BKWHGIGI.RVW   20000305

"Who Gives a Gigabyte", Gary Stix/Miriam Lacob, 1999, 0-471-37910-7,
U$16.95/C$24.95
%A   Gary Stix
%A   Miriam Lacob
%C   5353 Dundas Street West, 4th Floor, Etobicoke, ON   M9B 6H8
%D   1999
%G   0-471-37910-7
%I   John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
%O   U$16.95/C$24.95 416-236-4433 fax: 416-236-4448 pfurlong@wiley.com
%P   300 p.
%T   "Who Gives a Gigabyte: A Survival Guide for the Technologically
      Perplexed"

The introduction notes that the book is meant to address the problem
of technological illiteracy.  As the authors observe, most citizens of
western, or industrial, nations would hate to be thought illiterate in
textual or cultural terms, but contentedly use a myriad of devices
without understanding any of the underlying principles.  Not only are
said citizens unconcerned about this level of ignorance, they often
boast proudly of being technopeasants, or of an inability to
effectively operate common home entertainment tools.  Stix and Lacob
point out that this volume cannot make engineers out of its readers,
but may provide a survey and introduction to some important
technologies.

Chapter one deals with computers.  It unfortunately mixes good
information with factual carelessness.  Charles Babbage's analytical
engine, for example, remained incomplete in his lifetime because his
vision outpaced his project management skills, and not because the
machinists of the day could not fabricate the parts: they could.  The
early British and American computers used relays, not tubes, a fact
that is tacitly admitted when it comes time to try to explain how
logic circuits work.  Even more unfortunately, the explanations of the
technology don't always explain real functions.  Having presented
relays and the term Boolean algebra, for example, the book then states
that logic can be used for data manipulation, but not how.  The
construction of a simple two-bit adder would have expanded the length
of the book by perhaps three pages, but would have demonstrated the
concepts, rather than merely asserting them.  Other sections vary in
value as well: DNA computing is presented very clearly, while
holographic memory is given only superficial treatment.  Most chapters
end with a very short glossary of related terms and vocabulary.

Although it hardly seems possible, the discussion of software, in
chapter two, is even worse.  A historical, rather than analytical,
account, the material doesn't even seem to be as informative as
trivia, and asserts questionable opinions as fact.  In view of the
title, "Wiring the World," it is ironic that more space is spent
discussing the wireless satellite and cellular technologies than any
type of cabling, in chapter three.  In any case, despite brief
mentions of important topics such as spectral pollution, the bulk of
this section reads like yet another "information superhighway"
magazine article.

Chapter four's coverage of lasers is much better: although the
introductory content is rather sensational, when the text gets down to
applications, the tutorial on what they do and why is reasonably
sound.  Similarly, genetic engineering gets a good overview in chapter
five.  (With the occasional glitch: after a solid outline of the
mechanics of DNA testing, the material fails to note that DNA
fingerprints are *not* necessarily unique, which is why they can be
used to prove innocence better than guilt.)  Chapter six is a brief
look at molecular biology, and falls back into stating what the
technology might be able to do, but not how.  Much the same is true of
the longer chapter seven, looking primarily at diagnostic imaging with
a short mention of bionics.  After a decent start on the basics of
materials science, chapter eight degenerates into a listing of some
neato substances we might see in the future.  Chapter nine begins with
some analysis of greenhouse gases and effects, but most of the content
is a political look at alternative energy sources.  A number of
environmental issues are briefly discussed in chapter ten.

As regular readers will no doubt be aware, I am wholly in sympathy
with the intent of this book.  The authors point out benefits to
technical literacy ranging from personal comfort to the importance of
correctly assessing new technologies in view of national and
international legislation.  However, it is difficult to have faith in
a tome with such fragile technical authority that it confuses asphalt
with cement.  I have reviewed many such works that attempt to fill
this important need.  I'm still waiting.

copyright Robert M. Slade, 2000   BKWHGIGI.RVW   20000305