The Elements of Computing Style: 200+ Tips for Busy Knowledge Workers - Paperback

by Diomidis Spinellis (Author)

The Elements of Computing Style deals with the effective use of computing technology: a work style that can readily increase your productivity. Bookstore shelves are full of beginners' guides and software-specific manuals. These, occasionally useful, books won't help you if you're already versant in computer technology but use it in a suboptimal way, wasting your valuable time performing repetitive tasks or struggling with easily avoidable problems. Computing style is what distinguishes a computer expert from a user who just gets by. Although following a few tips won't make you a computing guru, you can readily bridge a large part of the productivity gap between you and an expert by following this book's advice. The 200+ tips included in the book can provide 80% of an expert's effectiveness.

The text covers all aspects of computing use: computer-related work habits; web searching and surfing; email handling and etiquette; working with documents, spreadsheets, and presentations; essential advice on typography, data management, security, privacy, and digital preservation; travelling; IT equipment; system administration; ergonomics; entertainment. Most professionals, even seasoned computer users, fail to use computing technology in its full potential. This short book provides specific advice that delivers immediate improvements in effectiveness and job performance.

Through this book's 200+ tips you will learn things like the following.

• How can I finish a lengthy report on time?
• How can I automate the handling of my email?
• Why are email's blind carbon copies an invitation to a disaster?
• Which keyboard shortcuts can I use to speed-up my work?
• How can I simplify my spreadsheets?
• What makes an effective presentation?
• How can I ensure I'll be able to access my files in twenty years?
• What should I pack before a trip?

Author Biography

Diomidis Spinellis, a Professor in the Department of Management Science and Technology at AUEB, has lectured on the book's topics at the University's International MBA program. He has also worked as a site reliability engineering senior software engineer for Google, he has served as the Secretary General for Information Systems at the Greek Ministry of Finance, and has consulted for Fortune 500 companies. He holds an MEng in Software Engineering and a PhD in Computer Science, both from Imperial College London. Spinellis has published two award-winning, widely-translated books on code reading and code quality in Addison-Wesley's "Effective Programming Series" as well as more than 200 technical papers in journals and refereed conference proceedings, which have received thousands of citations. His article on the Greek wiretapping case made the front page of the IEEE flagship publication Spectrum. He is a member of the IEEE Software magazine editorial board where he is authoring the regular "Tools of the Trade" column.