BA Week 10 Course overview, conversations about computing’s future Dave Sullivan

Activities you should do: Complete Access #3 by noon Complete Access #3 by noon Work through both versions of the Practice Final Exam Work through both versions of the Practice Final Exam

Remaining Schedule Tuesday: building Access forms from scratch Tuesday: building Access forms from scratch Thursday lab: Hands-on practice for final exam Thursday lab: Hands-on practice for final exam Next week’s final exam: Next week’s final exam: – Monday -- 2:00 p.m.-3:50 p.m. – Tuesday -- noon.-1:50 p.m. – Tuesday - 6:00 p.m.-7:50 p.m. – Wednesday, 9:30 a.m.- 11:20 a.m.

Course Overview We surveyed the hands-on use of business software in two parts: –Visual communications: websites, wikis, PowerPoint, movies, … –Structured data processing: using a relational database to move and shake large amounts of information

Next steps … This course allows us to start two conversations about dynamic topics: –First, what should the college teach about computing? –Second, how will computing likely affect your life?

Where I will be living soon…

Moore’s law Moore’s law

Who is Ray Kurzweil?

Kurtweil’s law: Accelerating Returns An analysis of the history of technology shows that technological change is exponential, contrary to the common- sense "intuitive linear" view. So we won't experience 100 years of progress in the 21st century -- it will be more like 20,000 years of progress (at today's rate).

Magnetic Data Storage

Modem cost/performance

Decrease in size of mechanical devices

Fastest possible transmission speed

Internet use

What do these trends mean? Computers will be able to do new things … not just the old things faster Computers will be able to do new things … not just the old things faster We should not position ourselves to compete with computers … We should not position ourselves to compete with computers … Computers are like humans in that we both are constructed from binary codes Computers are like humans in that we both are constructed from binary codes

Possible human/computer trends Brain capacity is 100 billion neurons times an average 1,000 connections per neuron times 200 calculations per second. Thus, we will achieve Brain capacity is 100 billion neurons times an average 1,000 connections per neuron times 200 calculations per second. Thus, we will achieve One human brain capability for $1,000 around the year One human brain capability for $1,000 around the year One human brain capability for one cent around the year One human brain capability for one cent around the year We achieve one human race capability for $1,000 around the year We achieve one human race capability for $1,000 around the year We achieve one human race capability for one cent around the year We achieve one human race capability for one cent around the year 2059.

Practice Final Exam Winter term 2004 Actual Final Exam: inter04-final-exam/index.htm Winter term 2004 Actual Final Exam: inter04-final-exam/index.htm inter04-final-exam/index.htm inter04-final-exam/index.htm Winter term 2003 Actual Final Exam: inter03-final-exam/Yellow/index.htm Winter term 2003 Actual Final Exam: inter03-final-exam/Yellow/index.htm inter03-final-exam/Yellow/index.htm inter03-final-exam/Yellow/index.htm