This book discusses the technology behind portals and grid networks, describes grid technology's evolution, and helps readers make managerial decisions. It has 18 chapters and is divided into four sections. "The Toolset," consisting of three chapters, gives readers basic knowledge necessary to read the rest of the sections. In Section II, entitled "Web Services as Shared Resources," the authors describe web services in terms of a multi-tier architecture and discuss implementation. Section III, "Putting Portals on the Web," associates portals with web services, and thoroughly describes portals, including historical background, development framework, application platforms, maintenance, and management. The final section, "Grids as Virtual Organizations," covers grid goals, grid networks and applications, and web services as grid platforms. The book could be more reader-friendly by making sure all acronyms are escorted by their full names the first time they appear and providing more explanation of new ideas and concepts. Despite the slight flaws, the book is an excellent read and recommended for project managers, web architects, and IT students.

This book addresses a wide spectrum of issues in technical communication, ranging from specific visual elements to the entire research process, from brief memos to formal proposals. Part I, "Communication in the Workplace," starts with how to prepare an effective technical document and deliver the essential information. In Part II, "The Research Process," the author outlines both the procedural and the inquiry stages of the research. Part III, "Structural and Style Elements," focuses on strategies for organizing and conveying messages that users can follow and understand: partitioning and classifying, outlining, storyboarding, paragraphing, sequencing, chunking, and creating an overview. Part IV, "Visual, Design, and Usability Elements," further enhances the discussion in Part II about technical documents. The author talks about the rhetorical implications of graphics and page design so that readers can learn to enhance a document's access, appeal, and visual impact for audiences. Part V, "Specific Documents and Applications," is a rich "think tank" of applications in technical communications. The author offers instructions on almost all the writing styles you can think of - from memos, instant messages, and webpages, to resumes, letters, and proposals. The last part, "A Brief Handbook with Addition Sample Documents," has three appendices that once again address the writing process, editing, and research findings documentation. Readers can also find a wealth of resources on the book's companion website: www.alongman.com/lannonweb. This book presents a panorama of technical communication, providing readers with a look at every aspect of this profession. It is not only a comprehensive textbook for classroom teaching, but also a valuable reference book for instructors and working professionals.