Books on Technology

The Astronomer's Handbook: Technologies and Techniques for the Amateur Astronomer (in process, T&L Publications)

This book is a distillation of what I've found most valuable over nearly 60 years as an amateur astronomer. It covers visual, digital and radio astronomy, with a nod to urban astronomers and the challenges they must address.

Androids, with Thomas (Brett) Talbot  (2013, McGraw-Hill).

Construct self-governing 'droids that display physiologically correct behaviors. Co-written by experts in the fields of robotics, artificial intelligence, and medicine, Androids: Build Your Own Lifelike Robots features low-cost DIY projects that translate human physiology into cybernetics. Teach your creations to maneuver with an arsenal of behaviors, respond to stimuli, talk, and listen. This practical, inventive guide even shows how to realistically simulate emotion and aging in your robots.

Restoring Vintage Audio Electronics: From Tabletop Receivers and Component Stereo Systems to Turntables and Reel-to-Reel Tape Decks (2023, T&L Publications)

The focus of this book is restoration - that is, to restore and, if possible, improve the functionality of vintage electronic devices. Improvement can come through the use of higher quality components with tighter tolerances, less reaction to changes in ambient temperature, greater mean time before failure, greater output, less current draw, and cooler operation.  Readers can view each restoration in this book as a teardown that reveals the progression of the underlying technology. For example, the evolution of the axial electrolytic capacitor to the radial capacitor is illustrated as construction evolves from point-to-point wiring to pc-board construction.

Teardowns: Learn How Electronics Work by Taking Them Apart (2010, McGraw-Hill/TAB Books)

Most electronics books for novices and hobbyists either teach the basics or present a set of do-it-yourself projects. This book breaks the rules by reverting back to what most of us did long before we even read an electronics magazine or book. We took things apart to find out how they worked. And that's precisely what Bryan Bergeron, the editor of Nuts & Volts magazine, has so expertly done in this remarkably interesting, nicely illustrated, and fun-to-read book. In the end, the author's top-down approach to explaining electronics provides a unique learning experience and a user-friendly reference for both novices and experienced circuit builders. The book is also a useful teaching tool for electronics instructors. Old timers will wonder why we didn't think of this terrific book idea before the prolific Bryan Bergeron arrived on the scene. From the foreword by Forrest Mims III.

Dark Ages II: When the Digital Data Die (2001, Prentice Hall)

Is our most important information about to vanish?  Are disappearing Web sites, unproven storage technologies and obsolete data formats putting civilization at risk? Discover why our data is in danger and what to do about it.  This book offers specific, realistic solutions for individuals, organizations and society. It answers questions about data ownership, backups and why "pervasive computing" will only make the problems worse. It addresses what you can do now to ensure the survival of your digital information. Dark Ages II is a powerful wake-up call for everyone who depends on digital data, including business decision-makers, educators, librarians, researchers and public policy-makers

Developing Serious Games (2006, Thompson)

A practical handbook that details what's involved in developing serious games, this book explores their emergence as a viable niche in the multi-billion-dollar gaming industry. Covering development opportunities in military, academic, medical and training and development environments, Developing Serious Games covers enabling technology trends and emerging standards. It addresses the economic realities of the serious games industry and considers the important differences between entertainment games and serious games. Written for students, established game developers and professionals in related fields, it is also applicable to programmers, graphic artists and management contemplating or involved in the development of serious games.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Wireless Web (2001, McGraw-Hill)

Offering the prospect of instantaneous, cable-free Internet connectivity and an array of Web services to cell phones, handheld computers and other mobile devices, wireless technology is already changing the way business is done, on and off the Web. This book is written for the non-technical business person who needs to get up to speed as quickly as possible on this "next big thing" in the world of e-commerce. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Wireless Web describes key concepts and significant technologies involved and offers a detailed look at the domestic, European and Asian markets. Most importantly, the book offers a complete blueprint for capitalizing on the new wave of e-commerce.

The Wireless Web in Healthcare (2001, Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society [HIMSS])

This book provides a critical look into the “wireless space” in healthcare, illustrating the positives and negatives of the technology. The Wireless Web in Healthcare addresses the impact of wireless technology on the future practice of medicine and the benefits of timely investment. Likely time lines for various fixed and mobile wireless solutions are covered. The book also addresses how healthcare organizations can use wireless technologies to drive their core business strategy and gain competitive market advantage. The investment required to enter and participate in the “wireless space” and the likely return on investment for healthcare organizations are treated as well.

The Wireless Web: How to Develop and Execute a Winning Wireless Strategy (2001, McGraw-Hill)

The marriage of the Web and wireless communications technology impacts virtually every business on the globe. This book reveals how wireless technology affects business and explains in clear, easy-to-understand terms how businesses can gain access to the growing pool of wireless Web customers. Written for non-technical executives and managers, The Wireless Web details how to take advantage of wireless Web possibilities in a clear, straightforward manner, explaining the key concepts and technologies involved.

Books on Healthcare Informatics

Developing a Data Warehouse for the Healthcare Enterprise: Lessons from the Trenches (2018, CRC Press [CRC])

This second edition provides an updated account of first-hand experiences on a data-warehouse development process from the initial vision to maintenance. The site of the implementation is a large, modern, tertiary-care hospital in Saudi Arabia with an IT environment that parallels a typical US hospital. The authors, with Bergeron serving as editor, present an honest assessment of their journey—from the lessons learned and methods explored to the challenges of maintaining a large system. A sample data warehousing project plan and an information analysis template are included. The first edition received the 2008 HIMSS (Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society) Book of the Year award.

Bioinformatics Computing (2002, Prentice Hall)

This book is a practical guide to computing in the growing field of bioinformatics (the study of how information is represented and transmitted in biological systems, starting at the molecular level). It provides a practical guide for the life-science community that illustrates computer-science advances made in the past several decades in areas of computer visualization, large database designs, machine learning and other forms of advanced pattern matching, statistical methods and distributed computing techniques. New technologies on the near horizon and societal issues in bioinformatics are also explored.

Clinical Management Systems: A Guide for Systems Deployment (2004, Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society [HIMSS])

This book is a guide for CIOs and COOs who want to avoid unnecessary delays during the clinical-software implementation process in a healthcare organization. Bryan and co-author Jeffrey Blander, a medical researcher and educator, offer tools and present processes that help define expectations and manage relationships between deployment staff and the end users of a system. Case-driven examples and “day-in-the-life” scenarios offer lessons on how to avoid the pitfalls of creating a “push-through” strategy while deploying a new healthcare-systems application.

Developing a Data Warehouse for the Healthcare Enterprise: Lessons from the Trenches (2008, Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society [HIMSS])

This book offers first-hand experiences on a data-warehouse development process from the initial vision to the system-wide release. The site of the implementation is a large, modern, tertiary-care hospital in Saudi Arabia with an IT environment that parallels a typical US hospital. The authors, with Bergeron serving as editor, present an honest assessment of their journey—from the lessons learned and methods explored to the solutions ultimately achieved. The final implementation transformed the hospital into a more effective, knowledge-based organization. A sample data warehousing project plan and an information analysis template are included. Developing a Data Warehouse for the Healthcare Enterprise received the 2008 HIMSS (Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society) Book of the Year award.

Modeling and Simulation for Medical Educators (2007, American Medical Informatics Association [AMIA])

This book covers all aspects of modeling and simulation in the medical education field. In this context, the term “modeling and simulation” includes the development, validation and verification of both physiologic models and patient case simulations. Although low-level issues (e.g., the tradeoffs associated with various modeling algorithms) are covered, the emphasis is on the higher-level problems of needs analysis, design, implementation (including how to manage a project), testing and evaluation.

Books on Business

Performance Management: From Key Performance Indicator to Balanced Scorecard, 2nd Edition (2017, CRC Press [CRC])

This second edition, focused on performance management, is fully rewritten to reflect the changes in healthcare stemming from the Affordable Care Act. Performance management is based on the effective use of resources, as measured through key performance indicators (KPIs). Written for CIOs and senior IT managers, this book provides a high-level review of the quality/safety initiatives in healthcare, describes the implementation process from an IT perspective and offers high-level clinical, financial and cultural details. It also features an extensive, up-to-date listing of clinical and non-clinical KPIs and a glossary and appendices of organizations and sources of indicators and benchmarks.

Biotech Industry: A Global, Economic and Financing Overview (2004, John Wiley & Sons)

This book provides an in-depth examination of the growth and financing of the biotechnology industry worldwide. It offers a thorough look at the current state of the field, including where major research is being conducted, where it's being applied and where money and intellectual capital are flowing. Co-authored with Paul Chan, a renowned business columnist, this book offers senior-level managers and others interested in the field an understanding of Asia's pivotal role in the worldwide success of biotechnology commercialization, as well as insight into the biotech market over the next decade.

Business Expectations: Are You Using Your Technology To Its Fullest? (2002, John Wiley & Sons)

A practical roadmap for developing successful e-business strategic plans, this book provides a critical review of the process of evolving a product or service from prototype to practical technology. Co-authored with Jeffrey Blander, a medical researcher and educator, it provides tools that business executives and managers can use to position their product or service to best satisfy their customers’ needs. It guides readers from unrealistic to realistic expectations of what a firm's technology can bring to its e-business strategy. Business Expectations provides managers with a solid foundation for creating realistic technological expectations for their e-business in terms of repeatability, scalability, operating environment, resource requirements and compatibility issues.

The Essentials of CRM: A Guide to Customer Relationship Management (2002, John Wiley & Sons)

Full of valuable tips, techniques, illustrative real-world examples, exhibits and best practices, this concise paperback covers the newest thinking, strategies, developments and technologies in Customer Relationship Management (CRM). It explores examples of CRM that work—and those that don’t—with the help of easy-to-understand vignettes. The book assumes an intelligent, executive-level reader who may be unaware of the particular vernacular of the customer service field or not know how to recognize a superior CRM formula. The reader will come to appreciate the many uses of CRM from actively developing a following of profitable customers to turning nonprofitable customers away in cost-saving maneuvers.

The Essentials of Knowledge Management (2003, John Wiley & Sons)

Modern business organizations can’t compete effectively without methods for managing knowledge and the processes and technologies involved in the business, including information technology. Knowledge Management (KM) is a business optimization strategy that identifies, selects, organizes, distills and packages information essential to corporate decision making. This book examines the various approaches to KM, providing an understanding of how this vital function can optimize corporate performance. It shows senior-level executives how to work with knowledge-management professionals and determine the investment and likely returns on various strategies. Essentials of Knowledge Management provides best practices in the field, examines enabling technologies and discusses implementation issues.

The Essentials of Shared Services (2002, John Wiley & Sons)

The shared services model is fundamentally about optimizing people, capital, time and other corporate resources to improve the bottom line, enhance internal service and increase the competitiveness of the parent organization. Learn what shared services is— and what it is not. This book covers the implementation issues of shared services, the management challenges and the technical aspects of shared services, including enabling information technologies. In addition to reviewing best practices, The Essentials of Shared Services also details how to effectively evaluate implementations. The volume is full of valuable tips, techniques, illustrative real-world examples and exhibits.

Essentials of XBRL: Financial Reporting in the 21st Century (2003, John Wiley & Sons)

XBRL, or extensible business reporting language, is the technological enabler for changes in how businesses report financial performance. Built on top of Web-standard extensible markup language, documents prepared using XBRL allow companies to share their financial data via computer with partners, customers and government regulators. Essentials of XBRL, a comprehensive overview of the technology, provides CEOs with the background to ask intelligent questions of vendors and their own IT staffs before embarking on a project. Chapters explore the technology and its practical applications as well as identifying shortfalls and potential implementation problems.

The Eternal E-Customer: How Emotionally Intelligent Interfaces Can Create Long-Lasting Customer Relationships (2000, McGraw Hill)

This book focuses on getting e-businesses to the next level of customer loyalty. In the competitive world of e-commerce, the winners know that the key to success is customer appreciation and retention. Based on customer profiles, Emotionally Intelligent Interfaces (EII) are driven by data from previous customer interactions and explicit customer preferences. EIIs build trust and customer loyalty by offering shoppers the intimacy and individual attention they expect from the corner store. The Eternal E-Customer provides a roadmap to get readers updated on all crucial business and technology aspects of EIIs. The book focuses on achievable results using current technology.

Performance Management: From Key Performance Indicator to Balanced Scorecard (2006, Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society [HIMSS])

Performance management, often referred to as process management, is a strategy that offers healthcare facilities financial solvency combined with high quality, increased safety and end-user satisfaction. Performance management is based on the effective use of resources, as measured through key performance indicators (KPIs). Written for CIOs and senior IT managers, this book provides a high-level review of the quality/safety initiatives in healthcare, describes the implementation process from an IT perspective and offers high-level clinical, financial and cultural details. It also features an extensive listing of clinical and non-clinical KPIs and a glossary and appendices of organizations and sources of indicators and benchmarks.

Books on Medicine

Case Studies in Genes and Disease: A Primer for Clinicians (2004, American College of Physicians)

Progress in the field of genetics is moving quickly—genes marking for specific diseases and methods in gene therapy are evolving rapidly and being incorporated into daily patient care. Ethical issues are under constant debate by politicians, journalists and laymen. All health-care providers need to stay informed on the research, applicability to patient management and the moral issues involved. Case Studies in Genes and Disease tackles all these issues for those who need it most—busy clinicians seeing patients daily who need to know how advances in genetic research and therapy affect their health. From fundamentals to specific diseases to "the dark side" of genetics, this book offers complex knowledge presented in an easy-to-understand format.

A Day in the Life of a Doctor (2004, Capstone Press)

This juvenile non-fiction book, included in Capstone’s “Day in the Life” series, describes the duties of a typical physician, Dr. Davis. Readers learn about making rounds, examining patients and treatment of emergency cases. A simple question-and-answer format invites children to spend an entire day on the job with a real community helper.

Articles

Bryan has published over 1,200 articles on topics including medicine, electronics, computer science, robotics and business, in the following journals and magazines:

Advance for Health Information Executives
Catalyst
Collegiate Microcomputer
Communications Quarterly
Computer Methods and Programs in Biomedicine
Computer News for Physicians
Computers in Biology and Medicine
Correctional Healthcare Report
e.MD
Ham Radio
Healthcare Informatics
iHelathBeat
InformIT
International Journal of Educational Telecommunications
International Journal of Mechanical Engineering and Robotics Research
International Journal of Technology Management
Journal of Educational Multimedia and Hypermedia
Journal of Educational Research Computing
Journal of Healthcare Information Management
Journal of Instructional Delivery Systems
Journal of Medical Education Technology
Journal of Medical Practice Management
MD Computing
Medical Software Reviews
Monitor
Nuts and Volts
Perspectives in Biology and Medicine
Physicians and Computers
Postgraduate Medicine
QST
Servo
Simulation
SmartPros
WebMD

Media

Bryan has had over 2000 photographs and illustrations (including magazine covers) published, a graphic novel, numerous software applications and the user and technical manuals to accompany those applications.