Difference between revisions of "CSC103 2008"

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<center> [http://tango.csc.smith.edu/classwiki/index.php/CSC103_Page Wikis] |  [[CSC103 Weekly Schedule | Weekly Schedule]] </center>
  
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=CSC 103: How Computers Work=
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Dominique Thiébaut<br />
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McConnell Hall, 208. <br />
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Smith College <br />
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Telephone: 3854 <br />
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__TOC__
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=CSC 103: How Computers Work, Fall 08=
  
 
==Overview==
 
==Overview==
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A great number of topics are discussed in this seven week period, with the purpose not to explore any one topic fully or in depth. Rather the purpose is to provide a high level view of how a computer works - from the most fundamental hardware component (the logic gate) through the sophisticated programs we all use every day (such as word processors). Hopefully this first look at all these topics will encourage students to take additional courses in areas that are of most interest.  
 
A great number of topics are discussed in this seven week period, with the purpose not to explore any one topic fully or in depth. Rather the purpose is to provide a high level view of how a computer works - from the most fundamental hardware component (the logic gate) through the sophisticated programs we all use every day (such as word processors). Hopefully this first look at all these topics will encourage students to take additional courses in areas that are of most interest.  
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==Instructor==
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[http://cs.smith.edu/~thiebaut '''Dominique Thiebaut''']<br />
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Office: McConnell 208, Clark Science Center<br />
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Email: thiebaut@cs.smith.edu<br />
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Office Hours: MW 2:30-4:00 p.m.<br />
  
 
==Schedule==
 
==Schedule==
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First half of Fall 2008: Sept 4th to Oct. 21st.
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First half of Fall 2008: Sept 4th to Oct. 15th.
  
 
==Textbook==
 
==Textbook==
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[[Image:MostComplexMachine.gif | right]]
 
''The Most Complex Machine''., by David Eck, A. K. Peters, Natick Ma [http://www.amazon.com/Most-Complex-Machine-Computers-Computing/dp/1568810547/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1214414726&sr=8-1].  This book should be available at the Greycourt bookstore.  ([[CSC103_Book_Chapters | List of Chapters]])
 
''The Most Complex Machine''., by David Eck, A. K. Peters, Natick Ma [http://www.amazon.com/Most-Complex-Machine-Computers-Computing/dp/1568810547/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1214414726&sr=8-1].  This book should be available at the Greycourt bookstore.  ([[CSC103_Book_Chapters | List of Chapters]])
  
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==Organization, Schedule & Reading==
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==Tentative list of topics covered==
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*'''Week''' 1: 
 
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** General introduction (Chap 1)
 
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*'''Week''' 2:
 
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**Binary system, arithmetic, logic gates (Chap 2)
 
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**logic gates, binary adder (Chap 2)
 
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*'''Week3''':
 
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** Building a computer (Chap 5)
 
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***von Neuman architecture
 
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***Von Neuman bottleneck
 
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*** CPU, RAM, Secondary Memory
 
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*** Case Study: the Suse EEE, and the switch from magnetic to semiconductor storage
 
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** History of computers (Chap 5)
 
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***video "Machine that changed the world"
 
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*** Loom, Craig.
 
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* '''Week''' 4:
 
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** Client/Server architecture.  (Chap 10)
 
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***Trends. 
 
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***Services. 
 
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***Google vs. Microsoft
 
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** Programming: Javascript (Chap 6)
 
  
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* '''Week''' 5:
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*Binary system, arithmetic, logic gates (Chaps 1, 2)
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** Programming: Javascript (Chap 7)
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*logic gates, binary adder (Chap 2)
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** Programming: Javascript
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* Building a computer (Chap 5)
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**von Neuman architecture
 +
**Von Neuman bottleneck
 +
** CPU, RAM, Secondary Memory
 +
** Case Study: the Suse EEE, and the switch from magnetic to semiconductor storage
 +
* History of computers (Chap 5)
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* Programming: Javascript (Chap 6)
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** Programming Environment (Chap 7)
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** Program development
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** Other programming languages
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* Parallel Programming (Chap 10)
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** Folding @ home
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** SETI
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* The Singularity:
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** [http://cs.smith.edu/~thiebaut/research/singularity/ieee_spectrum__signs_of_the_singularity.pdf Signs of the Singularity] by Vernor Vinge.
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** [http://cs.smith.edu/~thiebaut/research/singularity/ieee_spectrum__can_machines_be_conscious.pdf Can Machine Be Conscious?], Christof Koch and Giulio Tononi.
  
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* '''Week''' 6:
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==Grading==
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** Programming: other languages
 
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** Chapter 4, NP, solvability, towers of hanoi (Chap. 4)
 
  
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* '''Week''' 7:  
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* Attendance and participation: 10%
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** Parallel programming (Chap 10)
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* Homework assignments (roughly one weekly assignmnent): 50%
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*** SETI@home
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* Quizzes: 10%
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***Folding@home
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* Final take-home exam: 30%
  
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* '''Week''' 8:
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No late assigments will be accepted.
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** Singularity:
 
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*** [http://cs.smith.edu/~thiebaut/research/singularity/ieee_spectrum__signs_of_the_singularity.pdf Signs of the Singularity] by Vernor Vinge.
 
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*** [http://cs.smith.edu/~thiebaut/research/singularity/ieee_spectrum__can_machines_be_conscious.pdf Can Machine Be Conscious?], Christof Koch and Giulio Tononi.  
 
  
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==Additional Resources==
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==Teaching Assistants==
  
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* [[IEEE_Singularity | IEEE Special Issue on Singularity ]]
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* '''[http://sophia.smith.edu/~acheng/csc Alex Cheng]''' (acheng@email.smith.edu) is the teaching assistant for CSC103 and CSC102
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* '''Diana Jaunzeikare''' (djaunzei@email.smith.edu) is the roving teaching assistant for computer science courses.
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**Hours ( McConnel 104 (CS lounge) ):
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:::Sundays 7-10pm
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:::Mondays 7-9pm
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:::Tuesdays 7-9pm

Latest revision as of 14:05, 29 January 2012

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Wikis | Weekly Schedule

Dominique Thiébaut
McConnell Hall, 208.
Smith College
Telephone: 3854


CSC 103: How Computers Work, Fall 08

Overview

This course has no prerequisites. It is intended to introduce students to the history, theory and use of digital computers. Students from all majors are welcome - though there is some math and computer programming during the semester, the course is designed assuming students have no previous computer experience. Through the material presented in this course, students will be introduced to:

  1. A brief history of computers
  2. Binary numbers, and understanding how and why computers use them
  3. Logic gates - the basic building blocks of computers
  4. Javascript programming - which you may find you'll like to use beyond this course!
  5. A better understanding of how the computer does everything you direct it to do.
  6. Some important issues about computers in our future

A great number of topics are discussed in this seven week period, with the purpose not to explore any one topic fully or in depth. Rather the purpose is to provide a high level view of how a computer works - from the most fundamental hardware component (the logic gate) through the sophisticated programs we all use every day (such as word processors). Hopefully this first look at all these topics will encourage students to take additional courses in areas that are of most interest.

Instructor

Dominique Thiebaut
Office: McConnell 208, Clark Science Center
Email: thiebaut@cs.smith.edu
Office Hours: MW 2:30-4:00 p.m.

Schedule

First half of Fall 2008: Sept 4th to Oct. 15th.

Textbook

MostComplexMachine.gif

The Most Complex Machine., by David Eck, A. K. Peters, Natick Ma [1]. This book should be available at the Greycourt bookstore. ( List of Chapters)

Tentative list of topics covered

  • Binary system, arithmetic, logic gates (Chaps 1, 2)
  • logic gates, binary adder (Chap 2)
  • Building a computer (Chap 5)
    • von Neuman architecture
    • Von Neuman bottleneck
    • CPU, RAM, Secondary Memory
    • Case Study: the Suse EEE, and the switch from magnetic to semiconductor storage
  • History of computers (Chap 5)
  • Programming: Javascript (Chap 6)
    • Programming Environment (Chap 7)
    • Program development
    • Other programming languages
  • Parallel Programming (Chap 10)
    • Folding @ home
    • SETI
  • The Singularity:

Grading

  • Attendance and participation: 10%
  • Homework assignments (roughly one weekly assignmnent): 50%
  • Quizzes: 10%
  • Final take-home exam: 30%

No late assigments will be accepted.

Teaching Assistants

  • Alex Cheng (acheng@email.smith.edu) is the teaching assistant for CSC103 and CSC102
  • Diana Jaunzeikare (djaunzei@email.smith.edu) is the roving teaching assistant for computer science courses.
    • Hours ( McConnel 104 (CS lounge) ):
Sundays 7-10pm
Mondays 7-9pm
Tuesdays 7-9pm
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