Education
http://www.akiti.ca/Mathfxns.html
This outstanding collection of online mathematical utilities allows users to perform fairly complex computations based upon calculus, linear algebra, quadratic programming, and trigonometry. Each utility is presented its own Webpage, which includes a brief description of the purpose of the utility and instructions about how to use it. An interesting discussion about computer precision is also provided, explaining how accurately numerical data can be represented on a computer. Two papers on quadratic programming are available for download as well. [CL]
In this montage of seemingly unrelated online games and educational activities are two items worth noting. The first is called Math Mission, which helps the user practice basic arithmetic in an adventure to re-supply the International Space Station. Math Mission consists of seven animated, interactive modules that put the user in the copilot position and lead him or her through a series of calculations to determine the right amount of supplies to load and distribute. The second activity of interest is Eye in the Sky, which gives users an overview of satellites. Specifically, the Navstar Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite network is explored, and the process of building a satellite and sending it into orbit is discussed. [CL]
http://www.ee.washington.edu/research/microtech/cam/PROCESSES/NEWtutorial.html
Thirteen tutorials developed by the Electrical Engineering Department at the University of Washington are presented on this site. The documents are intended to give students and other interested people with a familiarity of electrical engineering principles and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) an overview of microfabrication, as well as "a little semiconductor background, and history." Some of the topics that are covered include photolithography, photoresists, and vacuum systems, to name a few. There is also an especially interesting tutorial on clean room design and operation. [CL]
Anyone who wants to put their math skills to the test will find this site holds many formidable challenges. The collection of puzzles tests visitors' knowledge of "geometry, probability, number theory, algebra, calculus, and logic." Each puzzle is accompanied by a page of hints and a fully worked solution. The site's maintainer states that a pre-college math background is usually sufficient, but practiced mathematicians will likely be stumped on occasion. A new puzzle is added roughly once a week. [CL]
http://crca.ucsd.edu/~msp/techniques.htm
A music professor from the University of California at San Diego, Miller Puckette, is in the process of writing a book on electronic music, and the draft version can be found on this site. The book "is about using electronic techniques to record, synthesize, process, and analyze musical sounds." It focuses exclusively on the use of computers and computer music tools in the creation and composition of electronic music. The properties of digital audio signals, sampling and modulating audio streams, and computational techniques are all covered in the book. Although it is only in an early draft form, this online book already has a tremendous amount of information and will be a valuable reference when complete. Material related to the book, including conference papers and audio examples, can be found on Puckette's homepage. [CL]
http://www.mindview.net/Books/TIJ/
This highly acclaimed online book is intended to provide a thorough introduction to the Java programming language. Spanning sixteen chapters plus appendices, Thinking in Java should be sufficient for all but the most advanced or obscure topics. The book covers the basics of objects, coding style, error handling, the Java input/output system, creating graphical user interfaces, and much more. The full text can be downloaded as a compressed file with additional source code to be used as examples and experimented with. Other electronic books written by the same author are also available on this site and cover C++, Python, and more. [CL]
Educational material for courses in algebra, trigonometry, calculus I, and calculus II can be found at this unique site. Users can navigate between topics within each of these four subjects by using a visual index, which is "a graphical means of showing how different concepts relate to each other." This can help students understand the importance of one topic and its applications in another topic. The algebra section can be browsed in three different instruction levels, ranging from middle school to college level algebra. [CL]
http://www.unece.org/highlights/internet_guide/ig_index.htm
This online guide, published by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, aims to "lead teenagers to discover the Net and show them how they can use the World Wide Web in a safe and fun manner." The guide is presented from a fictional standpoint of four students who met on a foreign exchange program. Upon returning to their respective countries, the students learn to use the Internet to stay in contact with each other. Leading them on their journey into cyberspace is their professor, with whom they had all studied under during the exchange program. Many Internet essentials are covered, including netiquette, safe online practices and scam identification, features of the Web, and more. The 64-page document is available in English, French, Spanish, and Russian versions. [CL]
