Acknowledgments

Writing a book of any type takes time, research, and assistance from a variety of sources. From those who support and encourage you in the effort to those who beat you like a rented mule when the gears are not turning, each plays a critical role in arriving at a finished product. To this end, initial thanks go to God Almighty for the grace and wisdom provided over the course of the project. Next, my deepest thanks go to Laura Lewin, executive editor with Pearson Technology Group and Addison-Wesley Professional, who provided the opportunity and oversight. Laura pushed me hard to keep the effort on track and at a high standard. Heartfelt thanks also go to the editorial and production teams. Songlin Qiu was the detail-oriented development editor, and Olivia Basegio, editorial assistant, provided crucial support across all activities leading to publication.

This book has also been heavily influenced by a technical review panel; Victor Luo from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Yuval Boger of Sensics, Inc., Eric Maslowski of the University of Michigan’s UM3D Lab, and Carl Wakeland, a Fellow at Advanced Micro Devices, Inc... Your insights, recommendations, corrections, and willingness to share your time and expertise are graciously appreciated.

To my friends and colaborers, including Steven “1234” Harris, Peter and Sonya, John and Stacy, Bernie and Naomi, as well as the rest of my friends at HCBC, thank you for your encouragement and prayers.

And to my family: it has been said that gratitude is when memory is stored in the heart and not the mind. Know that you have filled both.