CSC 107      Fall 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)
  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
  History of computers
      generations (relays, vacuum tubes, transistors, IC, VLSI), PC revolution
  Interfaces & the Web
      command vs. menu vs. graphical user interfaces (GUI), Web design
  Algorithms & programming
      algorithms, low vs. high-level programming languages, compilers & interpreters
  What is computer science?
      themes (hardware, software, theory), subfields (e.g., graphics, AI, ...)
  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, e-commerce, privacy, intellectual property, ...