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COMS W1004 Introduction to Computer Science

COMS W1004 Introduction to Computer Science. May 27, 2009. Teaching staff. Instructor: Chris Murphy cmurphy@cs.columbia.edu Office hours: Wed 3-5pm, 608 CEPSR TA: Swapneel Sheth swapneel@cs.columbia.edu Office hours: Mon 11am-1pm, 608 CEPSR TA: Suhas Prakash sp2794@columbia.edu

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COMS W1004 Introduction to Computer Science

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  1. COMS W1004Introduction to Computer Science May 27, 2009

  2. Teaching staff • Instructor: Chris Murphy • cmurphy@cs.columbia.edu • Office hours: Wed 3-5pm, 608 CEPSR • TA: Swapneel Sheth • swapneel@cs.columbia.edu • Office hours: Mon 11am-1pm, 608 CEPSR • TA: Suhas Prakash • sp2794@columbia.edu • Office hours: TBA

  3. CEPSR You are here

  4. TA ROOM

  5. About the course • This course is an introduction to computer science for computer science and other science and engineering majors having little or no prior programming experience. • The goals of this course are to teach students: • knowledge of the fundamental concepts in computer science • algorithmic program-solving capabilities • fundamental Java programming skills

  6. Course homepage http://www.cs.columbia.edu/~cmurphy/1004 • Please check the course homepage frequently for important announcements and changes to the reading assignments

  7. CourseWorks http://courseworks.columbia.edu/ • Check the “Discussion” section for questions related to the homeworks • Check the “Gradebook” to make sure our records match your own • Go to http://uni.columbia.edu if you have trouble logging in to CourseWorks

  8. Grading • Homeworks: 50% • Final exam: 35% • Research project: 15% • These are “guidelines” for the final grade

  9. Homeworks • There will be five homework assignments • Each homework (generally) has two parts: • Theory • Programming • Homeworks will be posted on the course homepage and announced in class

  10. Exams • An in-class final exam will be held on the last day of class: Wednesday, July 1 • Exam covers material from readings and lectures (so come to class!)

  11. Textbooks • Schneider & Gersting Invitation to Computer Science, Java Version, Third Edition • Cay Horstmann Big Java, Third Edition • Both available at CU Bookstore or online

  12. Syllabus • The course covers approx. 50% Java programming basics and 50% computer science theory • Check the course homepage for assigned readings for each lecture • The syllabus is always “tentative” but we’ll generally follow what’s there now

  13. Academic honesty • Please familiarize yourself with the Computer Science Department’s policy: http://www.cs.columbia.edu/education/honesty • It is YOUR responsibility to read and adhere to the policy

  14. Today • What is computer science? • What is an algorithm? • Reading: S&G 1-2, 15 • Next lecture: THIS Friday!

  15. What is Computer Science? “The study of algorithms, including: • Their formal and mathematical properties • Their hardware realizations • Their linguistic realizations • Their applications” -Schneider & Gersting, p.4 Computer Science is NOT (just) programming!

  16. Research Project • You will research a topic of your choosing that relates to either: • how computer science can be used to address real-world problems, or • the social impact of computing • You will then present your findings to the class in a very brief presentation later on in the course

  17. TECHNOLOGIES Mobile computing (handheld devices, embedded devices, etc.) Bioinformatics Ubiquitous computing (sensors, recording devices, etc.) Social networking Augmented/virtual reality Machine learning Robotics DOMAINS National security Personal security/safety Medicine & disease control Social welfare and equality Environmental issues (climate change, extinction, pollution, etc.) Distribution of wealth/goods/information Energy & natural resources CS and Social Problems

  18. Computing and Society • Digital media and IPR (Napster) • Encryption algorithms and national security (PGP) • Hackers and network security • Online anonymity: good or bad? • Medical research and privacy

  19. Proposal • As part of your Homework #1 submission, briefly outline 1-2 topics you would be interested in researching • For example: • “I am very interested in recycling. I would like to investigate how embedded devices in products can increase the percentage that get recycled in a given household.”

  20. Homework #1 • Do the following questions from S&G Third Edition: • Chapter 1: 7, 8, 9 • Chapter 2: 1, 10, 11, 21, 22, 23 • Research project proposal • Homework is due at the beginning of class on Monday, June 1! • Just a paper copy, not electronic

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