code: Translating from one system of values to another system.
Electricity
The Binary System: a system where the only two numbers available are 0 and 1. Every operation that we can do in decimal, with 10 digits, we can also do in binary.
The Transistor: A switch controlled by electricity.
Two giants for computer science:
George Boole (1779-1848): logic expression = boolean expression. Logic: creating formulas where variables are combined by operators. The variables are boolean variables, the operators are logic operators. Any formula can be represented with a combination of just three operators: AND, OR, and NOT.
Reading
Primary:
Video (Part 2) on George Boole and Boolean Algebra. (5.18 min)
Claude Shannon (1916-2001): writes a Master's thesis at MIT in 1948, which states that any binary numerical computation can be performed using logic expressions and logic operators. "The whole digital revolution started with [Shannon]"[1]
You will find Wikipedia's description of the processor interesting. Concentrate mostly on the sections labeled Microprocessor, Operation, and Clock Rate.
Week 6 10/9
Tuesday: Fall Break
Thursday
Reading
Week 7 10/16
Tuesday
Thursday: Take-home Final Exam
Reading
Week 8 10/23
Tuesday: Final Exam Q&A
Reading
References
↑Bell Labs digital guru dead at 84 — Pioneer scientist led high-tech revolution (The Star-Ledger, obituary by Kevin Coughlin 27 February 2001)
