Old Well


Department of Computer Science
College of Arts and Sciences
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

COMP050H (Spring 2017): Everyday Computing (Honors)


COMP 050H (Spring 2017): Everyday Computing (Honors)

Instructor: Ming C. Lin

UTA: Raymond Kim


Time and Place: MW 11:15-12:30pm, SN-115
Prerequisites: None (Instructor's approval if not in Honors Program)
Textbook: Course Notes and In-Class Handouts
TA: Raymond Kim (SN348, rbkim@cs.unc.edu; Office Hours: MW 3:30pm - 5:00pm but Email in Advance)


Check out some cool videos or find them at YouTube!

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  • Course Syllabus
  • Course Overview
  • Lectures and Approximate Schedule
  • Course Reading Materials
  • Assignments and Projects
  • Students in This Class
  • Additional Reference Materials
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    COURSE OVERVIEW:

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    The goal of this first-year seminar course is to understand the use of computing technology in our daily activities. In this course, we will study various examples on how computing affects different aspects of our daily life. More specifically, students will learn about use of computing technology in the following:

  • Artistic & Creative Processes
  • Assistive Technology
  • Bioinformatics
  • Computer Animation
  • Computer Game Dynamics
  • Digital Music & Audio Synthesis
  • Image Analysis for Abnormality Detection
  • Medical Simulation and Training
  • Rapid Prototyping for Design
  • Robotics and Automation
  • Special Effects Generation
  • Touch-Enabled Interfaces
  • Virtual Environments
  • Students will learn how to use computational thinking to solve many different problems in the physical and virtual world. We will discuss various considerations and tradeoffs used in designing computational methodologies (e.g. time, storage, ease of implementation, and generality). This will include data structures, algorithms, computational methods and their complexity and implementation.

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    LECTURES AND APPROXIMATE SCHEDULE

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    Here is a list of TENTATIVE lecture topics** (subject to changes). Schedule and information on each topic (e.g. readings, web pointers) will be added during the semester before each class.

  • Overview (Wed, Jan 11, 2017)
  • Basic Principles of Programming (Fri, Jan 13, 2017; Make-up Lecture for 3/20/2017)
  • Intro to Programming in Python (I): Installation Guide (Wed, Jan 18, 2017)
  • History of Computing (Mon, Jan 23, 2017)
  • Intro to Programming in Python (II) (Wed, Jan 25, 2017)
  • Algorithms (Mon, Jan 30, 2017)
  • Computational Thinking (Wed, Feb 1, 2017)
  • Multimedia (Mon, Feb 6, 2017)
  • Digital Sounds (Wed, Feb 8, 2017)
  • Principles of Computer Animation (Mon, Feb 13, 2017)
  • Digital Humans, Virtual Surgery and Fast Fluids (Mon, Feb 13, 2017 @ 12:30pm in FB141; Make-up Lecture for 3/22/2017)
  • Networking & Web (Wed, Feb 15, 2017)
  • Web Programming (Mon, Feb 20, 2017)
  • Data Mining & Marketing (Wed, Feb 22, 2017)
  • Natural Language Processing by Prof. Mohit Bansal (Mon, Feb 27, 2017)
  • Machine Learning by Prof. Vladimir Jojic (Wed, Mar 1, 2017)
  • Project Proposal (Mon/Wed, Mar 6-8, 2017)
  • Virtual Reality, Vision, Robotics - Being There (Tues, Mar 7, 2017; Sitterson/Brooks Bldg)
  • SPRING BREAK (Mar 13-17, 2017)
  • Individual Research with Make-up Lecture on Jan 13, 2017 (Mon, Mar 20, 2017)
  • Individual Research with Make-up Lecture on Feb 13, 2017 (Wed, Mar 22, 2017)
  • Immersive VR Demos in Sitterson Room 232 (Sign up here) (Mon, Mar 27, 2017)
  • Individual Research with Make-up Lecture on Mar 7 & Apr 21, 2017 (Wed, Mar 29, 2017)
  • Mastering Google-Fu & Dynamical System Modeling (Mon, Apr 3, 2017)
  • Make-Up Lecture on April 21 (Wed , Apr 5, 2017)
  • Nanotechnology & Impact of Computer Technology in Molecular Biology and Genetics & Wearable Technology (Mon, Apr 10, 2017)
  • Wearable Technology & Autonomous Driving & Implications of Self-Driving Cars (Wed , Apr 12, 2017)
  • Artificial Intelligence & Digital vs. Traditional Media & Effects of YouTube on Society and Pop Culture & Computer Animation by Disney and Pixar (Mon, Apr 17, 2017)
  • Arts & Mathematics by Prof. Carlo Sequin of UC Berkeley & Computer Animation by Disney and Pixar (Wed, Apr 19, 2017)
  • Computer-Music & Impact of Technology on Language Development/Acquisition in Children & Assisted Technology & Impact of Technology on Healthcare (Fri, Apr 21, 2017)
  • Smart & Connected Health by Prof. Ruzena Bajcsy of UC Berkeley & Impact of Technology on Healthcare (Mon, Apr 24, 2017)
  • Computer Gaming Engines & 3D Modeling for Animation & Cryptography & Cybersecurity and National Defense (Wed, Apr 26, 2017)
  • Final Project Presentations (Tues, May 9th, 2017)

    ** Some of the art works and introductory materials were inspired and borrowed from Prof. Leonard McMillan's earlier lectures on "Fluency in Information Technology". Line

    COURSE READING MATERIALS

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    References & Materials Used in Lectures:

  • List of Reference Papers & Supplementary Materials
  • Introduction to Python
  • TBD
  • Reading List for the Class

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    ASSIGNMENTS AND PROJECTS

    Line The class grade of each student is determined by
  • Homework (30%)
  • Class Presentation (20%)
  • Course Project (40%)
  • Class Participation (10%)
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    POINTERS TO WEBSITES ON COMPUTING:

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    SELECTED INDUSTRY

  • Boston Dynamics Inc.
  • Dreamworks Animation
  • GamaNetwork
  • Havok
  • IBM Smarter Planet
  • Immersion Corporation
  • Massive Software
  • MAYA (Alias|Wavefront)
  • MSC.Working Knowledge
  • NVIDIA PHYSX
  • Pixar Animation Studios
  • Rhythm & Hues Studios
  • SensAble Technology
  • Walt Disney Animation Studio
  • Weta Digital
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    For more information, contact Ming C. Lin, lin@cs.unc.edu.
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