computer science for the artist
Computers are faster and cheaper than ever before and at the same time user interface advances make powerful applications more accessible to the non-computer scientist. In a diverse range of industries, it is now essential for non-computer scientists to create, modify and interact with sophisticated computer applications. Although improved interfaces like high-level scripting languages and visual programming environments, have changed the skill set needed to use the computer, a conceptual understanding of computing and computer interfaces is still required. The very advances allowing direct computer use by non-computer scientists have actually increased the need for computer literacy. Thus computer science departments should expand and enhance course offerings to give non-majors the conceptual understanding and skills they need to become sophisticated users/developers in their particular fields. This paper describes a series of courses developed at Ithaca College that are designed to provide multimedia programming skills and concepts to liberal arts majors.
computer science computation timing use users user interface interfaces applications access script languages visual programming program environments skill concept understandability direct computer literacy developer paper multimedia