CC 3.12 - Computing and Art: Nature, Power, and Limits

lectures and labs:

Instructor: Chipp Jansen

Fall 2007 Office Hours: Mondays, 12:30 to 1:30 ( 0317N Ingersoll )

Virtual Office Hours: Tuesdays, 9 pm to 11pm, AIM. username: chippbot

NOTE: Thursday classes are in the Macintosh Lab in Library (384 L). See the syllabus page for specific dates and any exceptions.

computer account:
It will be helpful if you have access to a computer and the internet for this class, though it is not required. You can use the public machines in the library or the WEB building.

required textbook:

A Balanced Introduction to Computer Science by David Reed publisher: Prentice-Hall (2004) ISBN: 013046709X Here it is on Amazon.

optional additional textbook (for those who want more information on processing):

Processing: Creative Coding and Computational Art by Ira Greenberg publisher: friends of ED (2007) ISBN: 159059617X Here it is on Amazon.

additional course materials:
Course lecture notes, additional readings and multi-media sources will be available on-line.

course software:
In addition to learning HTML, we will be using Processing, a free, open-source, toolkit available for PC, Mac, and Linux platforms developed by Ben Fry and Casey Reas. Although the Processing textbook is very complete, there are MANY excellent resources available at the Processing Web-page.

USB Flashdrive:
You will need a USB Flash drive (at least 128 MB, 256 MB or larger is better) to store your lab-work on. These drives are available in most office supply stores and college book-stores for around $8 to $20.

course description:
The nature, power and limits of the computer and computing. The components of the computer. Information representation. Computer networks, the Internet, and the World Wide Web.The nature of algorithms, problem-solving, and computer programming. Feasibility and computability. Computer and network security and privacy. (Not open to students who are enrolled in, or have completed, any course in Computer and Information Science, other than CIS 5.2, numbered 1. 0 or higher with a grade of C or higher, or who have completed Core Studies 5 or 5.1.)

"Art Flavor":
This an Art Flavored course of the Natural, Power, and Limits of Computation. It covers the same course materials, but with a look towards how artists and designers use computation in their work and practise through case studies matched to the course lecture material and reading. In the labs we will be using Processing (http://www.processing.org), a multimedia toolkit used by contemporary artists, designers, and programmers in exhibitions, HCI design, and design promotions. Processing is an interface to the Java programming language, with a focus on visual programming and interactivity, and is used to teach programming and multimedia in educational institutions (courses utilizing Processing include - multimedia art, architecture, sound design, and engineering courses).

schedule of topics:

prerequisites:
none.

assessment:
The course grade will be made up of the following components, out of 100 points:

• 7 homeworks/labs (60 points total)
  
• midterm -- 10 points
  
• final exam -- 30 points