Introduction and Overview

The Big Questions

• What is this thing called the Web?

• Where did it come from?

• Where is it going?

• Why have computers taken over the world?

• Are there any limitations to what they can do?

• Could they ever become super-intelligent?

• What is computer science all about?

Our Approach

• We'll start by looking at the history of computer technology and the Web

• We'll learn HTML, the language of the Web (added benefit: it's fun and very useful!)

• We'll learn to program interactive Web pages in JavaScript (even more fun than HTML!)

• We'll take a look "under the hood" to see how computers really work

• We'll study abstract models of computation called Turing Machines, which will tell us something about the ultimate limits of computers

• We'll talk about robots and artificial intelligence

• We'll consider the social impact of computers and the Web

• Our approach will be hands-on, with many in-class labs and exercises on the computer

• We'll read about the development of the Web from the perspective of its inventor, Tim Berners-Lee

• Many supplemental readings as well

Course Goals

• Learn practical Web design and programming skills

• Learn to think in a rigorous, precise, and logical way

• Understand the fundamental principles of computers and computation

• Gain a deeper appreciation of the role of technology in society from a liberal arts perspective

This Week

• Read excerpt from Fire in the Valley handed out in class

• Read Chapters 1-4 of Weaving the Web

• A short history of computers and the Internet