1 True Computer Literacy and Core Concepts for Non-majors Kurt F. Lauckner Department of Computer...

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True Computer Literacy and Core Concepts for Non-majors

Kurt F. Lauckner

Department of Computer Science

Eastern Michigan University

csc_lauckner@online.emich.edu

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- Historical Notes -

Computer Literacy:

Programming Show & Tell Business Uses Ethics & Society Problem Solving Tools Concepts Approach

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- Historical Notes -

The Tools:

Word processing Electronic Spreadsheets Data Base Systems Communications and the Web Web Page Development Programs

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Comparison with other Fields

Economics Political science Physics Psychology Chemistry

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What are concepts?

Not skills

They are fundamental

They are pervasive

They have a lasting quality

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A Fundamental Concept:

Bit Mapped vs Object Graphics

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A Fundamental Concept:

Why is the binary system used in digital computers?

Is it because binary is equivalent to the “on” and “off” of a switch? NO!

The real reason: Binary is cheap Binary is reliable

Quantum computers and the future

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A Pervasive Concept:

Audio Information Cassette tapes/ CDs DATs Internet Talk

Visual information Television/digital TV Internet video

Digital vs. Analog

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A Pervasive Concept:

How many times can an audio tape be copied before it sounds terrible?

How many times can an image be copied before it falls apart?

Digital vs. Analog

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A Pervasive Concept:

Analog vs. Digital

Humansdigital!

are

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A Pervasive Concept: Humans are digital?

Digital in what sense? We move in an analog fashion We digest food in an analog fashion

Every living thing has a digital base DNA and the double helix Base four

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A Pervasive Concept: Humans are digital!

The DNA in the cells of a human are copied millions of times during their lifetime.

Only a digital process could do this with the accuracy needed.

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A Lasting Concept:

Many examples Stonehenge Link trainers Wind tunnel

Current examples Virtual reality Artificial intelligence

Simulation

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Simulation Science

Predicting the derivatives market

Evolutionary programming

Information system agents

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Concepts Approach: Theory

Five kinds of information Storage of the information The stored program computer Using the computer (Operating Systems) Humans communicating with the computer Computers communicating with computers

(Networks)

The how and why of computers

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Core Concepts: Applications Category

Network communication, the Internet Information Systems Visual Communication Audio Communication Simulation Artificial Intelligence/Genetic Programming Education and Training Real Time/Process Control Entertainment

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Appendix: Concepts for Consideration

Introduction

Defining a computer

Structure of a computer

Hardware vs computer software

Electronic and mechanical

Special purpose vs general purpose

Analog vs digital computersRepresentation & Storage of Info.

Reason for the binary system

Representing information in binary

Five basic categories (numbers, symbols, images, audio, programs)

The binary & hexidecimal numbers

RAM & ROM (permanent & nonperm.)

Primary vs secondary memory

Basic Structure / Software

An algorithm

A computer program

The process of writing a program

The von Neumann computer

Fetch/execute and "clock" speed

Parallel processing /supercomputer

Controlling the Computer

Operating systems

Information flow

Booting up the computer

The user interface

Organization of files & directories

Input/output information

Multitasking

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Appendix: Concepts for Consideration

Progr. Languages & Software The communication cycle

Human & computer languages

Program translators

Generations of Languages

Software development

Networks

Communications channel

Connecting computers

Direct vs indirect connections

Networking software (e.g., browsers, TCP/IP)

Internet and World Wide Web

The Internet

Hypertext and hypermedia

Browsers

Electronic mail

Conferencing

Data Bases & Info. Systems

Gathering information

Storing information

Accessing information

Analyzing information

The data base and DBMS

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Appendix: Concepts for Consideration

Visual Communication

Digitizing images

Manipulating existing images

Creating original images

Bit mapped vs object graphics

Animation

Visualization of information

Audio Communication

Speech synthesis

Speech recognition

Natural language communication

Digitized sound

MIDI

Simulation

Predictable vs probabilistic

Continuous vs discrete

Models

Biases in models

Virtual reality

Artifical Intelligence &Genetic Sys.

Knowledge represent. & acquisition

Reasoning

Neural networks

Expert systems

Intelligent agents

Genetic programming

Complex adaptive systems

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Appendix: Concepts for Consideration

Education and Training

Cognitive learning

Pyschomotor skills

Social interaction learning

Distance learning

Learning over the Internet

Ethics & Privacy

False information

Computer security issues

Trojan horses, worms, & viruses

Monitoring in the workplace

Signature authentication

Government vs individual privacy

Cryptography

Word Processing

Fonts

Support progr.(spelling & grammer)

Spreadsheets

Cells

Support Programs (graphing, statistics)

Data Base

Basics (fields, records)

Support Programs (report generators)

Communications

Basics (modems, PPP, IP, browsers)

Graphics

Basics (lines, fills, object vs bit map.)

Support Programs (presentation sys.)

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References

• National Research Council, Report of the Computer Science and Telecommunications Board, Being Fluent with Information Technology, 2000.

• Denning , Peter J., A Commentary On Fluency in Information Technology, Inventio, 2, 1 (Feb.2000)

• Hillis, Danny, The Pattern on the Stone. Perseus Books, 1999.

• Lauckner, Kurt and Lintner, Mildred. The Computer Continuum, Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall, 2001.