- Table View
- List View
Absolute Essentials of Public Relations (Absolute Essentials of Business and Economics)
by Barbara Desanto Danny MossAbsolute Essentials of Public Relations offers a valuable quick-start introduction to the many facets and forms of public relations theory and practice. It explores contemporary public relations through multiple lenses by focusing on what public relations essentially comprises, how it has come into existence, what contexts public relations works within, what tools and techniques professionals can deploy, and how professionals assess and justify the outcomes of their work.Divided into two parts – Concepts and Theories, and Applications and Specialisms – the book covers the fundamental theories and concepts and their application in contemporary practice, which together broadly reflect the typical syllabus content for undergraduate, postgraduate, and post-experience introductory courses in public relations. The topics covered in both sections are complemented by mini cases, which showcase academic and professional insights into practice.Offering a concise and approachable alternative to the mainstream, more heavyweight textbooks available, this book provides a comprehensive introduction to public relations theory and practice.
Abstimmungskampagnen: Politikvermittlung in der Referendumsdemokratie
by Klaus Kamps Heike ScholtenDie Anforderungen an die Politikvermittlung steigen. Um politisch komplexe Themen einer breiten politischen Öffentlichkeit verständlich zu machen, ist der wachsende Zugriff auf Emotionalisierung und Personalisierung zu beobachten. Nicht selten rückt das eigentliche Thema dabei in den Hintergrund. In Demokratien, in denen direktdemokratische Verfahren die politische Praxis bestimmen, verhält sich das anders. Hier werden die politischen Akteure quasi gezwungen das politische Sachgeschehen rechtzeitig und verständlich zu erklären und ihre Positionen zu begründen. ,,Politische Kampagnen in der Referendumsdemokratie" möchte die professionalisierten Kompetenzen in der politischen Kampagnenführung von Akteuren, die politische Kampagnen regelmäßig unter den Bedingungen einer ,,traditionellen" Referendumsdemokratie führen, für Dritte aufarbeiten.
Abstract Entity Anaphora in Argumentative Texts: Pragmatic Features and Referent Interpretation
by Donghong LiuThis book focuses on abstract entity anaphora in argumentative texts with Asher’s (1993) Segmented Discourse Representation Theory (SDRT) as the theoretical framework, investigating its pragmatic features and exploring its referent interpretation. The data sources include more than 160,000-word argumentative texts (80,000-word English texts and 80,000-word Chinese ones) selected from newspapers, journals, and books in China and America. At first, a comparative study was done between Chinese and English argumentative texts so as to compare the pragmatic features of abstract entity anaphora in the two languages. Then, referent interpretation is explored within the SDRT framework. Although SDRT can account for most of the instances of abstract entity anaphora, it appears incompetent in dealing with some phenomena in the data of our study. Seven problems in SDRT were found, and corresponding solutions were proposed in an attempt to improve this theory. In general, this book has three aspects of significance. Firstly, it establishes abstract entity anaphora as an independent and a special kind of anaphora. Secondly, the research methods are the combination of empirical study and theoretical hypotheses as well as the coalescent of dynamic study and static study. Thirdly, the book is not limited to the application of SDRT to Mandarin Chinese and backward anaphora. Instead, based on the linguistic phenomena in the data, it challenges and improves the theory, and it even negates some aspects and meanwhile brings forward new solutions.
Abundance Leaders: Creating Energy, Joy, and Productivity in an Unsettled World
by Laura Freebairn-SmithTransform your ability to lead others with an abundance leadership mindset In Abundance Leaders: Creating Energy, Joy, and Productivity in an Unsettled World, renowned management consultant and lecturer Laura Freebairn-Smith delivers a rigorous and practical discussion of energetic, joyful, and productive leadership. In the book, you’ll learn what sets leaders with an “abundance mindset” apart from those with a “scarcity mindset,” and why the former creates work environments that generate superior performance when compared to those created by the latter. The author comprehensively explains the Abundance Leadership Model and convincingly demonstrates how it leads to immediate and tangible improvements in productivity and employee wellbeing. You’ll also find: A list of 26 distinct behaviors that signal a manager or executive is working in an abundance leadership mindset Strategies for leading bravely, making big, impactful promises, and aligning your organization around its purpose Ways to shape the culture at your organization in ways that drive dramatic improvements to the bottom line and worker satisfaction An essential resource for managers, executives, board members, and other business leaders, Abundance Leaders will also earn a place in the libraries of anyone with an interest in leadership or organizational culture.
Academic Advancement in Composition Studies: Scholarship, Publication, Promotion, Tenure
by Richard C. Gebhardt Barbara Genelle Smith GebhardtThis volume deals with a number of related issues that are becoming increasingly crucial for English studies during this time when most faculty in the field are assistant professors approaching tenure review or associate professors seeking promotion. These critical issues focus on: * The diversity of research and scholarly publication in composition studies; * The fact that composition studies faculty are often evaluated by personnel committee members, department chairs, and deans unfamiliar with the nature and demands of the field; * The way that American higher education is rethinking "scholarship" and the role it plays in the work and evaluation of faculty members; and * The role composition studies faculty can play in this review of scholarship and professional advancement. This book seeks to address the entire spectrum of "composition studies" -- expository and argumentative writing, personal essay, literary nonfiction, technical and business writing, historical rhetoric, empirical research, and more -- by understanding the nature of and evaluating the work of faculty members in this broad field. Scholarship and advancement issues are discussed in a variety of situations including basic and regular first-year composition classes at four-year and two-year institutions or writing centers, advanced writing courses, ESL and skills-development programs, and writing classes and programs for teachers, administrators, and researchers. The chapters focus on a variety of subjects, including the importance of mentoring and faculty development in all departments and institutions; and how young scholar-teachers and assistant professors can prepare for a successful personnel or tenure review.
Academic Advancement in Composition Studies: Scholarship, Publication, Promotion, Tenure
by Richard C. Gebhardt Barbara Genelle Smith GebhardtThis volume deals with a number of related issues that are becoming increasingly crucial for English studies during this time when most faculty in the field are assistant professors approaching tenure review or associate professors seeking promotion. These critical issues focus on: * The diversity of research and scholarly publication in composition studies; * The fact that composition studies faculty are often evaluated by personnel committee members, department chairs, and deans unfamiliar with the nature and demands of the field; * The way that American higher education is rethinking "scholarship" and the role it plays in the work and evaluation of faculty members; and * The role composition studies faculty can play in this review of scholarship and professional advancement. This book seeks to address the entire spectrum of "composition studies" -- expository and argumentative writing, personal essay, literary nonfiction, technical and business writing, historical rhetoric, empirical research, and more -- by understanding the nature of and evaluating the work of faculty members in this broad field. Scholarship and advancement issues are discussed in a variety of situations including basic and regular first-year composition classes at four-year and two-year institutions or writing centers, advanced writing courses, ESL and skills-development programs, and writing classes and programs for teachers, administrators, and researchers. The chapters focus on a variety of subjects, including the importance of mentoring and faculty development in all departments and institutions; and how young scholar-teachers and assistant professors can prepare for a successful personnel or tenure review.
Academic Literacy and the Nature of Expertise: Reading, Writing, and Knowing in Academic Philosophy
by Cheryl GeislerThe first full-length account integrating both the cognitive and sociological aspects of reading and writing in the academy, this unique volume covers educational research on reading and writing, rhetorical research on writing in the disciplines, cognitive research on expertise in ill-defined problems, and sociological and historical research on the professions. The author produced this volume as a result of a research program aimed at understanding the relationship between two concepts -- literacy and expertise -- which traditionally have been treated as quite separate phenomena. A burgeoning literature on reading and writing in the academy has begun to indicate fairly consistent patterns in how students acquire literacy practices. This literature shows, furthermore, that what students do is quite distinct from what experts do. While many have used these results as a starting point for teaching students "how to be expert," the author has chosen instead to ask about the interrelationship between expert and novice practice, seeing them both as two sides of the same project: a cultural-historical "professionalization project" aimed at establishing and preserving the professional privilege. The consequences of this "professionalization project" are examined using the discipline of academic philosophy as the "site" for the author's investigations. Methodologically unique, these investigations combine rhetorical analysis, protocol analysis, and the analysis of classroom discourse. The result is a complex portrait of how the participants in this humanistic discipline use their academic literacy practices to construct and reconstruct a great divide between expert and lay knowledge. This monograph thus extends our current understanding of the rhetoric of the professions and examines its implications for education.
Academic Writing for International Students of Business
by Stephen BaileyInternational students of Business or Economics often need to write essays and reports for exams and coursework, and this new, second edition of Academic Writing for International Students of Business has been completely revised and updated to help them succeed with these tasks. This book explains the academic writing process from start to finish, and practises all the key writing skills in the context of Business Studies. The book can be used either with a teacher or for self-study, and is clearly organised into four parts, with each divided into short units that contain examples, explanations and exercises for use in the classroom or for self-study: The Writing Process, from assessing sources to proofreading Elements of Writing, practising skills such as making comparisons Vocabulary for Writing, dealing with areas such as nouns and adjectives, adverbs and verbs, synonyms, prefixes and prepositions, in an academic context Writing Models, illustrating case studies, reports, longer essays and other key genres This is an up-to-date book that reflects the interests and issues of contemporary Business Studies, with revised exercises, updated reading texts and a new glossary to ensure accessibility and maximise usability. Students wanting to expand their academic potential will find this practical and easy-to-use book an invaluable guide to writing in English for their degree courses, and it will also help students planning a career with international companies or organisations, where proficiency in written English is a key skill. All aspects of writing clearly explained, with full glossary for reference Full range of practice exercises, with answer key included Use of authentic academic texts Fully updated, with sections on finding electronic sources and evaluating internet material
Academic Writing for International Students of Business and Economics
by Stephen BaileyThe third edition of Academic Writing for International Students of Business and Economics is written to help international students succeed in writing essays, reports and other papers for their English-language academic courses. Thoroughly revised and updated to reflect issues such as diversity and sustainability, this book is designed to let students and teachers easily find the help they need, both in the classroom and for self-study. The book is divided into five parts, comprising a total of 42 units: The Writing Process Elements of Writing Language Issues Vocabulary for Writing Writing Models New topics in this edition include Writing in Groups, Written British and American English and Reflective Writing. In addition, the new interactive website has a full set of teaching notes as well as more challenging exercises, revision material and links to other sources. Additional features of the book include: Models provided for writing tasks such as case studies and literature reviews Use of authentic academic texts from a range of sources Designed for self-study as well as classroom use Useful at both undergraduate and postgraduate level A complete set of answers to the practice exercises Cross-references across all units Providing a glossary to explain technical terms and written to deal with the specific language issues faced by international students of Business and Economics, this practical, user-friendly book is an invaluable guide to academic writing in English.
Academic Writing for International Students of Business and Economics
by Stephen BaileyThe third edition of Academic Writing for International Students of Business and Economics is written to help international students succeed in writing essays, reports and other papers for their English-language academic courses. Thoroughly revised and updated to reflect issues such as diversity and sustainability, this book is designed to let students and teachers easily find the help they need, both in the classroom and for self-study.The book is divided into five parts, comprising a total of 42 units: The Writing Process Elements of Writing Language Issues Vocabulary for Writing Writing Models New topics in this edition include Writing in Groups, Written British and American English and Reflective Writing. In addition, the new interactive website has a full set of teaching notes as well as more challenging exercises, revision material and links to other sources. Additional features of the book include: Models provided for writing tasks such as case studies and literature reviews Use of authentic academic texts from a range of sources Designed for self-study as well as classroom use Useful at both undergraduate and postgraduate level A complete set of answers to the practice exercises Cross-references across all units Providing a glossary to explain technical terms and written to deal with the specific language issues faced by international students of Business and Economics, this practical, user-friendly book is an invaluable guide to academic writing in English.
Accelerating Cloud Adoption
by Michael KavisMany companies move workloads to the cloud only to encounter issues with legacy processes and organizational structures. How do you design new operating models for this environment? This practical book shows IT managers, CIOs, and CTOs how to address the hardest part of any cloud transformation: the people and the processes.Author Mike Kavis (Architecting the Cloud) explores lessons learned from enterprises in the midst of cloud transformations. You'll learn how to rethink your approach from a technology, process, and organizational standpoint to realize the promise of cost optimization, agility, and innovation that public cloud platforms provide.Learn the difference between working in a data center and operating in the cloudExplore patterns and anti-patterns for organizing cloud operating modelsGet best practices for making the organizational change required for a move to the cloudUnderstand why site reliability engineering is essential for cloud operationsImprove organizational performance through value stream mapping
Accelerating Network Functions Using Reconfigurable Hardware: Design and Validation of High Throughput and Low Latency Network Functions at the Access Edge (Springer Theses)
by Ralf KundelThis book reports on new concepts and methods to design network functions on programmable hardware to accelerate connectivity. First, it introduces the host bypassing concept for improved integration of hardware accelerators in computer systems operating 5G radio access networks. This novel concept bypassed the system’s main memory and established direct connectivity between the accelerator and network interface card. This concept leads to improved throughput and significantly lowered latency jitter compared to existing methods. Second, the book analyzes different programmable hardware technologies for hardware-accelerated Internet subscriber handling, including three P4-programmable platforms and FPGAs. It shows that all the approaches have excellent performance and are suitable for Internet access creation. In turn, it presents a fully-fledged accelerated User Plane Function (UPF) designed upon these concepts and its testing in an end-to-end 5G standalone network. Third, it analyses and demonstrates the usability of Active Queue Management (AQM) algorithms on programmable hardware as an expansion to the access edge. It shows the feasibility of the CoDel AQM algorithm and discusses the challenges and constraints to be considered when limited hardware is used, resulting in significant improvements in the Quality of Service. Furthermore, the P4STA measurement framework is introduced, a network function benchmarking concept combing precise hardware-based time measurement methods with software-based load generation to simultaneously ensure high measurement accuracy and flexibility. Researchers and professionals will find in this book new solutions to improve both fixed and mobile internet access networks, offering an informative and inspiring reading for researchers and professionals involved in building the next generation of access edge networks and underlying technology.
Access German: A First Language Course (Access Language Series)
by Henriette HarnischAccess German: A First Language Course provides a thorough grounding in all the skills required to understand, speak, read and write contemporary German from scratch based on everyday scenarios. This fully revised edition consists of 10 units, each of which includes language focus panels explaining the structures covered, cultural focus sections with current information from Germany and other German-speaking countries, and a comprehensive glossary. Learning tips and Ready to move on checklists help students to achieve a sense of autonomy, while the accompanying website gives direct access to additional listening, reading and speaking activities, plus teacher support and guidance. Access German is ideal for adult learners and students at level A1–A2 of the CEFR, and Novice–Low on the ACTFL proficiency scales.
Access Spanish: A First Language Course (Access Language Series)
by María Utrera CejudoAccess Spanish: A First Language Course provides a thorough grounding in all the skills required to understand, speak, read and write contemporary Spanish from scratch. This fully revised edition consists of 10 units, each of which includes Language Focus panels explaining the structures covered and Descubre el mundo hispano boxes providing cultural insight into the Spanish-speaking world. Learning Tips and Ready to Move On checklists help students to achieve a sense of autonomy, while the accompanying website gives direct access to additional listening, reading and speaking activities, plus teacher support and guidance. Updated audio tracks for this edition are also available online at www.routledge.com/9781138476684. Access Spanish is ideal for adult learners and students at level A1–A2 of the CEFR, and Novice Low on the ACTFL proficiency scales.
Access to Asia: Your Multicultural Guide to Building Trust, Inspiring Respect, and Creating Long-Lasting Business Relationships
by Sharon SchweitzerCreate meaningful relationships that translate to better business Access to Asia presents a deeply insightful framework for today's global business leaders and managers, whether traveling from Toronto to Taipei, Baltimore to Bangalore, or San Francisco to Shanghai. Drawing from her extensive experience and global connections, author Sharon Schweitzer suggests that irrespective of their industry, everyone is essentially in the relationship business. Within Asia, building trust and inspiring respect are vital steps in developing business relationships that transcend basic contractual obligations. Readers will find in-the-trenches advice and stories from 80 regional experts in 10 countries, including China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, and Korea. Discover the unique eight-question framework that provides rich interview material and insight from respected cultural experts Track cultural progress over time and highlight areas in need of improvement with the Self-Awareness Profile Learn the little-known facts, reports, and resources that help establish and strengthen Asian business relationships Effective cross-cultural communication is mandatory for today's successful global business leaders. For companies and individuals looking to engage more successfully with their counterparts in Asia, Access to Asia showcases the critical people skills that drive global business success.
Access to Communication: Developing the Basics of Communication with People with Severe Learning Difficulties Through Intensive Interaction
by Dave Hewett Melanie NindThe award-winning creators of Intensive Interaction bring this groundbreaking book up to date with new material covering inclusion and emotional literacy. The book also includes: a brand new section looking at the program's implementation in preschool settings the particular benefits of Intensive Interaction for children who have Autistic Spectrum Disorders a 'how to do it' chapter including ideas for assessment case studies to help practitioners get to grips with the realities of using Intensive Interaction. This book has been updated to include the new SEN Disability Act (SENDA), and developments in new technology.
Accessing the Media: How to Get Good Press
by Jill OsbornAccessing the Media takes the reader behind the scenes to understand how best to work with press to get publicity. Perfect for politicians, business leaders, lobbyists, and media junkies, this reference provides an insider's look at how the modern newsroom works, detailing the different roles of reporters, editors, and producers. Readers will learn how to forge relationships with media personnel in television, radio, print, and the web to craft the press coverage they want.Award-winning journalist Jill Osborn exposes the three strategic steps that must be used to gain favorable coverage with the media at just the right time. She gives you the inside scoop on how to think like a national or local journalist so you can control the headlines. And she even provides sample press releases to help shape your message. When reading Accessing the Media, you will have a personal media consultant without the cost of hiring one.Whether you are running for office, looking to improve visibility for your business, or simply want a deeper understanding of what you see and read in the news, Accessing the Media is the perfect guide to getting your story out to the world.
Accessing the Public Sphere: Mediation Practices in a Global World
by Ana Marta González Inés OlzaThis edited volume focuses on the (un)equal access to the public space granted to the various groups that make up hybrid and multicultural societies: i.e. majority vs minority groups, immigrants vs non-immigrants, and so forth. With ‘access to public space’ the authors refer not only to participation through discursive practices in the public arena (e.g. political, social and institutional debates) but also to a full operationalization of the knowledge, habits and opportunities attached to true citizenship. Furthermore, in contexts of inequality and sociocultural conflict, the role of mediators has always been underscored as third-party figures (in)formally acknowledged and authorized–by participants in the interaction and/or external bodies–to set the ground for mutual understanding and foster balanced communication. Such mediation can range from interpreting in legal and medical encounters to dispute-resolution practices in situations of sociocultural clash among groups or individuals. Therefore, as is shown by the contributions in this volume, (intercultural) mediators are key agents in facilitating integration and providing disadvantaged groups with effective tools to gain access to the public sphere.
Accidental Genius: Using Writing to Generate Your Best Ideas, Insights, and Content
by Mark LevyLevy shows readers how to tap into their most powerful creative thinking by using a variety of writing exercises. This second edition includes updates on how to use these exercises to generate raw material for books, articles, presentations, blog posts, and tweets.
Accidentally Wes Anderson
by Wally KovalA visual adventure of Wes Anderson proportions, authorized by the legendary filmmaker himself: stunning photographs of real-life places that seem plucked from the just-so world of his films, presented with fascinating human stories behind each façade. Accidentally Wes Anderson began as a personal travel bucket list, a catalog of visually striking and historically unique destinations that capture the imagined worlds of Wes Anderson. <P><P> Now, inspired by a community of more than one million Adventurers, Accidentally Wes Anderson tells the stories behind more than 200 of the most beautiful, idiosyncratic, and interesting places on Earth. This book, authorized by Wes Anderson himself, travels to every continent and into your own backyard to identify quirky landmarks and undiscovered gems: places you may have passed by, some you always wanted to explore, and many you never knew existed. Fueled by a vision for distinctive design, stunning photography, and unexpected narratives, Accidentally Wes Anderson is a passport to inspiration and adventure. Perfect for modern travelers and fans of Wes Anderson's distinctive aesthetic, this is an invitation to look at your world through a different lens. <P><P><b>A New York Times Bestseller</b>
Accomodating Brocolli in the Cemetary: Or Why Can't Anybody Spell?
by Vivian Cook"It is a damn poor mind that can think of only one way to spell a word." -- Andrew Jackson Weird or wierd? Necessary or neccessary? Recomend or recommend? English spelling is fiendish, but that doesn't mean you can't have fun with it. Accomodating Brocolli in the Cemetary is at once a celebration of spelling and a solace to anyone who has ever struggled with the arcane rules of the English language. As amusing as he is informative, Vivian Cook thrills the reader with more than a hundred entries -- from photographs of hilariously misspelled signs to quizzes best taken in private to schadenfreude-rich examples of spelling errors of literary greats -- that will tickle the inner spelling geek in every reader. It all adds up to a gem of a book that takes a wry look at the hodgepodge evolution of spelling and the eccentric way it actually works. Difficult Words Spelling Test Circle whichever one is right. 1. dessicate desiccate desicate 2. ecstasy exstacy ecstacy 3. adress adres address 4. dumbel dumbbell dumbell 5. accomodate accommodate acommodate 6. necesary neccesary necessary 7. liaison liaision liason 8. pronounciation pronounceation pronunciation 9. ocurence occurrence occurence 10. embarass embaras embarrass 11. brocolli broccolli broccoli 12. refering referring refferring 13. cemetery semetary cemetary
Accountancy and Empire: The British Legacy of Professional Organization (Routledge New Works in Accounting History)
by Chris PoullaosThis book brings together, for the first time, studies of the professionalisation of accountancy in key constituent territories of the British Empire. The late nineteenth century was a period of intensive activity in terms of both imperialism and professionalisation. A team of expert contributors has examined profession-state engagements between Britain, on the one hand and Canada, South Africa, Australia, Nigeria, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, India and Kenya, and the other with a view to assessing how the organizations of accountancy in the colonies was affecting the metropolitan profession and state agents- and vice versa. Their contributions highlight the peculiarities of the professionalization processes in variant social, economic and political environments linked together by the relays of empire, prompting reflection on both the common and disparate dynamics involved. This book has numerous objectives, including giving historical insight and focus on countries that provide contrasting and variant examples of the uptake of the "British model", and broadening the appeal of accounting history and professionalisation as a taught subject in university accounting departments.
Accounts, Excuses, and Apologies, Third Edition: Image Repair Theory Extended
by William L. BenoitIn our constantly plugged-in and connected world, image is everything. People, groups, organizations, and countries frequently come under suspicion of wrongdoing and sometimes require defense. Accounts, Excuses, and Apologies describes the image-repair strategies that may be used to help defuse these threats.The Third Edition of this classic book builds on theories for rehabilitating a damaged reputation by adding two new forms of denial: straw denial (appearing to deny an accusation by sidestepping it) and deflecting attention (trying to get the audience to focus on something other than the accusations against you). Five contexts for image repair are examined: corporate, political, sports/entertainment, international, and third party (when one person or organization tries to repair the image of another). The book’s case studies include current instances of reputation repair, including Vladimir Putin on Ukraine and President Joe Biden on Afghanistan; Southwest Airlines on flight cancellations; Kobe Bryant on accusations of rape; and Donald Trump on the January 6 hearings.
Achieving Global Open Access: The Need for Scientific, Epistemic and Participatory Openness (Routledge Critical Studies on Open Access)
by Stephen PinfieldAchieving Global Open Access explores some of the key conditions that are necessary to deliver global Open Access (OA) that is effective and equitable.Often assumed to be a self-evident good, OA has been subject to growing criticism for perpetuating global inequities and epistemic injustices. It has been seen as imposing exploitative business and publishing models and as exacerbating exclusionary research evaluation cultures and practices. Pinfield engages with these issues, recognising that the global OA debate is now not just about publishing business models and academic reward structures, but also about what constitutes valid and valuable knowledge, how we know, and who gets to say. The book argues that, for OA to deliver its potential, it first needs to be associated with ‘epistemic openness’, a wider and more inclusive understanding of what constitutes valid and valuable knowledge. It also needs to be accompanied by ‘participatory openness’, enabling contributions to knowledge from more diverse communities. Interacting with relevant theory and current practice, the book discusses the challenges in implementing these different forms of openness, the relationships between them, and their limits.Achieving Global Open Access is essential reading for academics and students engaged in the study of Library and Information Science, Open Access and Publishing. It will also be valuable and interesting to library and publishing professionals around the world.
Acoustic Sensing on Commodity Devices and its Applications (Wireless Networks)
by Rong Zheng Chao CaiThis book is intended for researchers, engineers, and students who have an interest in designing acoustic sensing solutions on commodity devices. The authors provide an in-depth coverage of the basic building blocks, state-of-the-art algorithms for active acoustic sensing on commodity devices, design considerations, and novel applications they enable. The authors start by providing a comprehensive overview of diverse active acoustic sensing applications. They then discuss the fundamental acoustic signal processing and acoustic waveform design techniques. Finally, they delve deeply into three specific categories of acoustic sensing applications: aerial acoustic communication, spatial context awareness, and physiological and behavior sensing. Each category of applications is thoroughly examined, covering aspects such as motivation, problem setup, existing solutions, case studies, and open problems. Additionally, the authors provide reference implementations of key algorithms discussed in the book. Provides fundamental knowledge on designing acoustic sensing solutions for commodity devices; Includes state-of-the-art practices and research on acoustic sensing and results in the field; Features reference implementation of key algorithms.