This course covers the origins and evolution of computing, beginning with early manual computation and going through today (when we even have computers on Mars!). It follows the series of innovations and discoveries that led to the modern computer, the Internet, the Web, and new computing devices such as tablet computers and smart phones. Along the way we will meet several luminaries of the field, including Charles Babbage, Ada Lovelace, Alan Turing, Claude Shannon, Grace Hopper, John von Neumann, and others. We will discuss the role of computers in issues such as privacy, communication, job automation, warfare, artificial intelligence, and more.
Students registered for the class will be actively posting and discussing relevant topics here. Everyone else is also welcome to join in!
The first class meeting will be Monday, September 26. Stay tuned!
Looking for an excuse to post a comment, I must recommend Hark! A Vagrant, which is quite possibly the best historical webcomic out there. Here’s one about Young Ada Lovelace:
http://www.harkavagrant.com/index.php?id=298
That’s awesome. XKCD has referenced Hark! A Vagrant a few times, but I’ve not actually taken the time to follow it. I might have to now.
Excellent comic, Austin! Thanks for sharing.
I’m a big xkcd fan, too.
I don’t think anyone who isn’t into math/computers/science/general nerdery isn’t an xkcd fan. I always feel accomplished when I figure out what one of his references are that I didn’t get the first time I read a given comic.
For more nerdy webcomics check out Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal:
http://www.smbc-comics.com/