Introduction to Computer Science

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Introduction to Computer Science

• Raj Bhatnagar
• Department of Computer Science
• University of Cincinnati

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Administrivia

• Lecture 1-150, M,W 860D (Raj Bhatnagar)
• Lab 2-250 M,W 860D (Raj and TA)
• Office Hours M,W 11-12 (Rajs Office 835
  Rhodes)
• Lectures Focus What is CS Problems CS seeks
  to solve
• Lab Focus Some programming exercises in MATLAB
• Evaluation Programs in Labs 30
• Quizzes/Tests/ 30
• HW 25
• Final Exam 15

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• What is Computer Science About?

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What is Computer Science About?

• "Nobody is going to run 100 meters in five
  seconds, no matter how much is invested in
  training and machines. The same can be said about
  using the brain. The human mind is no different
  now from what it was five thousand years ago. And
  when it comes to mathematics, you must realize
  that this is the human mind at an extreme limit
  of its capacity." --Herbert Robbins,
  Mathematician

Technology and Innovation Technology and Innovation
For Traveling from A to B
For Problem Solving, Reasoning, Mathematical Thinking, Calculating, and everything that a brain does
As Commented by Edgar J. Dijkstra, (A well known
CS Professor)
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What is CS?

• Computer Science is no more about computers than
  astronomy is about telescopes.
• - E. Dijkstra

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What is CS?

• Computer Science is a science of abstraction
  -creating the right model for a problem and
  devising the appropriate mechanizable techniques
  to solve it.
• - A. Aho and J. Ullman

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What is CS?

• Understand how a human solves a problem/puzzle
• Chess, Sudoku, image understanding, . . .
• Write a Recipe a sequence of instructions on
  how to solve the problem
• Encode the instructions
• so that a computer can follow them

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Computer Science Major Tasks

• How to Achieve the following
• Represent Knowledge in electronic machines
• Represent Models of problem solutions
• Perform Reasoning
• Communicate and collaborate with
• Humans
• Other Computers
• Transfer information to long distances

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What is Computer Science?

• What do CS graduates jobs look like?
• Make computers solve interesting problems
  (Applications?)
• Most efficiently, effectively
• Design computers (Software Hardware Design)
• To solve difficult problems
• To integrate with business, sciences, arts,
  entertainment, and our everyday life
• To communicate with humans and with each other

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Various Types of Software

• Software to control Computers
• Device Drivers

• Written in Assembler language
• Every Hardware device needs it
• Phones
• PDAs
• iPODs
• Must be very efficient
• Must know hardware and software very well

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Various Types of Software

• Operating Systems

• Master Control Program
• Central Nervous System
• Controls all devices
• Talks to applications, users, devices, network
• Windows, Linux, OS2, etc.
• Written in lower level (Assembler) or kind of
  mid-level (C) languages
• Need to know about hardware and software

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Various Types of Software

• System Level Utilities

• On top of the Operating System Layer
• File Editors /Compilers/Development Tools
• Database Software
• Document Editors
• File System Managers
• Communication Software
• Security/Firewall programs
• Mail readers / Web Browsers

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Various Types of Software

• Networking software

• Control Communication Among Computers
• Networking protocols
• wireless communications
• internet communications
• large scale file systems on internet (music,
  movie archives)

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Various Types of Software

• Application Software Every aspect of society
• Banking, finance, investments
• Engineering, science, biology, genetics
• Architecture, design, art
• Music, computer games, animation movies
• Education, on-line tutorials
• Retail, airlines, supply chain management
• Manufacturing control and planning
• No domain is untouched!
• No aspect of life is untouched

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Fastest Growing Professions - BLS
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Job Market Projections by BLS
1 million new jobs by 2014
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CS(BS) Salaries - 2006
UC Graduates in CS (BS) 2006 Out of 16 Graduates
(14 responded to the survey) 5 - Continuing for
Graduate Degrees 9 Entered Job Market Avg.
Salary 76,000 Max. Salary 140,000 Min.
Salary 48000
National Trends - 2006