COMS W1004Introduction 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– Office hours: TBA

CEPSR

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TA ROOM

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

Course homepage

http://www.cs.columbia.edu/~cmurphy/1004

• Please check the course homepage frequently for important announcements and changes to the reading assignments

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

Grading

• Homeworks: 50%

• Final exam: 35%

• Research project: 15%

• These are “guidelines” for the final grade

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

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!)

Textbooks

• Schneider & Gersting Invitation to Computer Science, Java Version, Third Edition

• Cay Horstmann Big Java, Third Edition

• Both available at CU Bookstore or online

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

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

Today

• What is computer science?

• What is an algorithm?

• Reading: S&G 1-2, 15

• Next lecture: THIS Friday!

What is Computer Science?

“The study of algorithms, including:1. Their formal and mathematical properties2. Their hardware realizations3. Their linguistic realizations4. Their applications”-Schneider & Gersting, p.4

Computer Science is NOT (just) programming!

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

CS and Social Problems

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

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

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.”

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