This course is intended for students from the humanities and social sciences who want a one-course introduction to computers, and have little or no computer experience. No mathematics or science background is assumed. The course is a broad introduction to computer science.
Emphasis is on understanding how computers really work.
Also addressed are essential limitations of the computer, such as undecidability, as well as future prospects for artificial intelligence and online access to the world's knowledge. Many of the motivating examples for course topics will come from the World Wide Web. The laboratory is complementary to the classroom work, uses PCs, and is based on the Internet and the World Wide Web. They will add to their home pages throughout the semester, while exploring a broad spectrum of practical applications, including graphics, digital sound and spreadsheets. There will also be labs that provide a gentle introduction to programming in Visual Basic.