Aims:

The purpose of the course is to give a brief introduction to a selection of central subjects within Computer Science such that the participants obtain an understanding of what Computer Science is. Another purpose is to introduce some applications and tools useful during the computer science study.

Synopsis:

Computer architecture, operating systems, algorithms, databases, networks, artificial intelligence, formal models of computation, software engineering, social issues relating to computers, formatting of mathematical text, version control, programs for symbolic computations.

Aim description:

After the course the students are expected to be able to:

• convert between decimal, binary, and floating point representations
• use simple error correcting codes
• construct simple logical circuits
• program in a simplified machine language
• recognize and avoid deadlock and race condition situations
• perform simple data modeling and simple queries in a relational database
• design and implement simple algorithms, and analyze their properties, including correctness and time complexity
• explain the idea behind RSA encryption and perform related calculations
• describe Turing machines and create simple programs for them
• describe and apply some principles for artificial intelligence
• describe basic elements from software engineering methods
• write programs in a simple universal programming language
• use LaTeX for formatting of mathematical text
• use version control tools for programming
• use Maple for symbolic computations
• write simple programs in Maple