(D-Problems discussed on Thursday, 17-Jan-2008)
(Q-Problems due on the following Tuesday, 22-Jan-2008, 5pm)
T1-D1: (Algorithm - Step by Step Instruction)
Write out an informal algorithm for going from the Dean's Office of your faculty
to the UIT2201 lecture/tutorial venue at USP-SR6.
[Note:
Your algorithm should be given in the same format as that the algorithm
for "sum of 1 to 100" in lecture notes or like that in Figure 1.1 of [SG3].]
T1-D2: [e-Greeting Cards] (Do this before the tutorial on Thursday!)
(a) Search for an e-greeting card web-site and send a greeting
card to yourself and to me. Then retrieve the greeting that you sent to yourself
and print a hard copy of it (or at least the first page of it).
The NUS e-card site is at http://www.nus.edu.sg/ecards/.
Use google to search for others.
(b) Compare a few different e-greeting card.
Think about what attributes you may want to compare them with.
How does the different sites fare with respect to your
comparison attributes.
T1-D3: (Computing Device)
Consider one computing system that you encounter in everyday life
and that has not been
discussed in the lectures (preferably one in your own discipline).
Discuss how it might have been designed and note the
similarities and
difference with other examples we considered in class.
T1-D4: (Automating a Process)
Think of a process that you encounter in your everyday life.
Write out an algorithmic description of the process.
Define any basic operations that you need for your algorithmic description.
T1-Q1: (15 points) [Origami and Computing]
(a) Algorithms have often been compared with Origami -- the art of paper
folding. For this problem, you should do a paper folding of an object
of your choice --- but it should involve more than 10 basic folding steps.
Bring along the product and if possible the instructions on how to
fold it. (Hint: If you are not an origami person, find an origami book
in the library or go to the WWW to search for it. There are plenty
available.)
T1-Q2: (15 points)
[Pervasiveness of Computing Devices in Everyday Life]
(a) Over the next two days, keep track of your activities
(say, in 2-3 hour blocks) and record any computing devices
that was used in any aspect of the activity.
(Do not forget such devices as microwaves and bus card validators.)
[Include a one-page attachment of a summary of this log.]
(b)
Discuss if and how computing devices have helped make your life more
"easy" or "difficult".
(Note: Be concise and precise -- I am expecting 2-3 pages total! .)
T1-Q3: (10 points)
[Having an IT-enabled frame of mind]
(a continuation of T1-D2.)
Imagine that you are acting as an IT-aware CEO (not CTO) and you
want to implement an e-Greeting card web-site. Write down roughly
(and based on your current know-how) the "technical components"
you will need to have to implement an e-Greeting card web-site.
What the components should be able to do.
(Don't worry about actual implementation. Assume that
you will hire people with the right expertise later on.)