1. CS 1104 INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTER SCIENCE
J.A.N. Lee
Professor of Computer Science
Good morning
I am JAN Lee, professor of Computer Science at Virginia Tech and administrator of this course - CS 1104 Introduction to Computer Science.
This semester this course is restricted to Computer Science majors and we will be emphasizing computer science as career and those aspects of the science that compose the topic.
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What is Computer Science?

2. What is Computer Science?
Have you?
Checked out the course web site?
Downloaded and installed the Macromedia Flash plug-in?
Verified that you are on the LISTSERV® address list?
Registered with the WebCT system?
Completed the pre- and post-class activities?
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What is Computer Science?

3. What is Computer Science?
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What is Computer Science?

4. What is Computer Science?
The Components
Computers and computing only just over 50 years old
Computer Science is about 40 years old
Still developing and expanding
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What is Computer Science?

5. 6 Blind Men and an Elephant
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What is Computer Science?

6. What is Computer Science?
5 Faculty and a Science
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What is Computer Science?

7. What Computer Science is NOT! (Totally)
Programming in C++ or Java.
Text editing or word processing.
Using spread sheets or any other applications.
Browsing the web.
Developing interactive arcade games
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What is Computer Science?

8. Definition of Computer Science
Computer Science is the study of algorithms, including their:
Formal and mathematical properties
Hardware realizations
Linguistic realizations
Applications
And one more ...
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What is Computer Science?

9. What is Computer Science?
Lee’s Law
The Law: Everything in Computer Science can be categorized into groups of five components (otherwise known as quintuples).
Corollary: If not fix it!
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What is Computer Science?

10. What is Computer Science?
The Missing Item
Computer Science is the study of algorithms, including their:
Formal and mathematical properties
Hardware realizations
Linguistic realizations
Applications
Ethical Usage and Social Impact
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What is Computer Science?

11. Alternate Definition of Computer Science
The study of information, its representation, organization, manipulation, and transformation to accomplish some end.
The manipulation and transformation is accomplished by computation, which is specified as algorithms.
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What is Computer Science?

12. Is Computer Science REALLY a Science?
The systematic observation of natural events and conditions in order to discover facts about them and to formulate laws and principles based on these facts.
The organized body of knowledge that is derived from such observations and that can be verified or tested by further investigation.
Any specific branch of this general body of knowledge, such as biology, physics, geology, or astronomy. (From the Latin word meaning “knowledge.”)
Source: Academic Press Dictionary of Science Technology
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What is Computer Science?

13. Comparison to Physics - I
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14. Comparison to Physics - II
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15. We can make other comparisons
Biology - has many scales of size from microbiology to environmental biology
Engineering - has many levels of concept from electronics to construction
Mathematics - has synthesis and decomposition
Philosophy - has fundamental truths
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What is Computer Science?

16. Or Is Computer Science an APPLIED Science?
Our work is dependent on more fundamental sciences
Our “objects of study” are man-made
Our laws are the laws of application
The laws of CS are frequently violated by human error!
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What is Computer Science?

17. Computer Science Builds on Other Disciplines
Mathematics
Philosophy
Physics
Computer Science
Sociology
Chemistry
Engineering
Linguistics
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What is Computer Science?

18. HIERARCHIES OF INTEREST
There are other levels of interest in CS. For example, there is a hierarchy of languages:
High level languages
Assembly language
Machine language
Microcode
VERY HIGH LEVEL LANGUAGES!
EXCEL, ACCESS
What is missing?
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What is Computer Science?

19. A hierarchy of computer science
1. Algorithmic foundations
2. Hardware world
3. Virtual machines
4. Software world
5. Social issues
This is the general hierarchy that we will use in this course
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What is Computer Science?

20. Computer Science At Virginia Tech
The courses we teach:
The course requirements for graduation:
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The interests and research of our faculty
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What is Computer Science?

21. The Lower Division Courses
CS1044: Introduction to Programming
CS1104: Introduction to Computer Science
CS1204, 2204: Operating System Tools I, II
CS1604: Computers and Networked Information
CS1704: Introduction to Data Structures & Software Engineering
CS2604: Data Structures and File Processing
CS2704: Object-Oriented Software Design and Construction
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What is Computer Science?

22. What is Computer Science?
The Junior Courses
CS3204: Operating Systems
CS3304: Comparative Languages
CS/Math 3414: Numerical Methods
CS3604: Professionalism in Computing
CS3704: Software Engineering
CS3724: Introduction to Human-Computer Interaction
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What is Computer Science?

23. What is Computer Science?
The Senior Courses - I
CS4104: Data and Algorithm Analysis
CS4114: Formal Languages
CS4124: Theory of Computation
CS4204: Computer Graphics
CS4214: Simulation and Modeling
CS4234: Parallel Computation
CS4414: Issues in Scientific Computing
CS4504: Computer Organization
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What is Computer Science?

24. What is Computer Science?
The Senior Courses - II
CS4304: Compilers and Translators
CS4604: Introduction to Database Management Systems
CS4624: Multimedia, Hypertext and Information Access
CS4704: Software Engineering
CS4804: Introduction to Artificial Intelligence
CS4984: WWW - The Underlying Technology
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What is Computer Science?

25. What is Computer Science?
Research Interests
Center for Human-Computer Interaction
Digital Libraries Research Laboratory
Internet Technology Innovation Center
Parallel Computation Laboratory
Network Research Group
Problem Solving Environments Group
Simulation and Software Engineering Laboratory
Systems Research Center
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26. The Textbook Hierarchy
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27. http://courses.cs.vt.edu/~cs1104/ Introduction/Chapter1.010.htm
REVIEW
Introduction/Chapter1.010.htm
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What is Computer Science?