LESKO'S NEW TECH SOURCEBOOK

by Matthew Lesko ‧ RELEASE DATE: Jan. 22, 1985

Owing mainly to hit-or-miss accessibility, the ambitious reach of this directory to sources of technological information far exceeds its grasp. Under more than 150 master headings, which range from Acoustics through X-ray Technology, the author (who heads a consultancy called Information USA) and his staff have logged roughly 5,000 contact possibilities, including corporations, educational institutions, industry associations, individual authorities (willing to deal with the public), professional societies, publications, research centers, and related resources. While Lesko's listings encompass a few low-tech entries, the text fairly bristles with buzzword subjects--Artificial Intelligence, Cybernetics, Ergonomics, Fiber Optics, Holography, Modems, Nuclear Medicine, Office Automation, Peripherals, Robotics, Voice Recognition, et al. Unfortunately, using Lesko's directory is not unlike trying to outguess a telephone company's Yellow Pages. By way of example, the Semiconductors section provides cross references to Gallium Arsenide and Microelectronics (but not to either Chips and Integrated Circuits or Silicon). Likewise, the Fuels, Alternative section, which offers no alternative sources, is itself cited (indirectly as well as directly) under such separate headings as Biomass/Bioconversion, Geothermal Power, Photovoltaics, Solar Technology, Waste Utilization, and Wind Energy. Discontinuities of the same sort could baffle those in search of expertise on other state. of-the-art subjects. Nor is Lesko's unsystematic approach confined to classification. In some cases, inconsistent addresses and phone numbers are given in different categories for the same trade magazines. In addition, the alphabetizing of major entries can be idiosyncratic. In brief, then, a wealth of up-to-date data on information sources, catalogued and presented in a format that takes a lot of getting used to.

Pub Date: Jan. 22, 1985

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: -

Publisher: Harper & Row

Review Posted Online: N/A

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Jan. 1, 1985

Categories: NONFICTION