CS1315: Introduction to Media Computation Introduction to Course & Administrivia

Cedric Stallworth Office hours:  T.B.A. by Wednesday cc.gatech.edu  include CS1315 in the subject Coweb  Post questions/comments TAs, Dr. Potts and I monitor constantly

Course Objectives Students will be able to read, understand, modify, and assemble from pieces programs that achieve useful communication tasks: Image manipulation, sound synthesis and editing, text (e.g., HTML) creation and manipulation, and digital video effects.  We will always give you examples to use when we ask you to program Students will learn what computer science is about, especially data representations, algorithms, encodings, forms of programming. Students will learn useful computing skills, including graphing and database concepts

Perspective of the Course The computer is the most important invention to augment human thought since the written word.  The written world allowed us to describe our world and create law. Computers breathe life into the written word.  Computers can take descriptions and make them real, or can execute instructions as often as we wish. Computers can be used for as wide a range of purposes as those that we put the written word to. Programming in this class is for writing notes and poetry and graffiti and story-telling and lies.  Not just building application software.

def negative(picture): for px in getPixels(picture): red=getRed(px) green=getGreen(px) blue=getBlue(px) negColor=makeColor(255-red,255-green,255-blue) setColor(px,negColor) def clearRed(picture): for pixel in getPixels(picture): setRed(pixel,0) def greyscale(picture): for p in getPixels(picture): redness=getRed(p) greenness=getGreen(p) blueness=getBlue(p) luminance=(redness+blueness+greenness)/3 setColor(p, makeColor(luminance,luminance,luminance))

def chromakey2(source,bg): for p in getPixels(source): if (getRed(p)+getGreen(p) < getBlue(p)): setColor(p,getColor(getPixel(bg,getX(p),getY(p)))) return source

Caveats This course is differently paced than CS1301 or CS1371  The content is different: Less programming, more math, more general CS concepts (like networking), much more media  However, you WILL still be asked to learn to program! After this course, you may go on to CS1331 (if you feel confident that you’re ready for full-speed Java) or CS1316 (for an introduction to Java in a media context)

History and Purpose of Course Created in response to attitudes about CS1 in general Goal is to teach computation in terms relevant to non-CS and non-ECE majors Developed with an advisory board from across campus: LCC, Applied Physiology, Math, ECE, CETL

How grades will be determined 5%n Pop Quizes (5/n% each) 30%3 Midterms (10% each) 10%3 Quizzes (3.33% each) 10%4 Labs (2.5% each) 30%6 of 7 Homework Assignments (5% each) 15%Final A>= 90 B>=80 and <90 C>=70 and <80 D>=60 and <70 F<60 There is no curve!

Collaborative for Learning, Non-Collaborative for Assessment Collaboration OKNon-Collaborative Labs Homework Pre-quizzes (not graded)Quiz Midterms and Final Read the statement concerning acceptable practices on the website

Labs How to use your computer to do useful things  Word, Excel, PowerPoint, HTML On your own computer (not really in a lab) Collaborative

Pop Quizzes Unannounced Given during lecture Some may be collaborative, others not

Quizzes Pre-quizzes are released before quizzes. They are not collected, but are merely for your practice. They are collaborative - so feel free to work on them with your friends to learn the material Quizzes will be very similar in content, but in class (15-20 minutes), individual work

Homework Programming assignments Collaborative No Late Assignments Accepted AT ALL (without prior notification) Assignments due at 7:00 p.m on due date

Midterms and Final Three midterms  All-class-period long Final  Friday, May 4, 2:50-5:40  Trying to have a Monday, April, 30, 2:50-5:40 Option

Class website This is where you’ll find everything associated with the class—editable by you!  Syllabus  Homeworks/Projects/Labs  TA Information  Soapbox and Personals  Announcements (You are responsible for these! Check daily!!)

Text Book from Pearson/Prentice Hall: “Introduction to Computing and Programming in Python: A Multimedia Approach” by Mark Guzdial,  Be aware that this version of the book is copyright  The older book, “Introduction to Media Computation” 2nd edition, is very similar, but does differ some from the newest edition (that happens to have a new title.) CD with software and media attached to book  JES (our programming environment) also on CoWeb

No Cell Phones or Pagers Permitted Emergencies happen  Let me know before class if you are expecting a phone or page and need to leave it on But in any event, if you get a call or page, you are expected to LEAVE THE LECTURE.

COME TO CLASS! Approach of the class is apprenticeship  I’ll demonstrate a lot of what you need to do  You will see me make mistakes. You will also see how to fix them Class attendance is expected and required  But if you miss class, you are still responsible for everything that was covered. Get notes from a friend and see the online material.

Organization of the class Mandatory lectures  Mon/Wed/Fri in Klaus 1443  No Class Monday, January 15 Possibly, Friday, March 2 Spring Break  Monday, March 19  Wednesday, March 21  Friday, March 23 Strongly Recommended (but highly recommended) recitations  Section B1, Thursdays, 6-7:30 CoC 101  Section B2, Tuesdays, 6-7:30 CoC 101  Section B3, Wednesdays, 3-4:30 CoC 17  Section B4, Thursdays, 4:30-6 Klaus 2447  Problem solving, examples, and so on

TALK TO US! (Please!) We really want to know if the class is working and how it doesn’t work  Comment areas on CoWeb  Office hours etc.