Please read computer graphics related books (Newman and Sproull, Foley and Van Dam) for more information.
I found "Human Aspects of CAD" by Majchrzak, Chang, Barfield, etc. to be a useful source. They quote some studies done on this topic.
The recommended color schemes for easiest reading are yellow (foreground) on black (background) when using Computer/TV Screen (CRT) or use white-on-black. This is when you need to read a lot of text. Now that LCDs are dominant, a fresh look needs to be taken on these color schemes.
For reading on paper, black-on-white or black on any light background (cream, light gray, pastel shades).
For drawing attention of the reader, red on any background is used.
Just check on how DEC and Sun have evolved. There are enough parallels among them.
1. Both started out with major presence in educational and R&D segments. The early adopters of their systems were in these segments. Both benefited from a large pool of "shared" software that were developed on their systems within these segments.
2. DEC stuck closely with VMS (earlier RSX-11) even though the "geek" had Unix on VAXes and PDP-11s. Sun did the same with Solaris.
3. Both decided to move to more lucrative banking, insurance kind of companies and ignored the education/R&D segment.
4. Both had a strong reputation of "solid" systems that just kept working. The systems continued working for years and years.
5. Both ignored the changing preferences of their "mother" segment of education/R&D.
6. We know where DEC is today. Sun seems to be following the exact path that DEC took.
My first computer was in my first year of college (1976). This was IBM 1130 enclosed in a glass-house with a big line printer and a card reader as its companions. A number of card punch machines were housed in a separate room for us students. The print-outs of the FORTRAN programs were given out of a separate room that had an "interaction" window for this purpose.
Getting in the room that housed the IBM 1130 was a privilege -- I managed that in 1978 when I was able to book a "block" time for using it for one of my projects in a course.
Based on my experience of having a Masters degree in Computer Science, I would say that for "education" you need to be taught concepts; "training" will teach skills that you need in your day-to-day jobs.
I don't agree with Dan Zambonini's list for many topics (and I am sure that many would not agree with my list that follows).
My suggestions for CS undergraduate courses would be:
1. Data Structures.
2. Algorithms (Basic and Advanced, 2 courses).
3. Theory of Computation.
4. Discrete Mathematics.
5. Basic courses in Physics, Chemistry, Linear Algebra, Numerical Analysis, (now) Biology.
6. Some courses on Literature, Languages, Report Writing, Technical Communication, Psychology.
7. Some Courses on Economics and Management Principles.
8. Basic courses in Electronics (atleast two).
9. Operating System (atleast 2 courses).
10. Compiler Design.
11. Computer Organization and Structures.
12. Computer Architectures (one covering uPs and one advanced concepts).
13. Atleast 2 programming languages (one of which is C).
14. Atleast 1 scripting language (Perl).
15. Internet Technology and Practices.
16. Control Systems, Instrumentation and System Design.
I recollect seeing the demonstration of a "throat microphone" in the mid-1970s at a R&D lab in India.
At that time it was being seen as a better alternative to make announcements, give directions, etc. in crowded/mob situations e.g. mining disaster, religios procession, fire-fighting, labour strike,...
Wrong. Kharagpur is about 1,000 Km from Delhi and is in the state of West Bengal. IIT-Kharagpur (aka IIT-Kgp) was the first IIT established in India. The other IITs came about 5-10 years later.
The video clip had found its way on the IIT-Kgp LAN from where the IIT-Kgp student picked it up and then sold it on bazee.com. Note that the Director of IIT-Kgp was not arrested for the clip floating on its LAN.
This is due to history -- Internet originated in US and people in USA are used to NOT adding.us for their domains. This genie is difficult to put back in the bottle even though.us exists. When country TLDs came into being,.us was added for USA for consistency. However,.com,.edu,.org,.net and.gov continued (and even though these were by implication for USA, they became worldwide).
For decentralization, country level TLDs are fine. AFAIK, trade mark rules are for country-specific and need to be registered in each of them.
So, IBM in USA should be ibm.com.us, IBM in UK is ibm.co.uk, IBM in India is ibm.co.in, IBM in Poland is ibm.com.pl etc.
Slashdot Mirror
Please read computer graphics related books (Newman and Sproull, Foley and Van Dam) for more information. I found "Human Aspects of CAD" by Majchrzak, Chang, Barfield, etc. to be a useful source. They quote some studies done on this topic. The recommended color schemes for easiest reading are yellow (foreground) on black (background) when using Computer/TV Screen (CRT) or use white-on-black. This is when you need to read a lot of text. Now that LCDs are dominant, a fresh look needs to be taken on these color schemes. For reading on paper, black-on-white or black on any light background (cream, light gray, pastel shades). For drawing attention of the reader, red on any background is used.
Just check on how DEC and Sun have evolved. There are enough parallels among them.
1. Both started out with major presence in educational and R&D segments. The early adopters of their systems were in these segments. Both benefited from a large pool of "shared" software that were developed on their systems within these segments.
2. DEC stuck closely with VMS (earlier RSX-11) even though the "geek" had Unix on VAXes and PDP-11s.
Sun did the same with Solaris.
3. Both decided to move to more lucrative banking, insurance kind of companies and ignored the education/R&D segment.
4. Both had a strong reputation of "solid" systems that just kept working. The systems continued working for years and years.
5. Both ignored the changing preferences of their "mother" segment of education/R&D.
6. We know where DEC is today. Sun seems to be following the exact path that DEC took.
More insights on the above are welcome.
My first computer was in my first year of college (1976). This was IBM 1130 enclosed in a glass-house with a big line printer and a card reader as its companions. A number of card punch machines were housed in a separate room for us students. The print-outs of the FORTRAN programs were given out of a separate room that had an "interaction" window for this purpose.
Getting in the room that housed the IBM 1130 was a privilege -- I managed that in 1978 when I was able to book a "block" time for using it for one of my projects in a course.
Based on my experience of having a Masters degree in Computer Science, I would say that for "education" you need to be taught concepts; "training" will teach skills that you need in your day-to-day jobs.
.... and some more ....
I don't agree with Dan Zambonini's list for many topics (and I am sure that many would not agree with my list that follows).
My suggestions for CS undergraduate courses would be:
1. Data Structures.
2. Algorithms (Basic and Advanced, 2 courses).
3. Theory of Computation.
4. Discrete Mathematics.
5. Basic courses in Physics, Chemistry, Linear Algebra, Numerical Analysis, (now) Biology.
6. Some courses on Literature, Languages, Report Writing, Technical Communication, Psychology.
7. Some Courses on Economics and Management Principles.
8. Basic courses in Electronics (atleast two).
9. Operating System (atleast 2 courses).
10. Compiler Design.
11. Computer Organization and Structures.
12. Computer Architectures (one covering uPs and one advanced concepts).
13. Atleast 2 programming languages (one of which is C).
14. Atleast 1 scripting language (Perl).
15. Internet Technology and Practices.
16. Control Systems, Instrumentation and System Design.
17. DBMS related (2 courses).
18. Networking and Computer Networks.
19. Data Communications.
20. Grid Computing / Network Computing.
21. Projects and Seminars under various courses.
22.
I recollect seeing the demonstration of a "throat microphone" in the mid-1970s at a R&D lab in India. At that time it was being seen as a better alternative to make announcements, give directions, etc. in crowded/mob situations e.g. mining disaster, religios procession, fire-fighting, labour strike, ...
> Kharagpur is a city near Delhi.
Wrong. Kharagpur is about 1,000 Km from Delhi and is in the state of West Bengal. IIT-Kharagpur (aka IIT-Kgp) was the first IIT established in India. The other IITs came about 5-10 years later.
The video clip had found its way on the IIT-Kgp LAN from where the IIT-Kgp student picked it up and then sold it on bazee.com. Note that the Director of IIT-Kgp was not arrested for the clip floating on its LAN.
The arrested student (Ravi Raj) is from IIT-Kharagpur and not IIT-Delhi.
The students (both minors legally) are from a school in Delhi.
> .com .net and .org are really all that matter.
.us for their domains. This genie is difficult to put back in the bottle even though .us exists. When country TLDs came into being, .us was added for USA for consistency. However, .com, .edu, .org, .net and .gov continued (and even though these were by implication for USA, they became worldwide).
This is due to history -- Internet originated in US and people in USA are used to NOT adding
For decentralization, country level TLDs are fine. AFAIK, trade mark rules are for country-specific and need to be registered in each of them.
So, IBM in USA should be ibm.com.us, IBM in UK is ibm.co.uk, IBM in India is ibm.co.in, IBM in Poland is ibm.com.pl etc.