Computers in Principle and Practice I
V22.0004
, Sections 1 & 3
Sana` Odeh
Email odeh@courant.nyu.edu
Office hours: Mondays 4:30 am- 6:30 pm, Room 321
Computer Science Department
New York University

 Course Description
 What’s this class all about (Goals)?
 A preview of software applications used
 Text Books
 Administrative Issues:
 Important dates, Grading, Email and UNIX
Accounts, Computer labs
 Office Hours, Tutors for this course
 Course Web site



 Understanding the concepts behind computers




Basic operating system skills (MAC, UNIX and PC)

Word processing and desktop publishing concepts and practice


Spreadsheets
Internet tools

Web authoring

Multimedia (using "Photoshop" and "ImageReady" with GIF
Animation among others)

Basic Web Animation and Programming using Flash
 You will be encouraged to use the computer as much as possible, because this will be useful for you in your college career and beyond.

Exploring concepts behind computers,
Networking, and Internet and the web


The development of computer technology is one of the great stories of the Twentieth
Century.
An educated citizen should know about computers.
 We will tell you something about:
 Computing Hardware
 History of computing, Internet and the web
 How the Internet and the web work
 Copyright, privacy, security, etc..
 Current developments in the world of computers and the Internet



"Microsoft Office 2004" for the Macintosh the "Standard" package, not the
"Professional" package

Microsoft Office will include following software:

Microsoft Word (word processing: newsletters, reports, etc..)


Power Point used for presentations
Excel used for Spreadsheets and Simple databases
Web browsers:

Safari, FireFox, Internet Explorer or Netscape

This software is available for free for educational purposes, which is the purpose we are using it for.


Adobe Photoshop:

(multimedia, imaging and animation
Macromedia Dream Weaver MX:

An HTML Editor used for web development

 Please note:
 As this is a course about technology, we will provide on-line resources on all of the subjects that we cover.
 However, we are aware that for some of you, it is easier and more convenient for many reasons to use textbooks.
 In such a case, here are the textbooks that we recommend for any and/or all of the topics that we plan to cover.
 Please be sure to speak to us if you have any questions about the readings.

You can find Recommended textbooks and Syllabus online: http://www.cs.nyu.edu/courses/spring09/V22.0004-
001/syllabus.htm





Because you have registered for this course, you will be able to use the computer labs at any time they are open.
The lab will have all software need for this class and you can use during this course
You need to use your ID card to gain access.
The main computer labs that you will be using is in the (Apple
Computers):
1. Multimedia lab
Education Building
35 W. 4th Street on the second floor.
2. Third North Dorm
3rd ave. and 12 street.


Tutors will be present at Third North lab 20 hours a week.
Tutor hours will posted on course homepage
There are other labs, although those are the main two with Apple computers.

Internet Account and class account used in this course
Special UNIX Account called “I5”:
 used for developing your web site
 You do NOT have to apply for this account, you will be assigned this account automatically based upon your enrollment in this course
 If you are a high school student, please speak to me today to set you up with an account. You will not be able to do it on your own.



* Please note that in this class, it will be acceptable to do your assignments on a Mac OR a PC.
Notes on the assignments:

In all, there will probably be about eight assignments.

It is important not to get behind in turning in assignments.

If you do get behind, we still want you to do the assignment, so it is better to turn in a late assignment than to skip it and you may wish to speak with your instructor about this.

However, late assignments will be penalized, and may not be graded except to note that the assignment was turned in.




10% during the first week late;
20% during the second week late; and 30% during the third and fourth weeks after the due date.


Assignments due before the midterm exam are not accepted after the week after our return from spring break without special permission from the instructor.
No assignments are accepted after the last day of class.
 Extensions:

You are permitted one extension (for one week maximum ) no questions asked! - during the course of the semester.
 You need to email grader notifying her about extension before assignment due date.
- However, please do not hesitate to contact me if you are falling behind, if you would like assistance, or there are circumstances beyond your control which delay your work.

 For the purposes of this class, cheating is defined as:

Copying all or part of another student's homework, project or exam.

Allowing another student to copy all or part of your homework, project, or exam.

Discussing homework concepts is fine, but you must submit your own work
• Make sure to read the CS department statements on Academic
Integrity for more details.
 If you are caught cheating, you will receive an immediate
FAILURE for the course.

Save copies and back-up your work
(use a USB flash drive).


For your own good you must save all programs on back-up storage medium.
Lost work or crashed systems do not provide adequate excuses for missing or late homework.


You might consider purchasing a USB Flash Drive that you can easily carry around especially when you want to work in the lab.

These have become very cheap.
You could also store all of your assignments and course work under your NYU Home Account.
 So, one option is to upload your files online and download them as needed ( we will go over this in class ).

 In an effort to make this class enjoyable for everybody…
 Please be on time to class!
 Please do not talk to your friends and neighbors in class!
 It disturbs everyone, and makes it hard to concentrate.
 If you have a question, just ask me!
 Please turn your pagers and cell-phones off!


Grade Distribution:

Assignments (50%)

Midterm exam (20%)

Final exam (30%)

Whenever you have a question about the course material, please feel free to drop by during my office hours or write me an email message. If at any time you feel that you are falling behind or are overwhelmed by the material, let me know:
I will be very happy to help you.



Help is always available!
Option1: Come to my Office Hours
Mondays 4:30 am- 6:30 pm
– Location: Room 321 Warren Weaver Hall
– I get bored when nobody visits!
– If you cannot make my office hours,
I will be happy to make an appointment with you.
– Please try to give me advance warning when you need an appointment.
 Tutors: available at the ITS Third
North Lab (20 hours a week. Hours will be posted on the class website)
 Search the web: lots of tutorials and helpful tips

 Web site contains the following information:
 Administrative information
 Course Syllabus
 Homework assignments

Class notes

Class programs
 Sample exams
 Compiler instructions


Link to the class mailing list
This is available by accessing the Computer Science Department Home Page at:

 http://cs.nyu.edu
• From there, choose "Course Home Pages" and then your section of "V22.0004.001".
Let’s check it out… http://cs.nyu.edu/courses/spring09/V22.0004-001/index.html




Computer
 Device capable of performing computations and making logical decisions
 Computers process data under the control of sets of instructions called computer programs
Hardware
 Various devices comprising a computer
 Keyboard, screen, mouse, disks, memory, CD-ROM, and processing units
Software
 Programs that run on a computer


Six logical units in every computer:

Input unit
 Obtains information from input devices (keyboard, mouse)
 Output unit

Outputs information (to screen, to printer, to control other devices)
 Memory unit

Rapid access, low capacity, stores input information
 Arithmetic and logic unit (ALU)
 Performs arithmetic calculations and logic decisions

Central processing unit (CPU)
 Supervises and coordinates the other sections of the computer

Secondary storage unit


Cheap, long-term, high-capacity storage
Stores inactive programs




Personal computers
 Economical enough for individual
 Popularized by Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak with the introduction of the Apple in 1977.
 In 1981 IBM introduced the IBM personal computer using
“off the shelf” components.
Distributed computing
 Computing distributed over networks
Client/server computing
 Sharing of information across computer networks between file servers and clients (personal computers)





In the 1969, the Advanced Research Projects Agency of the
Department of Defense (ARPANet) funded research to network its researching facilities and universities
Packet switching
 The transfer of digital data via small packets
 Allows multiple users to send and receive data simultaneously
No centralized control
 If one part of the Internet fails, other parts can still operate
Bandwidth
 Information carrying capacity of communications lines


The World Wide Web (WWW) was created in 1989/1990 by Tim Berners-Lee
 Allows users to locate and view multimedia-based documents create by others in the world on various subjects
 files, images, animations, video, audio, etc.
 An Internet Browser ( such as Internet Explorer or Netscape) is a software that allows you to browse the Internet and view/download documents from the web


Possible for individuals and small businesses to get worldwide exposure
Changing the way business is done (yes, this is still true in post bubble days)

Good luck!
Please speak to me if you have questions or comments