Learning Outcomes

• A basic understanding of what Computer Science is.
• An idea of the range of problems computer scientists can solve.

What is Computer Science?

1. Programming
2. Problem Solving
3. Building Computers
4. All of the Above

Computer Science is about problem solving.

Wikipedia (wikipedia.org) defines computer science as

the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation, and of practical techniques for their implementation and application in computer systems. It is frequently described as the systematic study of algorithmic processes that describe and transform information; the fundamental question underlying computer science is, "What can be (efficiently) automated?"

Computer Science

• Can the problem be solved using a step by step process?
  • Designing Algorithms
• If so, can the solution be computed?
  • Implementation of Algorithms
• If so, how will the solution be computed?
  • Software Development or Engineering (Programming)
• If so, how quickly can the solution be computed?
  • Analysis of Algorithms

What kinds of problems can I solve with Computer Science?

• Can I create robots that fly?
  • Yes... Check out the video by Sabine Hauert on Bio-inspired Flying Robots at
    http://videolectures.net/aaai08_hauert_bifr/
    
• Can I rescue soldiers from a battlefield and operate on them remotely as they are being transported?
  • Possibly...Check out the video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4wjAlprgBc
• Can I determine the authenticity of a Van Gogh painting using computing?
  • Yes... Check out the video by Laurens van der Maaten and Eric Postmaon on the Digital Analysis of Van Gogh Paintings at
    http://videolectures.net/aaai08_maaten_davgp/
    

Python

Python is the programming language that we will use to tell the computer what to do.

Python...

• Was developed by Guido van Rossum in 1990;
• Is specifically designed for programmers;
  • Readability and ease of use are more important than efficiency
• Is an interpreted language like Java and Perl rather than a compiled language like C or C++;
• Has a command line interface where you can enter a line of code and see what it does.

linux3[72] % python
Python 2.4.3 (#1, Jun 11 2009, 14:09:58)
[GCC 4.1.2 20080704 (Red Hat 4.1.2-44)] on linux2
Type "help", "copyright", "credits" or "license" for more information.
>>> print "Hello Class!"
Hello Class!
>>>