1 - 10 of 216 results for: CS

For those with limited experience with computers or who want to learn more about Stanford's computing environment. Topics include: computer maintenance and security, computing resources, Internet privacy, and copyright law. One-hour lecture/demonstration in dormitory clusters prepared and administered weekly by the Resident Computer Consultant (RCC). Final project. Not a programming course.

A practical introduction to using the Unix operating system with a focus on Linux command line skills. Class will consist of video tutorials and weekly hands-on lab sections. The time listed on AXESS is for the first week's logistical meeting only. Topics include: grep and regular expressions, ZSH, Vim and Emacs, basic and advanced GDB features, permissions, working with the file system, revision control, Unix utilities, environment customization, and using Python for shell scripts. Topics may be added, given sufficient interest. Course website: http://cs1u.stanford.edu

Sound, image and video editing techniques and applications, including understanding file formats and publishing multimedia online. Topics: GarageBand, Photoshop, iMovie, Final Cut Pro, and iDVD. Weekly lecture followed by lab section. Second unit for additional creative production assignments completed outside of class time and Final Project with group. Not a programming course, but will use computer multimedia applications heavily for editing.

Exploration of great ideas in computer science, from understanding how search engines on the Web work to looking at mathematical theories underlying social networks, from questioning whether a computer can be intelligent to analyzing the notion of what is even possible to computers. Small group work to research topics in computer science. Field trips to local companies and the Computer History Museum.

Preference to freshmen. Can mental attitudes attributed to people and sometimes to animals, including knowledge, belief, desire, and intention, also be ascribed to machines? Can light sensors have a belief? Can a pool cleaning robot or tax-preparation software have an intention? If not, why not? If yes, what are the rules of such ascription, and do they vary between human beings and machines? Sources include philosophy, neuroscience, computer science, and artificial intelligence. Topics: logic, probability theory, and elements of computation. Students present a paper.

Preference to freshmen. Motion planning theory and computational approaches: how to represent, simulate, and plan motions in a computer. Intriguing algorithms, representations, and applications: terminology and concepts for reading motion planning research literature. Problems include: how a robot arm manipulates parts without colliding with its environment; how many maneuvers are required to park a car in a tight spot; how characters in computer games avoid running into obstacles; how molecules change shapes to perform biological functions; how to assemble a product from individual parts; how a multi-limbed robot can navigate on rough terrain; how robots can perform surgical procedures. Prerequisite: some computer programming experience in any language.

Preference to freshmen with experience in photography and use of computers. Elements of photography, such as lighting, focus, depth of field, aperture, and composition. How a photographer makes photos available for computer viewing, reliably stores them, organizes them, tags them, searches them, and distributes them online. No programming experience required. Digital SLRs and editing software will be provided to those students who do not wish to use their own.

How online technologies change our lives and the social structure that we live in. Course emphasizes critical analyses of current trends i.e. blogging, social networks, and instant mobile communication. Readings include case studies and analyses of basic principles i.e. privacy, equity and sustainability. Guest speakers who have participated in development of computers and the net will share their experiences and enter into debates on current issues. Students work individually and in small groups to research issues, develop the capacity for critical thinking about them, and use the results as the basis for writing and discussions both in class and on-line.

Preference to freshmen. Issues in Internet history, technology, and public policy are discussed as well as the Internet's impact on commerce, education, government, and health care. Writing for the web. Participants develop a substantial website.