Notes on Computer science - Introduction to Computing | CPSC 181, Study notes of Computer Science

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Dr. Valerie Taylor Texas A&M UniversityTAs:

Roger PearcePhillip Coleman

http://elearning.tamu.edu

http://www.cs.tamu.edu/people/taylor/cpsc

CPSC 181

Introduction to Computing

Today’s Class

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Introductions

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Pictures

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Review of the Syllabus

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Brief review of the Department

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Brief overview of the CS Curriculum

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Brief overview of the Writing Center

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Pre-test

Goals

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Introduction to the broad field ofcomputing» Include presentations on how fundamental

concepts are used in end products and research

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Introduction to technical writing» Presentations on writing (first two lectures)» Required text on writing» Significant writing assignments

5

What is Computer Science?

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Bierman:

Computer science is the study of

algorithms» how to conceive them and write them down,

programming-in-the-small vs. programming-in-the-large

» how to execute them (why does a machine act

the way it does, what are limitations, whatimprovements are possible)

7

Brookshear's Diagram

Algorithm

Limitations of

Execution of

Communication of

Analysis of

Discovery of

Representation of

theory of computation,…

architecture, operating systems,networks,…

software engineering,…

algorithmics,…

artificial intelligence,…

data structures, programminglanguage design,…

8

What is Computer Science?

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Schneider and Gersting start with whatcomputer science is

not:

Computer science is

not the study of computers.

Fellows and Parberry: "Computer science is no moreabout computers than astronomy is about telescopes,biology is about microscopes, or chemistry is aboutbeakers and test tubes. Science is not about tools.It is about how we use them, and what we find outwhen we do."

10

What is Computer Science?

3. Computer science is

not the study of the uses and

applications of computers and software.

Schneider and Gersting: "Learning to use a software

package is no more a part of computer science thandriver's education is a branch of automotiveengineering."

Computer scientist works on specifying, designing,

building, and testing software for others to use.

11

What is Computer Science?

Schneider and Gersting: Computer science is "the

study of algorithms, including

their formal and mathematical properties

their hardware realizations

their linguistic realizations

their applications"

13

What is Computer Science?

•^

C.A.R. Hoare: the central core of computerscience is "the art of designing efficient andelegant methods of getting a computer to solveproblems"

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D. Reed: Identifies 3 main themes:» hardware: circuit design, chip manufacturing, systems

architects, parallel processing » software: systems software (e.g., operating systems),

development software (e.g., compilers), applicationssoftware (e.g., web browsers) » theory: understand inherent capabilities and limitations

of different models of computation (for instance, provingthat certain problems CANNOT be solvedalgorithmically)

14

Subfields of Computer Science

(From Reed,

based on work by Denning)

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Algorithms and DataStructures

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Architecture

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Operating Systems andNetworks

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Software Engineering

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Artificial Intelligence andRobotics

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Bioinformatics

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ProgrammingLanguages

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Databases andInformation Retrieval

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Graphics

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Human-ComputerInteraction

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Computational Science

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OrganizationalInformatics

Advising Staff

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Dr. Joseph Hurley, SeniorLecturer

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Dr. Richard Furuta,Professor

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Ms. Marilyn Payton

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Location:

901 Richardson

Student Organizations

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Aggie Women in Computer Science (AWICS)» http://awics.cs.tamu.edu/

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Student Engineers’ Council (SEC)» http://sec.tamu.edu/

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Texas A&M Computing Society (TACS)» Student chapter of ACM and IEEE-CS» http://tacs.cs.tamu.edu/

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Texas Aggie Game Developers (TAGD)» http://tagd.cs.tamu.edu/

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Upsilon Pi Epsilon (UPE) Computer Science HonorSociety» http://upe.cs.tamu.edu/

First Assignment

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Survey of faculty in this department.» Due in 2 weeks, 9 September 2008» Pick 6 faculty, two from each level

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Assistant Professors – new, not tenured

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Associate Professors – not new, usually tenured

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Full Professors – senior researchers, tenured

» Write one paragraph about each faculty

member

» Visit: http//www.cs.tamu.edu

• Click on people, faculty– Research profiles provide research interests– Home pages provide more detailed information

First Assignment

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Important to proof-read your write-upprior to turning in the assignment

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Assignments must be turned in using the“Assignments” tools on WebCT

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Will have an opportunity to revise the firstand second write-up for a new grade

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See the grading rubric (course syllabus) tounderstand the grading process