CSci 1001: Introduction to the Computing World -- Resources.

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On this page:

• In-class examples
• Computer (and computing) history
• Software downloads
• XHTML and CSS
• JavaScript

In-class examples

• Sept. 11. A simple XHTML web page
• Sept. 18. The same page formatted with a simple CSS style sheet; the CSS file for the page
• Sept. 18. A similar page formatted differently, the CSS file for the page
• Sept. 25. A similar page formatted using CSS classes, the CSS file for the page
• Sept. 25. The first Javascript example: printing data, alerts, working with variables. Important notes:
  • to see JavaScript error messages in Firefox, go to Tools -> Error Console". Clear the old messages, then reload the page.
  • JavaScript may be blocked by your browser. Usually an option of unblocking it is given - choose to unblock.
  • If you are trying your program in IE, make sure to allow debugging JavaScript: Tools -> Internet options -> Advanced, then unclick "Disable scipt debugging", click OK. The error messages will pop up. This refers to IE7, things may be a bit different for other versions.
• October 2: parseFloat example, more on numbers and computation (includes random number generator)
• October 2: JavaScript conditionals, exercise on conditionals, combining conditions.
• October 16: Loops: Printing numbers with loops, Drawing lines with loops
• October 28: Use the XHTML example in the problem set 2 and write a CSS file to set up the following:
  1. Make all links show up in italics
  2. Make all h1 headers and all citations be white on black background
  3. Make all visited links in class1 be red.
  4. Make all elements marked as "class2" have a red border
  5. Make list elements within class1 and id be marked by circles (list-type-style: circle)
  A Javascript example for review. This program doesn't work. Copy its source from "View Source" and correct all mistakes.
• November 4: Checking user input in a loop
• November 4: JavaScript functions.
  • A function to convert from celsius to fahrenheit
  • Using a celsius-to-fahrenheit conversion function in a loop
  • Printing the Old MacDonald song using a function
  • Exercise: write a function that, given a string and a color, displays that string as a one-cell table with that color as the background. Start here.
• November 6, 11: JavaScript Events.
  • Click a button to display an alert
  • Click a button to change the page background (also shows how to give Javascript access to page elements)
  • Rollovers
  • November 13. Getting data from a form
  • November 13. Write a JavaScript page that allows the preson to set the color of text and the entire page by entering them into a form. Use this page as a starting point.
• November 18: Javascript arrays
• November 18: Fun with time
  • Javascript day/time functions.
  • You can set a timer for events on your page
  Also see examples at W3Schools tutorial and a complete list of date/time functions.
• December 9: review for the final.
  • Write a loop as specified here
  • What will happen when the button is clicked? Study the page source first, then click the button to check your guess.

Computer (and computing) history

This is by no means an exhaustive list, just samples of various history-realted sources.

• Some quotes from http://www.sysprog.net/quothist.html:
  • 1977 There is no reason for any individual to have a computer in his home. (Ken Olson of Digital Equipment)
  • 1981 640K ought to be enough for anybody. (Bill Gates), denied it in 1996: I've said some stupid things and some wrong things, but not that.
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_computing - a reference to various resources on computing timeline.
• ENIAC (construction started in 1943) is generally considered to be the first large-scale, electronic, digital re-programmable computer.
• Overview and history of microprocessors
• History of a hard disk
• Overview and history of computer mice
• History of computers:
  • History of computing hardware page at wikipedia
  • Jacquard's loom (1801)
  • Charles Babbage - the inventor of the first general purpose programmable device (1837)
  • Ada Lovelace - wrote the first computer program in 1840s.
  • Analog computers (based on the strength of electrical signal rather than on on/off switches that encode 0/1)
  • Konrad Zuse inventor of the first functional program-controlled computer in 1941
  • Special purpose computers: Atanasoff-Berry Computer (ABC), Mark I, Colossus
  • ENIAC (construction started in 1943) is generally considered to be the first large-scale, electronic, digital re-programmable computer.
  • Vacuum tubes (I generations of computers, 1945 - 1954)
  • Transistors (II generations of computers, 1955-1963)
  • Integrated circuit (III generation of computers, 1963-1973)
  • VLSI (Very-large-scale integration) (IV generation of computers, 1973-1985)

Introduction to computer science topics

• Algorithms are detailed step-by-step instructions, such as food recipies

Software downloads (free)

• Firefox browser
• Netscape browser
• Opera browser
• Text editor jEdit. It has built-in support for HTML, CSS, and Javascript code (color-coding, automatic keyword completion, etc.) jEdit is Java-based, so you need to install the latest (1.4 or above) version of Java first, it's available here. Then download and install jEdit (get the stable version, not the development version).
• WinSCP - a secure FTP program available at university labs. To install it on your home machine (Windows) download and run the installation package for the latest stable (not beta!) version. Read the documentation to learn how to use WinSCP. The Quick Start Guide has enough to get you started. Fugu is a similar program for a Mac

XHTML and CSS

• W3 schools is an excellent collection of tutorials on all major web languages and technologies with loads of examples and try-it-yourself exercises.
• XHTML at W3 Schools.
• HTML and XHTML validator. Checks if your page follows XHTML standard.
• CSS at W3 Schools.
• CSS validator at W3 Schools.
• Color names for CSS (look up funny numbers like #008B8B for your favorite colors)
• Font resources:
  • Samples of commonly used fonts at Browser News - just what you need if you want to design a web site that will work in the majority of browsers
  • W3 description of generic font families. Lists several popular fonts in each family.
  • Another description of generic font families with specific fonts, Advice on choosing fonts.
  • A guide to fonts at Browser News
• Zen Garden - a web site that shows examples of CSS use. Might be an inspiration for a web desgin.
• CSS Tips and Tricks - a collection of CSS examples for certain common design elements.
• HTML forms (scroll down to see examples of different form elements)
• XHTML events (onclick, onmouseover, and more)

JavaScript

• JavaScript Tutorial at W3 Schools
• JavaScript form handling
• The table for naming CSS style properties in JavaScript This will be helpful for changing the page appearance via JavaScript.

Data representation

• ASCII characters (omitting the leading 0)
• Unicode - a newer text encoding standard
• Bitmap graphics
• GIF format
• JPEG format

Internet statistics

• pewinternet.org has reports on studies of internet use. Teens and Technology report.