Winter 1998 Computers and Society
GST 2710, Section 90571
AGS 3360, Section 95198

Schedule of Topics and Assignments

Last updated: 1/26/98
Link back to course Welcome ...

Instructor: David R. Bowen
Platform: DOS/Windows

CIO = Computers Inside and Out
MW = Microsoft Works Step by Step

Assignments are due the week after they are assigned.

Week Topic Topic
3 (1/27) Introduction to Computers

Binary Systems

Computer Information

DOS/Windows Basics

CIO: What is Information Pp 16-20

CIO: Representations of Numbers Pp 20-29

CIO: Representing Pictures/Symbols/Sound Pp 30 - 39

MW: Windows Basics

4 (2/3) Introduction to Computers

Binary system (cont.)

Introduction to MS Works

DOS/Windows Basics

CIO: Instructions as Numbers Pp 40 - 45

CIO: Basic Concepts of Computers Pp 5-6

CIO: Word Processing Programs Pp 400-403

MW: 1 - 33

5 (2/10) Computer logic

Interrelationships among computer hardware units

Characteristics of structural components (ROM/RAM etc.)

MS Works (Word Processing, Graphics)

CIO: What is an Operating System Pp 94-96

CIO: How information moves around in a computer Pp 96-98

CIO: Storage of Binary Information Pp 46-50

 

MW: 34 - 49, 106 - 113

6 (2/17) Primary storage and information flow
Databases

 


MS Works (Graphics)

CIO: Drawing Programs Pp 415-417

CIO: Database Systems Pp 409-411

CIO: Retrieving Data/Simple DBMS Pp 243-247, 253-259

MW: 114 - 124

7 (2/24) A Detailed Example: Pencil and Paper computer

Computer languages

Fonts and printing

MS Works (Database)

CIO: Pencil and Paper Computer Pp 73-88

CIO: Are Computer Languages the Same as Human Languages: Pp 117-121

Handouts

MW: 50 - 66

8 (3/3) Hierarchy of Languages

 

MS Works (Database)

CIO: Language Classification Pp 121-130

CIO: Minimum Language Requirements Pp 131-136

MW: 67 - 75

9 (3/10) Operating Systems and networks

MS Works (Spreadsheet)

CIO: Spreadsheets Pp 404-408

MW: 76 - 81

10 (3/24) Computers and Society: "The Machine Stops"


MS Works (Spreadsheet)

Handout

CIO: Invasion of Privacy Pp 390-396

MW: 82 - 88

11 (3/31) Communications - characteristics of transmission media and devices

Networks & Internet



MS Works (Spreadsheet)

CIO: Communications Basics/Media Pp 266-268, 269-272

CIO: How are Networks Used Pp 272-279

CIO: Internet and WWW Pp 279-283

Handouts for Fetch (FTP), Telnet and World Wide Web pages

MW: 89 - 97

12 (4/7) Communications (cont.)

Networks & Internet (cont.)

The Machine Stops (class discussion)

MS Works (Spreadsheet)

CIO: The Information Age Pp 232-237

 

 


MW: 98 - 105

13 (4/14) Computers and Society

Communications (practical)

CIO: What is Intelligence Pp 290-292

CIO: Fundamental Concepts in Artificial Intelligence Pp 293-302

14 (4/21) Computers and Society

Artificial Intelligence (cont.)

Communications (practical)

CIO: Pattern Recognition Pp 302-303

CIO: Natural Language Communication
Pp 307-308

CIO: Neural Networks Pp 312-314

CIO: What Should Computers Help Us Learn? Pp 359-360

Review

15 (5/5) Computers and society/Final Exam

(Impact of Computers on Human Life)