CSC 107      Spring 2002

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)
  counters & sums

  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
  Web design & user interfaces
      page design, Web site navigation, typography
  History of computers
      generations (relays, vacuum tubes, transistors, IC, VLSI), PC revolution
  Algorithms & programming
      algorithms, low vs. high-level programming languages, compilers & interpreters
  How computers work
      CPU layout: datapath, CPU cycle, external memory, control unit
      stored programs: binary numbers, microprogramming, machine/assembly programming
  Computers & Society
      Internet as research tool, privacy, e-commerce, intellectual property, ...