
This updated bestseller provides an introduction to programming interactive computer graphics, with an emphasis on game development using DirectX 11. The book is divided into three main parts: basic mathematical tools, fundamental tasks in Direct3D, and techniques and special effects. It includes new Direct3D 11 features such as hardware tessellation and the compute shader, and covers advanced rendering techniques such as ambient occlusion, normal and displacement mapping, shadow rendering, particle systems, and character animation. Includes a companion DVD with code and figures. Brief Table of Contents: Part I Mathematical Prerequisites. Vector Algebra. Matrix Algebra. Transformations. Part II Direct3D Foundations. Direct3D Initialization. The Rendering Pipeline. Drawing in Direct3D. Lighting. Texturing. Blending. Stenciling. The Geometry Shader. The Compute Shader. The Tessellation Stages. Part III Direct3D Topics. Building a First Person Camera. Instancing and Frustum Culling. Picking. Cube Mapping. Normal and Displacement Mapping. Terrain Rendering. Particle Systems and Stream-Out. Shadow Mapping. Ambient Occlusion. Meshes. Quaternions. Character Animation. Appendices. Introduction to Windows Programming. High-Level Shading Language Reference. Some Analytic Geometry. Selected solutions. Features: +Provides an introduction to programming interactive computer graphics, with an emphasis on game development using DirectX 11 +Covers new Direct3D 11 features +Includes companion DVD with source code and 4-color graphics
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Make lightning in your room! Keep paper dry under water! Lose weight by going upstairs! See colors that aren't there! Experience the magic of science with these quick, easy experiments and activities from Jean Potter. You can complete each activity in ten fun-filled minutes or less. Clear, step-by-step instructions and illustrations help you get it right every time. The projects help you learn about everything from why eggs aren't round to how submarines surface and submerge. You will find most of the required materials already in your home, backyard, or neighborhood, and you can perform the experiments practically anywhere. The 108 activities in this book cover twelve different subject areas, including air, animals, energy, gravity, magnetism, light, the human body, and much more. You'll make a rainbow right on your floor, pop a balloon with a magnifying glass, make a coffee can roll back to you after you've pushed it away, and bend water as it streams from your faucet--all with the help of a leading educator. Children Ages 8-12
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Ms. Frizzle?s class has been studying the senses. But they?re in for a real lesson when assistant principle Mr. Wilde ends up behind the wheel of the magic School Bus. He and the kids take an amazing ride into the eye of a passing policeman, the ear of a child, and the nose of a dog! On the way they learn facts about sight, hearing, smell, touch and taste. But how will they get back to school with the Friz?
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Ecotopia embodies in concrete, practical form the new biology-conscious philosophy that has been evolving in recent years, especially on the West Coast. The setting is the early 21st century. Ecotopia, made up of what was once Northern California, Oregon, and Washington, has been independent for several decades. At last, an official visitor from New York is admitted: Will Weston, top investigative reporter. Like a modern Gulliver, Weston is sometimes horrified sometimes impressed despite himself, and sometimes touched by the strange practices he encounters--which include ritual war games, collective ownership and operation of farms and factories, and an attention to trees and reforestation which borders on tree-worship. With beautiful new cover art and a new introduction by the author, this thirtieth anniversary edition of Ecotopia will delight old fans and new, and make a perfect gift for anyone who has ever asked the question, ''How can I make a difference?''
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Neil Postman is one of the most level-headed analysts of education, media, and technology, and in this book he spells out the increasing dependence upon technology, numerical quantification, and misappropriation of "Scientism" to all human affairs. No simple technophobe, Postman argues insightfully and writes with a stylistic flair, profound sense of humor, and love of language increasingly rare in our hastily scribbled e-mail-saturated world.
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To learn a Japanese martial art is to learn Zen, and although you can't do so simply by reading a book, it sure does help--especially if that book is The Book of Five Rings. One of Japan's great samurai sword masters penned in decisive, unfaltering terms this certain path to victory, and like Sun Tzu's The Art of War it is applicable not only on the battlefield but also in all forms of competition. Always observant, creating confusion, striking at vulnerabilities--these are some of the basic principles. Going deeper, we find suki, the interval of vulnerability, of indecisiveness, of rest, the briefest but most vital moment to strike. In succinct detail, Miyamoto records ideal postures, blows, and psychological tactics to put the enemy off guard and open the way for attack. Most important of all is Miyamoto's concept of rhythm, how all things are in harmony, and that by working with the rhythm of a situation we can turn it to our advantage with little effort. But like Zen, this requires one task above all else, putting the book down and going out to practice. --Brian Bruya
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Illus. in full color & full-color photos. "The story of Apollo II's historic flight, from lift-off, through 'The Eagle has landed,' to splashdown and quarantine. Donnelly does a good job of setting the stage with chapters on the history of the idea of flight to the moon, astronaut selection and training, and look at the flight's effect on people in general."--School Library Journal.
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Few entrepreneurs can claim to have actually changed the way we live, but Ray Kroc is one of them. His revolutions in food service automation, franchising, shared national training and advertising have earned him a place beside the men who founded not merely businesses but entire new industries.But even more interesting than Ray Kroc the business legend is Ray Kroc the man. Not your typical self-made tycoon, Kroc was 52 when he met the McDonald brothers and opened his first franchise. Now meet Ray Kroc, the man behind the business legend, in his own words. Irrepressible enthusiast, perceptive people-watcher, and born storyteller, he will fascinate and inspire you. You'll never forget Ray Kroc.
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Greg makes fascinating discoveries about things he finds at home when he looks at them through his new microscope. `An accurate and entertaining book for beginning independent readers.' 'BL.
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