Most Popular Books by Sam Williams

Build artificial intelligence (AI) powered voice and text conversational interfaces with Amazon Key Features Develop Alexa Skills to create a working voice user interface (VUI) Integrate Amazon Lex chatbots into Facebook, Slack, and text messages Learn to use AWS Lambda, Alexa Skills Kit, and Amazon Lex Book DescriptionHave you ever wondered how Alexa apps are made, how voice-enabled technologies work, or how chatbots function? And why tech giants such as Amazon and Google are investing in voice technologies? A better question is: why should I start developing on these platforms? Hands-On Chatbot Development with Alexa Skills and Amazon Lex covers all features of the Alexa Skills kit with real-world examples that help you develop skills to integrate Echo and chatbots into Facebook, Slack, and Twilio with the Amazon Lex platform. The book starts with teaching you how to set up your local environment and AWS CLI so that you can automate the process of uploading AWS Lambda from your local machine. You will then learn to develop Alexa Skills and Lex chatbots using Lambda functions to control functionality. Once you’ve come to grips with this, you will learn to create increasingly complex chatbots, integrate Amazon S3, and change the way Alexa talks to the user. In the concluding chapters, we shift our focus to Amazon Lex and messaging chatbots. We will explore Alexa, learn about DynamoDB databases, and add cards to user conversations. By the end of this book, you will have explored a full set of technologies that will enable you to create your own voice and messaging chatbots using Amazon. What you will learn Create a development environment using Alexa Skills Kit, AWS CLI, and Node.js Build Alexa Skills and Lex chatbots from scratch Gain access to third-party APIs from your Alexa Skills and Lex chatbots Use AWS services such as Amazon S3 and DynamoDB to enhance the abilities of your Alexa Skills and Amazon Lex chatbots Publish a Lex chatbot to Facebook Messenger, Twilio SMS, and Slack Create a custom website for your Lex chatbots Develop your own skills for Alexa-enabled devices such as the Echo Who this book is for Hands-On Chatbot Development with Alexa Skills and Amazon Lex is for developers who are interested in building conversational bots and Alexa skills with Amazon. Prior experience with JavaScript programming is required.

Free as in Freedom interweaves biographical snapshots of GNU project founder Richard Stallman with the political, social and economic history of the free software movement. It examines Stallman''s unique personality and how that personality has been at turns a driving force and a drawback in terms of the movement''s overall success.Free as in Freedom examines one man''s 20-year attempt to codify and communicate the ethics of 1970s era "hacking" culture in such a way that later generations might easily share and build upon the knowledge of their computing forebears. The book documents Stallman''s personal evolution from teenage misfit to prescient adult hacker to political leader and examines how that evolution has shaped the free software movement. Like Alan Greenspan in the financial sector, Richard Stallman has assumed the role of tribal elder within the hacking community, a community that bills itself as anarchic and averse to central leadership or authority. How did this paradox come about? Free as in Freedom provides an answer. It also looks at how the latest twists and turns in the software marketplace have diminished Stallman''s leadership role in some areas while augmenting it in others.Finally, Free as in Freedom examines both Stallman and the free software movement from historical viewpoint. Will future generations see Stallman as a genius or crackpot? The answer to that question depends partly on which side of the free software debate the reader currently stands and partly upon the reader''s own outlook for the future. 100 years from now, when terms such as "computer," "operating system" and perhaps even "software" itself seem hopelessly quaint, will Richard Stallman''s particular vision of freedom still resonate, or will it have taken its place alongside other utopian concepts on the ''ash-heap of history?''

Few scientific topics since the theory of biological evolution have inspired as much controversy as artificial intelligence has. Even now, fifty years after the term first made its appearance in academic journals, many philosophers and more than a few prominent scientists and software programmers dismiss the pursuit of thinking machines as the modern-day equivalent of medieval alchemists’ hunt for the philosopher’s stone-a pursuit based more on faith than on skeptical inquiry. In Arguing A.I., journalist Sam Williams charts both the history of artificial intelligence from its scientific and philosophical roots and the history of the A.I. debate. He examines how and why the tenor of the debate has changed over the last half-decade in particular, as scientists are struggling to take into account the latest breakthroughs in computer science, information technology, and human biology. For every voice predicting machines like 2001’s HAL within the next twenty to thirty years, others have emerged with more pessimistic forecasts. From artificial intelligence’s pioneers John McCarthy and Marvin Minsky, to futurist authors Ray Kurzweil and Hans Moravec, to software architects Bill Joy and Jaron Lanier, Arguing A.I. introduces readers to the people participating in the current debate, both proponents and critics of A.I. who are changing the way computers “think” and the way we think about computers. Ultimately, Arguing A.I. is as much a history of thought as it is a history of science. Williams notes that many of the questions plaguing modern scientists and software programmers are the same questions that have concerned scientists and philosophers since time immemorial: What are the fundamental limitations of science and scientific inquiry? What is the nature of intelligence? And, most important, what does it really mean to be human?

To Transform a City is a valuable guide for those who dream big about the spiritual and social changes possible for the cities and towns that surround their churches. Two visionary leaders examine the foundations, history, theology, and practical methods of community transformation.

Exterior stains for wood protect the wood surface from sunlight and moisture. Because stains are formulated to penetrate the wood surface, they are not prone to crack or peel as can film-forming finishes, such as paints. This publication describes the properties of stains and wood, methods for applying stains, and the expected service life of stains.

Updated for 2020. Sharing is sometimes hard for young students. This book talks about different ways to share and get along better with classmates and friends.

Featuring 24 pages of colorful illustrations with a fictional story and supporting vocabulary, It''s My Turn introduces young readers to punctuation, sight words, and reading comprehension skills. Little Birdie Books provide a fun, informative way to approach essential educational skills. These age-appropriate readers engage early learners by using simple language and appealing topics while also featuring helpful sections like Words to Know Before You Read, Comprehension & Extension activities, and more.

Featuring 24 pages of colorful illustrations with a fictional story and supporting vocabulary, I''m the Boss introduces young readers to punctuation, sight words, and reading comprehension skills. Little Birdie Books provide a fun, informative way to approach essential educational skills. These age-appropriate readers engage early learners by using simple language and appealing topics while also featuring helpful sections like Words to Know Before You Read, Comprehension & Extension activities, and more.

Water repellents and water-repellent preservatives increase the durability of wood by enabling the wood to repel liquid water. This report focuses on water-repellent finishes for wood exposed outdoors above ground. The report includes a discussion of the effects of outdoor exposure on wood, the characteristics of water repellent and water-repellent preservative formulations, and methods for applying these finishes.

Welcome to Noah’s Park! From celebrated author and illustrator Sam Williams comes a brand-new board book series for preschoolers about a group of cute, cuddly critters who meet each day for a new adventure. In this first book, it’s time to paint at the Art Barn! A sweet board book series with irresistible art, this book is perfect for preschoolers looking to see their own first experiences mirrored with these new friends.

Welcome to Noah’s Park! From celebrated author and illustrator Sam Williams comes the second book in a brand-new board book series for preschoolers about a group of cute, cuddly critters who meet each day for a new adventure. In this second book, it’s Jungle Gym time! A sweet board book series with irresistible art, this book is perfect for preschoolers looking to see their own first experiences mirrored with these new friends.

The cute critters of Noah''s Park enjoy a boat trip, stopping to share their snacks with a family of ducklings.