TOPICS: HOW DIGITAL WORKS in Spring 2024 (CS1910)

Almost everyone today interacts with digital technologies in some way, whether it is through a smartphone, browsing the Internet, hailing an Uber, analyzing data, or dealing with the economics of our digital economy. It's hard to think of an activity today that does not rely on some form of digital technology. However, how much do you know about this technology that surrounds us? Do you know how bits and bytes turn into words, sounds, and images? Do you know how or where your computer finds Facebook or YouTube or Twitter? Do you know how and why your personal information is being collected and analyzed and why or why not that is important? You don't need to know how digital works to live in our technology-dependent world, but you do need to know how it works to take best advantage of the opportunities it provides and to be a mover in our future economy. This course takes students through the web of technologies underlying our digital world including how the Internet works from the bottom up. In hands-on practice, students will learn to build and publish a basic website.