History of Wireless

Features

• Cover Type: Hard Cover with 680 pages
• Published by: Wiley-IEEE Press January 17, 2006
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 0471718149
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-0471718147
• Book Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 1.5 inches
• Weighs: 2.4 pounds

Product Review
"This insightful, well written volume will appeal to a broad scientific audience and is sure to become a classic in its field." (Instrumentation and Technology, November/December 2006)

"Well-illustrated with numerous chapter referencesrecommended." (CHOICE, July 2006)

"this book succeeds in challenging traditional assumptions about the origins and growth of wireless while painting an impressive and character-filled history of the technology." (Microwaves & RF Notepad)

"This insightful, well written volume will appeal to a broad scientific audience and is sure to become a classic in its field." (Instrumentation and Technology, November/December 2006) "Well-illustrated with numerous chapter referencesrecommended." (CHOICE, July 2006) "this book succeeds in challenging traditional assumptions about the origins and growth of wireless while painting an impressive and character-filled history of the technology." (Microwaves & RF Notepad)

Product Description
Important new insights into how various components and systems evolved

Premised on the idea that one cannot know a science without knowing its history, History of Wireless offers a lively new treatment that introduces previously unacknowledged pioneers and developments, setting a new standard for understanding the evolution of this important technology.

Starting with the background-magnetism, electricity, light, and Maxwell's Electromagnetic Theory-this book offers new insights into the initial theory and experimental exploration of wireless. In addition to the well-known contributions of Maxwell, Hertz, and Marconi, it looks at work done by Heaviside, Tesla, and passionate amateurs such as the Kentucky melon farmer Nathan Stubblefield and the unsung hero Antonio Meucci. Looking at the story from mathematical, physics, technical, and other perspectives, the clearly written text describes the development of wireless within a vivid scientific milieu.

History of Wireless also goes into other key areas, including:

• The work of J. C. Bose and J. A. Fleming
• German, Japanese, and Soviet contributions to physics and applications of electromagnetic oscillations and waves
• Wireless telegraphic and telephonic development and attempts to achieve transatlantic wireless communications
• Wireless telegraphy in South Africa in the early twentieth century
• Antenna development in Japan: past and present
• Soviet quasi-optics at near-mm and sub-mm wavelengths
• The evolution of electromagnetic waveguides
• The history of phased array antennas

Augmenting the typical, Marconi-centered approach, History of Wireless fills in the conventionally accepted story with attention to more specific, less-known discoveries and individuals, and challenges traditional assumptions about the origins and growth of wireless. This allows for a more comprehensive understanding of how various components and systems evolved. Written in a clear tone with a broad scientific audience in mind, this exciting and thorough treatment is sure to become a classic in the field.

Reader Reviews
This is a collection, and the quality of the articles varies widely. Some of the folks are, to be blunt, poor writers of English and could have used some serious editing. On the other hand, several of the authors have the kind of solid understanding of the technical issues -- electromagnetic theory in this case -- that a popular journalist rarely brings to the table. The book starts with a huge chronology, which is of course a bit dull to plod through, but contains a number of remarkable revelations -- e.g. the first ideas about radar are much earlier than you would have thought! There are a couple of interesting discussions about Maxwell and his work, which conveniently provide his actual (scalar) equations in modern notation. Features are also provided on Heaviside, Hertz, Tesla, and other luminaries. Worthwhile for the scholar or serious student of the history of science, but not likely to be accessible for those looking for a quick read.