M150: Data, Computing and information

1. M150: Data, Computing and information Outline Introduction Assessments and cut-off-dates Before you start The course at a glance Unit one What’s next My questions Your questions

2. 1- Introduction: Assessments and cut-off-dates 8 credit course, two semesters 4 TMAs, 2 Quizzes, two finals. Course grade distribution and cut-off-date: First semester: TMA01: 08 %, 16 November 2008 TMA02: 10 %, 07 January 2009 Quiz one: 7%, the week of 15 December 2008 Final one: 25 %, during the month of January 2009

3. 1- Introduction: Assessments and cut-off-dates Second semester: TMA03: 10 %, 26 March 2009 TMA04: 7 %, 15 May 2009 Quiz two: 8 %, during the week of 20 April 2009 Final two: 25 %, during the month of June 2009

4. 1- Introduction: Before you start Power point presentation are not enough to study the course: you must study the material’s units TMA late submission will lead to grade deduction penalties One week: 25 % of the grade will be deducted Between one week and two weeks: 50 % After two weeks : 100%

5. 1- Introduction: Before you start Plagiarism: The grade of any common part between two TMAs of different students will not count on grade summation. Resources of used documents content should be mentioned clearly (internet, books, course material …), otherwise, the grade of the corresponding part will not count. Attendance: 6 unjustified absences will lead to course drop Attending other than your tutorials session is not allowed unless you hold a permission from the coordinator.

6. 1- Introduction: to succeed the course Like any other course at AOU, to pass M150 you should: 1- Get at least 40/100 as average grade of TMAs and Quizzes AND 2- Get at least 40/100 as average grade of final one and final two AND 3- Get at least 50/100 as average of both

7. 2- The course at a glance The course has three blocks: Block one: Unit 1: Data and information Unit 2: Representation Unit 3: Crossing the boundary: analogue universe, digital worlds. Unit 4: Integrating data Unit 5 : Storing, getting and sending your data Block two: Unit 6: The structure of hardware and software Unit 7: An introduction to programming using JavaScript Unit 8: Programs and data Unit 9: Software development

8. 2- The course at a glance Block Three: Unit 11: Computing in the wild Unit 12: Interacting with information Unit 13: Sensational computing Unit 14: Hiding data: an introduction to security Unit 15 : Too many secrets Unit 16: Realistic expectations In the first semester we will cover the first 8 units.

9. 3- Unit One: Data and information Introduction: Data, information and computers Paperless, more data Organizing and structuring data for easy access and use Example of cards holding data you may need on daily basis: Driving license Credit cards Sports club membership card Transportation card Your ID Etc …

10. 3- Unit One: Data and information Sensing data and turning it into something usable If you touch a surface, one of the things you will sense is its temperature We have developed words like ‘hot’, ‘cold’, ‘warm’, and ‘cool’ Such words allow us to link one sensation (touch) to another (vision) we have developed more objective measures of hot and cold, such as the length of a column of mercury in a thermometer. Thermometers can then be used to compare temperatures by dividing the column of mercury into gradations, called degrees Celsius (written °C).

11. 3- Unit One: Data and information Sensing data and turning it into something usable If you touch What we perceive with our senses we call the most primitive form of data: perceptual data. Example 3.1, touching a surface A surface, one of the things you will sense is its temperature A sign or symbol is a way of representing data. A sign (or symbol) can be defined as something that conveys some information by means other than direct representation. Beeping sound Arrow traffic Flags Legends on maps

12. 3- Unit One: Data and information Louis Braille, the inventor of the braillesystem Each letter of the alphabet could be represented by six raised dots arranged in three rows. The dots are precisely placed in relation to each other The 63 combinations of dots and positions comprise an alphabet, numerals, the main mathematical signs and a music notation. The braille system also freed those with a visual impairment to write for themselves

13. 3- Unit One: Data and information Data and information Human beings turn data into information through a process of: creating signs to represent the data; agreeing on what the signs symbolize; linking these signs in a variety of ways to create information; communicating that information to other people. Example 3.2

14. 3- Unit One: Data and information Data and information: example 3.3 This false-colour image of the great ice-storm over eastern Canada on 12 January 1998 was recorded by a remote sensing satellite orbiting at 800 km altitude

15. 3- Unit One: Data and information Computers as tools for finding Maps: - the underlying grid of latitude and longitude; - contour lines showing altitude; - features such as rivers, roads, buildings and boundaries; - the names of towns, roads, hills, rivers and other notable features of the landscape.

16. 3- Unit One: Data and information Geographical data Stored in databases Leave out some layers for a particular purpose Global positioning system (GPS) Navigation Surveying Plate tectonic studies GPS devices Receivers Emitters Tools Benefits (Examples)

17. 3- Unit One: Data and information Finding information: the web Search engines Single box waiting the keyword Serves a similar function to an index in a book Example: Google, Yahoo, Lycos, …

18. 3- Unit One: Data and information Finding information: the web The process: The keywords are transmitted over the internet to a web server that contains an index to websites which is associated with a series of keywords that can be found in the site’s title, address or contents. The index keywords and the user’s requested keywords are compared by the server. The web server then retrieves references to those websites that contain the right keywords and sends details of each reference back to the user’s browser. The browser then displays the references for the user.

19. 3- Unit One: Data and information Finding information: the web Efficient search: the gateways Composed keywords Research refinement Tracking your search path Example 4.1

20. 3- Unit One: Data and information Computers as tools for working with data DNA A DNA strand, bases, nucleotides, genes, and a chromosome (a) A small section of a DNA strand as though it were untwisted. Each box represents a base (A, C, G or T). Each pair of bases forms one nucleotide. Several nucleotides make up a gene (shown by brackets) (b) How the strand of DNA in (a) is twisted into the famous double helix (c) A chromosome formed from one DNA strand

21. 3- Unit One: Data and information Computers as tools for working with data DNA: - It consists of pairs of chemical bases called adenine (A), cystosine (C), guanine (G) and thymine (T). The bases (which in Figure 5.1 are colour coded) can only be paired according to the rules: A to C and G to T. - A ‘rung’ or pair of bases (e.g. A–C) is called a base pair. - A nucleotide is a base pair plus its attached ‘structural’ molecules (i.e. the sides of the ladder). - Sequences of base pairs constitute genes which are the sections of a DNA strand that form discrete units of heredity (such as eye colour). - A complete DNA strand constitutes a chromosome (a human being has 46 of these combined into 23 pairs). - The four letters (A, C, G, and T) representing the DNA bases constitute ‘signs’ symbolising the building blocks of DNA. You can think of a set of signs as a code.

22. 3- Unit One: Data and information Computers as tools for working with data The human genome The human chromosomes. An X and Y chromosome is shown as the final pair, meaning that the individual would be a male (females have two X chromosomes)

23. 3- Unit One: Data and information Computers as tools for working with data Genetic tests are used for several reasons including: Prenatal diagnostic test Alzheimer disease Identity testing Etc…

24. 3- Unit One: Data and information Art and the computers Photograph Painting Infinite color spectrum Transforming the natural to the designed Modifying, customizing and reviewing.

25. 3- Unit One: Data and information Controlling things The user interface Displaying the choices Displaying indications Choosing programs and parameters Ensuring safety Controlling the machine Actuators Sensors

26. 3- Unit One: Data and information Selling on the web Browse through the details of the goods for sale Search for a particular product Check the availability of goods Read and review the comment of other purchasers Register to receive newsletters But product using credit or debit cards See what items are most popular

27. 3- Unit One: Data and information Distributed system The web The database The database server The network

28. 4- What’s next Unit 2: Representation Convention communication and representation Property of representations Picking representations Sharing and formats Computer based activity: a case study

29. 5- My questions What is the name of this course ? What is the name of unit one ? How many TMAs you have in this course ? How many quizzes ? How many final exams ? What are the required grades so you can succeed the course ? What did Louis Braille invent ? How we transform sensation to tangible data ? List 5 domains where you can not but use computers ? How the information are stored ? What does a search engine serve for ? How can I make my web search efficient ? How other types of sciences benefit from computers ?

30. 5- Your questions ?