Education
http://www.networksolution.com/understanding/introduction.htm
This Web page provides a fairly non-technical introduction to some of the key principles and applications of cryptography. After a brief overview of the topic and a discussion of some basic terminology, the site addresses common cryptographic algorithms, their function, and how they work. A description of digital signatures follows, which is of particular interest to anyone who uses online identity certification. The last few sections deal with cryptographic hash functions and random number generators, encryption strength, and "attacks on cryptosystems." Scattered throughout the text are links to more in-depth discussions of particular algorithms and techniques. [CL]
http://math.hws.edu/javanotes/index.html
Created by a professor of computer science at Hobart and William Smith Colleges, this online textbook "is suitable for use in an introductory programming course and for people who are trying to learn programming on their own." The free resource uses Java as a basis for discussing principles of data types, subroutines, and other program characteristics that are similarly handled in most common programming languages. Additionally, many topics that are specific to the Java platform are addressed, and the author has developed a number of Java applets that demonstrate underlying concepts. [CL]
http://heim.ifi.uio.no/~gesbert/papers/JSACMIMOtutorial.pdf
Published in the April 2003 issue of the Journal on Selected Areas in Communication, this tutorial paper introduces "multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) space-time coded wireless systems" and discusses recent progress in their design and performance. Hailed as a breakthrough emerging technology that has profound implications for digital communications, these systems have the potential to resolve current capacity limitations for wireless Internet traffic. The first section of this paper consists of background material and a high-level overview of MIMO systems. The remaining sections go into more of the technical aspects of the technology, describing a general system architecture, MIMO Information Theory, and communication algorithms. [CL]
The material presented on this Web site is primarily suitable for high school and early college mathematics courses. It is divided into four massive sections that are devoted to basic arithmetic, trigonometry, precalculus, and an in-depth look at real numbers. Each section covers almost as many topics as a full course in the subject. The author clearly describes each concept and combines figures with outstanding site design to create an excellent learning resource. Example problems are included to reinforce certain mathematical properties and methods. [CL]
http://www.eworld.com/colorsync/benefits/training/index.html
Apple Computer offers this Web site that discusses the process of "managing color across input, display, and output devices." Color management is especially useful for developers who want to have greater control of colors on screen and in print. Many people can likely relate to the problem of the hard copy not looking identical to the soft copy, and that is precisely what this site addresses. The material occasionally refers to ColorSync, a tool developed by Apple, and some On-Your-Own Exercises are included with instructions for the Macintosh operating system; however, the site includes substantial information that is mainly geared toward a general audience without regard to a particular platform or software. [CL]
http://www.trillia.com/zakon1.html
Math students will find this online textbook to be a valuable study aid to complement their lecture notes and standard class text. It is intended to help students, especially those majoring in mathematics, make the transition from standard math classes to more rigorous, advanced topics and abstract theory. Spanning over 200 pages, the text covers "basic set theory, induction, quantifiers, functions and relations, equivalence relations, properties of the real numbers (including consequences of the completeness axiom), fields," and Euclidean spaces. The book is not free to everyone, so it is important to read the terms and conditions before downloading. [CL]
http://devedge.netscape.com/central/
The folks at Netscape maintain this multifaceted site to help Web developers do their jobs more efficiently. Tech Central has nine separate sections devoted to Web standards and technologies like Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), the Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), JavaScript, and more. Each section features educational articles written by expert developers that focus on a particular coding practice or authoring strategy. A small number of case studies and presentations are also included. Users who want additional information or general tutorials can follow one of the many links given in the sidebars. [CL]
http://classes.yale.edu/Fractals/
This is one of the best online resources about fractals, and is "meant to support a first course in fractal geometry for students without especially strong mathematical preparation." The site is incredibly deep, providing everything from the most basic definitions and non-technical discussions to involved mathematical formulations. Interactive Java applets, downloadable software for the PC and Macintosh, and laboratory activities are also presented. A particularly interesting section of the site explores about 100 places in nature and society where fractals are found.
