The push to move products to market as quickly and cheaply as possible is fiercer than ever, and accordingly, engineers are always looking for new ways to provide their companies with the edge over the competition. Field-Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs), which are faster, denser, and more cost-effective than traditional programmable logic...

This book investigates various drivers of innovation within small businesses, as well as the role that innovation plays in creating value in small businesses. The analysis suggests that additions in employee headcount increase innovation while growth in sales does not increase innovation. The analysis also finds that increases in research and...

Build a powerful and invincible robot--for full-blown competition or just for fun--using this authoritative robot resource. This team of experts gives you an inside look at the innovative new world of robotic combat, explaining the origins of the sport as well as all the...

Fluctuating customer requirements and competitive forces are putting more pressure on sales professionals. If you work in complex sales, you know that it’s the most competitive and lucrative arena in the sales world. But setting yourself apart from the competition is tough. Success demands superior strategies and precise execution. If the...

The phenomenal success of the iPhone and the iPod touch has ushered in a “gold rush” for developers, but with well over 100,000 apps in the highly competitive App Store, it has become increasingly difficult for new apps to stand out in the crowd. Achieving consumer awareness and sales longevity for your iPhone app requires a lot...

Do you think that your website could do with more visual appeal? Are you looking to spice it up with attractive designs and effects? Enter Inkscape 0.48 Essentials for Web Designers--the only book specifically tailored to using Inkscape for web design. This book will teach you how to effectively use the fascinating new Inkscape vector...

Some of the main spice-producing areas are listed in Appendix 2 at the end of this chapter. The current annual global trade in spices is 6–7 lakh tonnes valued at US$3–3.5 billion. The value of the spice trade is particularly dependent on pepper prices as pepper remains the main spice in international trade. The global spice trade...