The interaction paradigm provides a new conceptualization of computational phenomena that emphasizes interaction rather than algorithms, thus reflecting the shift in technology from number-crunching on mainframes to distributed intelligent networks with graphical user interfaces. Editors Goldin, Smolka and Wegner have structured 18 contributions from distinguished researchers into four sections: "Introduction", consisting of three chapters that explore and summarize the fundamentals of interactive computation; "Theory" with six chapters, each discussing a specific aspect of interaction; "Applications" showing in five chapters how this principle is applied in various subdisciplines of computer science; and "New Directions" presenting four multidisciplinary applications beyond computer science. The book challenges traditional Turing machine-based answers to fundamental questions relating to problem solving and the scope of computation. Assuming the reader has only an undergraduate-level background in computer science, it serves as an introduction to this increasingly important discipline.
The interaction paradigm is a new conceptualization of computational phenomena that emphasizes interaction over algorithms, reflecting the shift in technology from main-frame number-crunching to distributed intelligent networks with graphical user interfaces. The book is arranged in four sections: "Introduction", comprising three chapters that explore and summarize the fundamentals of interactive computation; "Theory" with six chapters, each discussing a specific aspect of interaction; "Applications," five chapters showing how this principle is applied in subdisciplines of computer science; and "New Directions," presenting four multidisciplinary applications. The book challenges traditional Turing machine-based answers to fundamental questions of problem solving and the scope of computation.
From the reviews:
"It is interesting that a book on interactive computation is constructed as a large cooperative effort involving 31 contributors; three of them also performed the editing task. ? Each section appears to be self contained--one may read in detail a chapter of personal interest in the middle of the book without having reference other material in the book. Each chapter has an excellent self-contained collection of references. ? Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through professionals." (J. Beidler, CHOICE, Vol. 44 (9), May, 2007)
