presence - brick and mortar and oak veneer. But they are really nothing
more than a conduit for electric impulses; credit A's account here,
debit B's account there, feed the earnings report to a browser, download
a mortgage calculation applet. As users get more aware of how they can
access information themselves and manage their own financial affairs,
paying huge percentages as fees is going to seem quaint. Dean-Witter and
Smith-Barney have no idea how badly they are going to be hurt.
To the authors credit, he strongly advises against expecting the change
to happen tomorrow. A line that appears in many places in the book is
that we always overestimate the change that will occur in one year and
underestimate the change that will occur in ten. So a key chapter in the
book is devoted to transition strategy from the first curve to the
second. How do you gauge when a supposed second curve is in fact a
mirage (the Newton, picture telephones, personal helicopters)? How do
you surf a first curve to its entirety (the plain old telephone, video
rentals, mainframes)? When does it pay to bet the farm on a new paradigm
(there, I used that word)? When is it too risky to?
There are some common-sense ideas here. One, that technology makes it
possible to do most things faster, better and cheaper. Think of the fax
machine and electronic mail replacing the US mail and memos. Two, that
the new consumer expects exceptional service as a birthright. He or she
wants to be able to order a pair of jeans from L.L Bean at midnight or
to choose from six kinds of crackers at Safeway. Three, that the new
consumer is not necessarily Caucasian or Japanese. In the next fifteen
years, there will be 122 million middle-class households (incomes
greater than $25K per year) springing up in South Asia, China, and Latin
America.
In addition, there are many provocative theses. One is that any industry
that trafficks in information (insurance, publishing, recorded music) is
going to get decimated if it does not adapt to the second curve. You can
no longer live off your history as an authority figure. Gangsta rap
artists will not automatically go to Time-Warner because of its history
in the information business. Doctors can no longer expostulate that
their long training makes them worth two hundred dollars an hour. The
HMO down the street will just take that doctor off its database and cut
his or her business by three-quarters. Medicine is not that lucrative a
profession any more.
The second is that the real power in a value chain is no longer with the
manufacturer of a product but with the retailer. Wal-Mart can dictate
the selling price of a toy much more than Mattel can. All it has to do
is threaten to withhold shelf-space for the Mighty Morphin Power
Rangers. In like vein, CompUSA decides which is a bestselling CD-ROM
much more than Broderbund does, by the way it spends its advertising and
display dollars. It is going to become increasingly important to own
your channel or have very strong partnerships with it. And remember that
with the Internet, the eighteen-year old in the garage can still bypass
all established channels and go straight to the consumer. Id Software
provides a sterling lesson in this in the way it sold "Doom".
I judge a book by how many of its ideas resonate in my head when I drive
to work the next morning. By this unscientific metric, "The Second
Curve" is a very worthwhile read.
Book Description
This volume is produced from digital images created through the University of Michigan University Library's preservation reformatting program.
Product Description
BLUE HARDCVR ASTM CODE: 0480300230,
SYMPOSIUM @ PHIL 1981, 820 PP
Average customer rating:
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Elliptic Curves: Theory and Cryptography, Second Edition (Discrete Mathematics and Its Applications)
Lawrence C. Washington
Manufacturer: Chapman & Hall/CRC
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
General
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Combinatorics
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Number Theory
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General
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Combinatorics
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Number Theory
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ASIN: 1420071467 |
Product Description
3 cassettes and 3 booklets in clamshell case. Covers beginning, intermediate, and advanced.
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- Enterprise Architecture As Strategy: Creating a Foundation for Business Execution
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- Ethics in Crime and Justice: Dilemmas and Decisions (Ethics in Crime and Justice)
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