Book excerpt: Electronics and Communications for Scientists and Engineers, Second Edition offers a valuable and unique overview on the basics of electronic technology and the internet. Class-tested over many years with students at Northwestern University, this useful text covers the essential topics of electronics and communications that need to be understood by students and practitioners in various engineering fields, physics, chemistry, and other applied sciences. It describes the electronic underpinnings of the World Wide Web and explains the basics of digital technology, including computing and communications, ranging from circuits, analog and digital electronics, as well as special topics such as operational amplifiers, data compression, ultra high definition TV, artificial intelligence, and quantum computers. All chapters updated and expanded where appropriate New problems added throughout the text Updated section included on RLC circuits Revised and new content in Chapters 7, 8, and 9 on digital systems, showing the many changes and rapid progress in these areas since 2000