CSC 107      Spring 2001

Central Themes

  Programming is a tool for:
      solving problems
      experimentation
      analysis

  The World Wide Web is:
      an immense, distributed information source
      an interface for information/programs 

  Computer science is more than just programming:
      problem solving
      design & analysis of algorithms
      hardware design and manufacturing
      interface design and implementation
      societal impact


Skills Developed

  Problem-solving skills
  Analytical/Empirical skills
  Communication skills

  Web page development


Programming Concepts
  
  data types & expressions
  variables & assignments
  functions & libraries
  conditional execution (if statements)
  conditional looping (while loops)

  user interfaces (textual vs. graphical interface)
  control vs. event-driven programming


General Computer Science

  Computer basics
      von Neumann architecture, hardware vs. software
  Internet & the Web
      internet & Web histories, TCP/IP, HTTP
  History of computers
      generations (relays, vacuum tubes, transistors, IC, VLSI), PC revolution
  How computers work
      CPU layout: datapath, CPU cycle, external memory, control unit
      programming: binary numbers, machine vs. assembly code, high-level languages
      logic gates & circuits: AND/OR/NOT gates, truth tables, simple circuits
      transistors & IC's: transistor/chip design and manufacture
  Computers & Society
      privacy, security, ethical behavior