Comp 006-01: Computers Make it Possible
Instructor: Diane Pozefsky
Time: Monday and Wednesday 9:30 - 10:45
Location: Sitterson 115
Do you want to make a difference in the world? Do you want to learn how? Computers can help and this course will show you how. We will study how computers have changed our society and have themselves changed to meet those needs. This is a project-oriented course and projects will focus on helping address societal problems. Class material will cover broad topics such as how computers work and their influence on society as well as more detailed subjects such as the fundamentals of databases and how we build security into systems. Projects will address such problems as capturing information that reflects our disappearing biodiversity, local problems of pet overpopulation, or making computer programs that can help the visually impaired. Students are asked to come with a problem that they would like to address and a desire to make a difference.
Course Description:
The goal of this seminar is to teach students how computers have affected society and how those uses have changed computers. The course will feature hands-on experience with using computers to address a problem of interest to the student as well as research into the computer industry and its achievements in changing the world. While no programming experience is required, student projects will include some level of programming, most likely producing a web page that shows the type of solution they envision for their problem. Teams and projects will be adapted to the skills and interests of students.
When the course is completed, the student will be able to explain in non-technical language how computers actually accomplish such tasks as managing an eBay transaction and why there are tasks that computers can’t do. The student will have learned basic skills that will allow him or her to produce a web page, and will have learned how to distinguish popular press hyperbole from reality.