The Swimmer

This research monograph describes a large programming project in which an underwater organism, capable of perceiving, learning, deciding, and navigating, is computationally simulated. The developed computational model serves as a contemporary theory of perceptual-motor performance, embodying much of what is known about human vision and some of what is known about other cognitive processes. This artificial intelligence project has substantial contributions to make to the development of autonomous underwater vehicles. It also makes a specific theoretical statement about the organization and nature of organic perceptual motor systems that may be useful to psychologists, neuroscientists, and theoreticians in a number of other fields.

BEST BOOK OF 2023 ACCORDING TO THE NEWSTATESMAN AND OBSERVER 'The Swimmer is a wonderful, original achievement; teeming with stories, glittering with images, and experimental in form and tone' Robert Macfarlane Roger Deakin, author of the immortal Waterlog, was a man of many parts: maverick ad-man, cider-maker, teacher, environmentalist, music promoter and filmmaker. But, above all, he was the restorer of ancient Walnut Tree Farm in Suffolk, the heartland where he wrote about all natural life – with rare attention, intimacy, precision and poetry. Roger Deakin was unique, and so too is this joyful work of creative biography, told primarily in the words of the subject himself, with support from a chorus of friends, family, colleagues and lovers. Delving deep into Deakin’s library of words, Patrick Barkham draws from notebooks, diaries, letters and recordings to conjure his voice back to glorious life in these pages. 'A rich, strange and compelling work of creative memoir that beautifully honours and elevates the life and work of its subject' Alex Preston, Observer

The Swimmer is one of the very first literary sports novels. Although not a competitive swimmer himself, Mackay was a passionate swimmer and well acquainted with the scene of competitive swimming and diving in Berlin around 1900. This historical picture of the sports world at that time will be familiar to today ́s readers in many ways, but may surprise us in its details, for example, of competitions no longer widely practiced, such as "diving for plates" and "swimming with obstacles." For this reason it is a valuable historical document. It is also an exciting sports story with "the thrill of victory and the agony of defeat." But The Swimmer is much more: it is a fascinating psychological study of the rise and fall of a champion swimmer in his single-minded pursuit of his sport - and fame. Mackay ́s protagonist Franz Felder was "born to swim" and we follow his first, happy dip into the water to his last, fatal plunge. All attention is on young Felder, but other characters are clearly delineated: his wise coach, the equally single-minded sculptor, the seductress from the international demi-monde - last, and alas least, the loyal, devoted fan. The story is told with insight and compassion, as Mackay, the "omniscient narrator," looks into the deepest feelings and motives of his protagonist, whom Mackay ́s biographer has described as "an enchanted beast of the fairy tale books, under whose rough exterior is hidden a prince"-a price who "never found the charm that would have brought out his true character." Mackay makes all of this come alive for us, so that we sympathize with Felder even as we perceive the flaws that bring about his downfall. The book can be read on several levels: as a historical document, a thrilling sports story, a human drama. In every case, it is a good read.

Oxygen for the Swimmer provides that extra breath of encouragement to head you back to the lane for one more lap. Whether you are a breaststroker, backstroker, freestyler, or butterflyer, and whether you are 6 or 106, you'll find the stories in this book insightful and inspiring. Oxygen for the Swimmer is definitely a breath of encouragement. ~Sheila Taormina, Olympic Gold Medalist in swimming, World Champion in the triathlon, and World Cup Standings leader in the pentathlon. Oxygen for the Swimmer is full of life stories that talk about victories, struggles, defeats, relationships, values, lessons learned, and how your faith grows through these experiences. Swimming is a reflection of life in many ways. You learn who you are, you learn what is important, and you learn that you are never really alone. I recommend this book to everyone. You will find it both entertaining and uplifting. ~Kurt Hass, Franklin College Swim and Dive Team Coach, seven-time winner of the Indiana High School Coach of the Year. Oxygen for the swimmer reminded me why I swim - to give glory to God! It was a great encouragement. ~Melody White, collegiate swimmer at California Polytechnic State University. -- Publishers description.

100 of the best swim workouts for all experience levels: fitness, Masters level, or competition. Easy-to-follow pool workouts designed to make you a stronger, faster, and more proficient swimmer. The Swimmer’s Workout Handbook is a complete guide to escaping the routine of pool swimming with varied training workouts to keep you challenged and engaged, and improve your performance. Expert and multi-sport coach Terri Schneider combines skill training with variations in speed, distance, and technique for an effective and easy-to-follow series of pool workouts designed to make you a stronger, faster, and more proficient swimmer. The Swimmer’s Workout Handbook includes: · 100 swim workouts for all experience levels · Expert-designed pool workouts · A guide to common swim terms used in the workouts · Information on gear and guidelines to get the most out of your workouts Swimming improves core, muscular, and cardiovascular strength and endurance, all in a low-impact, gravity-free workout. If done two to several times per week, or as an addition to a multi-sport training regime, swimming helps maintain a healthy weight, heart, and lungs. These benefits are best realized within the diversity of your workouts. To increase your swim fitness it is optimal to vary intensity, interval distances, recovery, and strokes, all within one workout session. The diversity within a workout is what triggers the body to grow stronger, faster, and more proficient. Whether you only have time to swim 1000 meters/yards, or are up for 5000 at each session, The Swimmer’s Workout Handbook organizes speed, distance, and technique into these 100 fun and challenging training sessions—putting vitality back into your pool time. Go online to www.getfitnow.com for support, additional workouts, and more.

Learn about the connection between math and swimming.