In the wake of revelations about National Security Agency activities many of which occur in the cloud this book offers both enlightenment and a critical view. Cloud computing and big data are arguably the most significant forces in information technology today. In clear prose, To the Cloud explores where the cloud originated, what it means, and how important it is for business, government, and citizens. It describes the intense competition among cloud companies like Amazon and Google, the spread of the cloud to government agencies like the controversial NSA, and the astounding growth of entire cloud cities in China. From advertising to trade shows, the cloud and big data are furiously marketed to the world, even as dark clouds loom over environmental, privacy, and employment issues that arise from the cloud. Is the cloud the long-promised information utility that will solve many of the world s economic and social problems? Or is it just marketing hype? To the Cloud provides the first thorough analysis of the potential and the problems of a technology that may very well disrupt the world.

本书浅显易懂，以应用为取向，是全面综合地介绍大众传播研究方法的书籍。书中围绕所有形式的大众传媒进行论述、专门探讨研究方法在印刷媒体、广播电视媒体、公共关系和广告等方面的应用。内容包括数据与分析、数据收集、问卷设计、调查研究和定性研究以及社会科学变量的测量等。