Fate & Prediction

Fate & Prediction
Author: Fred Gettings
Publisher:
Total Pages: 500
Release: 1980
Genre: Body, Mind & Spirit
ISBN: 9780896730434

Probably Not

Probably Not
Author: Lawrence N. Dworsky
Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
Total Pages: 328
Release: 2008-05-23
Genre: Mathematics
ISBN: 0470282045

An engaging, entertaining, and informative introduction to probability and prediction in our everyday lives Although Probably Not deals with probability and statistics, it is not heavily mathematical and is not filled with complex derivations, proofs, and theoretical problem sets. This book unveils the world of statistics through questions such as what is known based upon the information at hand and what can be expected to happen. While learning essential concepts including "the confidence factor" and "random walks," readers will be entertained and intrigued as they move from chapter to chapter. Moreover, the author provides a foundation of basic principles to guide decision making in almost all facets of life including playing games, developing winning business strategies, and managing personal finances. Much of the book is organized around easy-to-follow examples that address common, everyday issues such as: How travel time is affected by congestion, driving speed, and traffic lights Why different gambling casino strategies ultimately offer players no advantage How to estimate how many different birds of one species are seen on a walk through the woods Seemingly random events—coin flip games, the Central Limit Theorem, binomial distributions and Poisson distributions, Parrando's Paradox, and Benford's Law—are addressed and treated through key concepts and methods in probability. In addition, fun-to-solve problems including "the shared birthday" and "the prize behind door number one, two, or three" are found throughout the book, which allow readers to test and practice their new probability skills. Requiring little background knowledge of mathematics, readers will gain a greater understanding of the many daily activities and events that involve random processes and statistics. Combining the mathematics of probability with real-world examples, Probably Not is an ideal reference for practitioners and students who would like to learn more about the role of probability and statistics in everyday decision making.

Seeing into the Future

Seeing into the Future
Author: Martin van Creveld
Publisher: Reaktion Books
Total Pages: 297
Release: 2020-09-07
Genre: History
ISBN: 1789142296

The ability to predict the future is essential to modern life. Planning for population growth or changes in weather patterns or forecasting demand for products and managing inventories would be impossible without it. But how have people through the ages gone about making predictions? What were their underlying assumptions, and what methods did they use? Have increased computer power and the newest algorithms improved our success in anticipating the future, or are we still only as good (or as bad) as our ancestors bent over their auguries? From the ancients watching the flight of birds to the murky activities of Google and Facebook today, Seeing into the Future provides vital insight into the past, present, and—of course—future of prediction.

Memory as Prediction

Memory as Prediction
Author: Tomaso Vecchi
Publisher: MIT Press
Total Pages: 211
Release: 2020-11-24
Genre: Psychology
ISBN: 0262361221

Theoretical reflections and analytical observations on memory and prediction, linking these concepts to the role of the cerebellum in higher cognition. What is memory? What is memory for? Where is memory in the brain? Although memory is probably the most studied function in cognition, these fundamental questions remain challenging. We can try to answer the question of memory's purpose by defining the function of memory as remembering the past. And yet this definition is not consistent with the many errors that characterize our memory, or with the phylogenetic and ontogenetic origin of memory. In this book, Tomaso Vecchi and Daniele Gatti argue that the purpose of memory is not to remember the past but to predict the future.

Science Fiction and the Prediction of the Future

Science Fiction and the Prediction of the Future
Author: Gary Westfahl
Publisher: McFarland
Total Pages: 271
Release: 2014-01-10
Genre: Literary Criticism
ISBN: 0786484764

Science fiction has always challenged readers with depictions of the future. Can the genre actually provide glimpses of the world of tomorrow? This collection of fifteen international and interdisciplinary essays examines the genre's predictions and breaks new ground by considering the prophetic functions of science fiction films as well as SF literature. Among the texts and topics examined are classic stories by Murray Leinster, C. L. Moore, and Cordwainer Smith; 2001: A Space Odyssey and its sequels, Japanese anime and Hong Kong cinema; and electronic fiction.

Economic Analysis of the Digital Economy

Economic Analysis of the Digital Economy
Author: Avi Goldfarb
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
Total Pages: 510
Release: 2015-05-08
Genre: Business & Economics
ISBN: 022620684X

There is a small and growing literature that explores the impact of digitization in a variety of contexts, but its economic consequences, surprisingly, remain poorly understood. This volume aims to set the agenda for research in the economics of digitization, with each chapter identifying a promising area of research. "Economics of Digitization "identifies urgent topics with research already underway that warrant further exploration from economists. In addition to the growing importance of digitization itself, digital technologies have some features that suggest that many well-studied economic models may not apply and, indeed, so many aspects of the digital economy throw normal economics in a loop. "Economics of Digitization" will be one of the first to focus on the economic implications of digitization and to bring together leading scholars in the economics of digitization to explore emerging research.

Predicting the Future

Predicting the Future
Author: Nicholas Rescher
Publisher: SUNY Press
Total Pages: 334
Release: 1998-01-01
Genre: Social Science
ISBN: 9780791435533

The future obviously matters to us. It is, after all, where we'll be spending the rest of our lives. We need some degree of foresight if we are to make effective plans for managing our affairs. Much that we would like to know in advance cannot be predicted. But a vast amount of successful prediction is nonetheless possible, especially in the context of applied sciences such as medicine, meteorology, and engineering. This book examines our prospects for finding out about the future in advance. It addresses questions such as why prediction is possible in some areas and not others; what sorts of methods and resources make successful prediction possible; and what obstacles limit the predictive venture. Nicholas Rescher develops a general theory of prediction that encompasses its fundamental principles, methodology, and practice and gives an overview of its promises and problems. Predicting the Future considers the anthropological and historical background of the predictive enterprise. It also examines the conceptual, epistemic, and ontological principles that set the stage for predictive efforts. In short, Rescher explores the basic features of the predictive situation and considers their broader implications in science, in philosophy, and in the management of our daily affairs.

Parable of the Talents

Parable of the Talents
Author: Octavia E. Butler
Publisher: Seven Stories Press
Total Pages: 374
Release: 1998
Genre: Fiction
ISBN: 9781888363814

Parable of the Talents celebrates the classic Butlerian themes of alienation and transcendence, violence and spirituality, slavery and freedom, separation and community, to astonishing effect, in the shockingly familiar, broken world of 2032. Long awaited, Parable of the Talents is the continuation of the travails of Lauren Olamina, the heroine of 1994's Nebula-Prize finalist, bestselling Parable of the Sower. Parable of the Talents is told in the voice of Lauren Olamina's daughter&...from whom she has been separated for most of the girl's life&...with sections in the form of Lauren's journal. Against a background of a war-torn continent, and with a far-right religious crusader in the office of the U.S. presidency, this is a book about a society whose very fabric has been torn asunder, and where the basic physical and emotional needs of people seem almost impossible to meet.

Zǐ Wēi Dòu Shù: Destiny Prediction the Chinese Way (English Edition)

Zǐ Wēi Dòu Shù: Destiny Prediction the Chinese Way (English Edition)
Author: Dr. Mauro Purnomo Rahardjo
Publisher: Bhuana Ilmu Populer
Total Pages: 600
Release: 2024-05-24
Genre: Reference
ISBN: 6230418614

The most important thing about the calculation of 紫微斗数 (Zǐ Wēi Dòu Shù) is the role of the 4 transformation stars called 四化曜 Sì Huà Yào, which becomes the elements of transformation of the main stars according to the passage of time. The transformation that occurs are colouring the dynamics of an individual's life based on the calculation of heavenly stem that mark the dimension of time from decade to decade, and year to year. The calculation of 紫微斗数 (Zǐ Wēi Dòu Shù) is easier to understand as it does not involve complex interpretations of the interactions between elements as is done in the Bazi calculation. The interpretation shown on the life chart is blunt or direct. First published in 2010, the Indonesian version of this book has becomes one of the best-sellers of its time. Years later, with the encouragement of the public, Feng Shui-loving friends, and clients, the Zǐ Wēi Dòu Shù book was re-published with a revised material for a more complete content and has finally been published in an English version. "This book is organized like an encyclopedia so that readers can look up the interpretations directly after knowing their 明盤 Míng Pán (Map of Life). In order to keep the information up-to-date, this book has been revised with the most obvious addition being the interpretations and meanings of the main stars which changes due to the 4 四化曜 Sì Huà Yào in each star. Hopefully this book can add insight, and improve the quality of life of its readers by achieving more luck and happiness, also by avoiding bad or unlucky influences by anticipating them in advance."

Predicting Chemical Toxicity and Fate

Predicting Chemical Toxicity and Fate
Author: Mark T.D. Cronin
Publisher: CRC Press
Total Pages: 474
Release: 2004-05-10
Genre: Science
ISBN: 9780203642627

Quantitative Structure-Activity Relationships (QSARs) are increasingly used to predict the harmful effects of chemicals to humans and the environment. The increased use of these methods in a variety of areas (academic, industrial, regulatory) results from a realization that very little toxicological or fate data is available on the vast amount of chemicals to which humans and the environment are exposed. Predicting Chemical Toxicity and Fate provides a comprehensive explanation of the state-of-the-art methods that are available to predict the effects of chemicals on humans and the environment. It describes the use of predictive methods to estimate the physiochemical properties, biological activities, and fate of chemicals. The methods described may be used to predict the properties of drugs before their development, and to predict the environmental effects of chemicals. These methods also reduce the cost of product development and the need for animal testing. This book fills an obvious need by providing a comprehensive explanation of these prediction methods. It is a practical book that illustrates the use of these techniques in real life scenarios. This book will demystify QSARs for those students unsure of them, and professionals in environmental toxicology and chemistry will find this a useful reference in their everyday working lives.