In this interview, we talk to Cameron, author of the book The Practitioner’s Guide to Cellular IoT. We discuss the motivation behind writing the book, the target audience, the most useful aspects of the book, the challenges of writing the book, and advice for other engineers who are considering writing a book.
Cameron Coursey is a vice president of product development, Internet of Things (IoT) at AT&T. He earned his M.Sc. in electrical engineering from the University of Missouri-Rolla and is a member of the IEEE.
1. What was your main motivation behind writing your book?
There is a scene in the movie Apollo 13 in which the crew must build a makeshift carbon dioxide filter. Houston tells them to rip the cover off the flight plan (because the cover will become part of the filter). Jack Swigert laughs and says, “With pleasure.” The flight plan had lost all meaning and utility as the crew and Houston were forced to improvise almost every aspect of the return to earth.
When I thought about writing Practitioners Guide to the Internet of Things, I wanted to create a book that had meaning and utility for the widest possible audience, one that no one would ever rip the cover from in pleasure. I wanted to not only fill the book with technical descriptions of “how things work,” but also with examples of how an Internet of Things solution is developed, deployed, and operated. I wanted the reader to have a guide they could easily understand, refer to, and remember. Most importantly, I wanted to stir the creative juices of everyone who reads the book to apply IoT for good. Because we need a lot of good in this world today.
2.Who is the main target audience for your book and what will they appreciate the most about the book?
This book appeals to a wide audience. It is targeted at technologists in the telecom industry and IoT application and device developers to assist in creating IoT solutions. IT and OT professionals can use the book to assist them in planning and launching IoT solutions. Business leaders in the telecom industry can use the book to help them decide the IoT solutions to offer to customers. Other industry professionals can understand how IoT works from the book.
3.What do you see your book being most useful for?
My book is best as a comprehensive overview of the how the Internet of Things works, written in a readable and understandable way, with practical examples and applications. You don’t need a PhD or background in the technology to understand it, but you will still appreciate the book if you do.
4.How did you find the writing of the book? Do you have a specific process or are you quite methodical in your writing approach?
I’ve always found the saying, Write what you know, to be true. I know the Internet of Things, having been at the forefront of its introduction and growth for fifteen years. My writing process for Practitioners Guide to the Internet of Things began by creating an outline of each of the chapters, based on what I felt was a logical organization of the subject matter I knew. I had experience with IoT devices and cellular networks, including the coming 5G networks and the capabilities they will bring. I had experience delivering IoT solutions for various industries, including connected cars, asset tracking and management, and the like.
Once I had a good outline, I wrote most of the content in order, striving to complete a draft of one chapter per week. When I got to chapters where I still needed to learn some content, I started to skip around in my writing process, giving me more time to prepare the material for those chapters. However, writing the chapters in order helped me to ensure that when I referred to something in a latter chapter I knew it was already covered in an earlier one.
5.What challenges did you face when writing the book and how did you overcome them?
It’s impossible to know everything about a subject that you want to write about. I had to dig into newer areas such as artificial intelligence and 5G, and learn more about cybersecurity, while I was writing the book. The second challenge I faced was when to write. Because I had (and still have) a full-time job, I had to write and night and on weekends. It takes dedication and discipline to complete a book in this way.
6.What advice would you give to other engineers who are considering writing a book?
The best advice I can give is to have compelling subject matter, listen to your editor, address comments from your reviewer, be persistent in your writing, and stay humble.
7.What are you working on next?
I recently completed a Master of Fine Arts degree in Writing, and I have turned my attention to writing fiction. Humorous and satirical science fiction in the vein of Kurt Vonnegut is my aim.
Learn more about the book on our websites:
ARTECH HOUSE USA : The Practitioner’s Guide to Cellular IoT
ARTECH HOUSE U.K.: The Practitioner’s Guide to Cellular IoT
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