• Internet (email, WWW, newsgroups, chat)
• Office tools (word processing, spreadsheets, databases, calendars, etc)
• Financial systems (ATMs, EFTPOS, Internet purchases and financing, etc)
• Communications (cable, phone and mobile networks)
• Embedded controllers (TVs, VCRs, CD players, controllers for engines, assembly lines, robots...)

Course Overview
The key goal is to understand computer systems and how problems can be solved using computer systems. Towards that end, the course will provide an introduction to a number of practical tools and techniques, including:

• Basic computer architecture
• Programming languages, using C++ as the main example
• Operating systems, using Unix as the main example
• Internet, email, and the World Wide Web
• Techniques to methodically analyse problems and design solutions
• Techniques to produce effective software based on the design solutions
• An introduction to data abstraction and modularity as a prelude to advanced programming techniques

Contact information, materials

• Lecturer: Dr. Peter Walsh, 753-3245 ext 2363, pwalsh@csciun1.mala.bc.ca
  
• Recommended Textbook (NOT REQUIRED) : A First Book of C++, Gary Bronson (2nd ed.)
• Web material (from my 160 home page): lecture notes, assignments, tutorials, sample programs, practice problems, etc.

Evaluation

• 15% Programming Assignments (3 assignments in total)
• 15% Lab Assignments (5 assignments in total)
• 20% Midterm exam (Wed Nov 19 in class)
• 50% Final exam

Labs/Tutorials
You must be enrolled in and attend the weekly tutorial/lab sessions, during which we will cover practical issues regarding software development, debugging, and testing, C++ syntax and tools, code formatting and documentation.

Computer accounts
To work on your labs/assignments, you will be given accounts for the computing science labs.
There is a user id and password associated with each account (to prevent others from reading your mail).
The appropriate use of these accounts will be discussed in your first tutorial.

Appeals of Grades: Any exercise or examination grade may be appealed. However, the appeal must be made to the instructor, in writing and attached to the work in question, and within 7 days of the grade being made available to the class. The instructor reserves the right to re-grade the entire piece of work submitted on appeal, not necessarily just the component that the student believes is in error.

Grade Conversion: The following scale will be used but the instructor reserves the right to lower the numerical score required for a particular letter grade if that seems appropriate, but the same conversion will be applied to all persons in the class. Under no circumstances will the numerical score required for a particular letter grade be raised.

90-100	85-<90	80-<85	75-<80	70-<75	65-<70	60-<65	55-<60	50-<55	<50
A+	A	A-	B+	B	B-	C+	C	D	F

You must pass the final exam to pass the course.

Malaspina Policies

Lab and Computer Usage Rules:

Student Conduct Code: