Fundamentals of Computer Science

• Fundamentals of Computer Science covers the principles underlying computer systems and applications
• The field includes hardware, software, algorithms, data structures, programming languages, computer networks, and databases

Computer Hardware

• Comprises physical components like the CPU, memory, input/output, and storage devices
• Understanding hardware is crucial for optimizing system performance

Software

• Refers to programs running on a computer, including operating, system, and application software
• Operating systems serve as the backbone, interfacing hardware and software
• System software includes device drivers, utilities, and programming tools
• Application software includes programs for specific tasks like word processing, spreadsheets, and gaming

Algorithms and Data Structures

• Algorithms are step-by-step problem-solving procedures
• Data structures organize and efficiently store data
• These are fundamental in developing programs and applications

Programming Languages

• Used to create software and are essential for software development
• Examples include Python, Java, C++, and JavaScript

Computer Networks

• Connect devices for communication and resource sharing
• Protocols like TCP/IP and HTTP ensure reliable communication

Database Systems

• Organize and store large data amounts
• Database design, modeling, and management are crucial for effective systems
• Understanding these fundamentals is essential for anyone interested in computer science or software development

Learning Objectives

• Understand information representation, including data and multimedia
• Explore communication basics in computer science
• Learn about computer hardware, including memory, storage, logic gates, and circuits
• Examine processor fundamentals, including CPU architecture, assembly language, and bit manipulation
• Understand system software, including operating systems and language translators
• Learn about security, privacy, and data integrity, including validation and verification
• Explore database concepts, including DBMS, DDL, and DML
• Understand algorithm design and problem-solving, including computational thinking skills and algorithms
• Learn about data types and structures, including arrays and ADTs
• Explore programming basics, including constructs, built-in functions, and structured programming

Key Terms

• Data Representation
• Multimedia
• Hardware
• Memory and Storage
• Logic Gates and Circuits
• CPU Architecture
• Assembly Language
• Operating System
• Language Translators
• Security, Privacy, and Data Integrity
• Database Management Systems (DBMS)
• Data Definition Language (DDL)
• Data Manipulation Language (DML)
• Algorithms
• Arrays

Information Representation

• A core concept in computer science that involves translating data into processable formats
• Techniques include data representation, multimedia, and file compression

Data Representation

• Involves translating information for computer processing
• Binary code represents numbers and letters as 0s and 1s
• The number 9 in binary code is exemplified as 1001
• Hexadecimal code uses 0-9 and A-F to represent numbers and letters
• Hexadecimal code is commonly used to represent colors in graphics and images
• ASCII code is a system representing letters, numbers, and symbols using 7-bit binary code
• Data encoding transforms data into a standardized format
• Data decoding transforms the standardized data back to its original format

Multimedia

• The use of various media types like text, images, audio, and video in computer applications
• Multimedia presentation can be complex due to size demands
• Types include text, images, audio, video, and animation
• Text is a simple form of multimedia represented using ASCII code
• Images are more complex, requiring formats like JPEG and PNG
• Audio uses formats like WAV and MP3 and video utilizes formats such as MPEG and AVI
• Representing multimedia data can take substantial storage space

File Compression

• Reduces file size while preserving content
• Essential for reducing the storage needed for multimedia and large files
• Lossless compression reduces file size without losing data, where decompressing restores the original file
• Lossless compression techniques include ZIP and GZIP
• Lossy compression reduces file size by removing some data, and decompression does not restore the original file
• Lossy compression techniques include JPEG and MP3
• File compression is important for reducing storage space

Communication

• The exchange of information between entities
• In computer science, refers to data exchange between computer systems
• Local Area Networks (LANs), Wide Area Networks (WANs), and the internet enable communication
• Computer networks are interconnected devices for data exchange

Types of Networks

• LAN: Covers small areas, such as buildings. Commonly used for sharing resources, such as printers, files, and connecting devices
• WAN: Covers larger areas, such as a city or country. Normally used for connecting LANs in different locations and providing internet access
• Internet: A global network of interconnected computer networks, which provides vast resources, such as websites, email, and social media, using TCP/IP Protocol
• Cyber security threats like hacking and malware can compromise data and security
• Firewalls, encryptions, and VPNs are developed to address security concerns

Hardware

• Physical components of a computer system for data processing and storage
• Includes memory and storage, and logic gates and logic circuits

Memory and Storage

• Memory and storage are critical for processing and storing data
• Memory is temporary and stores data for processing by the CPU
• RAM and ROM are different memory types
• RAM is used for temporary data storage for data being processed by the CPU
• RAM is volatile, so its content is lost when the device is off
• ROM is for permanent data storage for operating the computer

Storage

• Enables long-term data storage on a computer system
• Includes HDDs, SSDs, and optical storage devices
• HDDs use spinning disks, SSDs use flash memory, and optical devices like CDs and DVDs use lasers to read and write data

Logic Gates and Logic Circuits

• Logic gates and circuits are components of digital electronics
• Logic gates are the basic building blocks to preform logical operations like AND, OR, and NOT
• Types include: AND, OR, NOT, NAND, and NOR gates
• Logic circuits use combinations of logic gates to perform complex actions
• These are used for arithmetic, logic, and memory operations

Processor Fundamentals

• The Central Processing Unit (CPU) is the "brain" of a computer, performing most data processing
• The ALU preforms arithmetic and logical operations
• The control unit manages data flow within the CPU
• CPU architecture includes the von Neumann architecture and the Harvard architecture
• The von Neumann architecture uses the same memory and bus system for data and instructions
• The Harvard architecture uses separate memory and bus systems for data and instructions

Assembly Language

• A low-level programming language for writing programs executed by the CPU, unique to each architecture with a set of instructions
• Bridges programmer instructions and machine code for tasks like operating systems and device drivers

Bit Manipulation

• Manipulates individual bits in a binary number for logical and arithmetic operations
• It is useful in cryptography, compression algorithms, and digital signal processing
• Operations include bitwise AND, OR, XOR, NOT, bit shifting, and bit masking

System Software

• System software is designed to manage and control computer hardware operations
• Key aspects are operating systems and language translators

Operating System (OS)

• Manages and controls hardware resources, providing a user interface
• Responsible for managing the CPU, memory, input/output devices, and storage
• There are various types of operating systems, including Windows, MacOS, Linux, and UNIX
• Plays a crucial role in security with features such as user authentication and encryption

Language Translators

• Translate code from high-level languages into machine code executable by the CPU
• Includes compilers, interpreters, and assemblers
• Compilers transform source code into object code
• Interpreters directly execute source code without a separate compilation step
• Assemblers translate assembly language into machine code

Security, Privacy, and Data Integrity

• Necessary for protecting computers from unauthorized access
• Concepts of protecting data from unauthorized access, use, and modification
• There are various techniques and technologies used, including encryption, firewalls, access control, and data backup and recovery

Data Validation and Data Verification

• Essential for data accuracy and completeness
• Data validation checks if the data in a system is valid, while data verification confirms system data is accurate and complete
• Necessary for preventing errors and inconsistencies, and for data cleaning, data profiling, and data quality tools

Ethics and Ownership

• Ethics and ownership are important for system design and implementation
• Covers legal moral, copyright issues, ethical, and cultural implications; copyright issues; and artificial intelligence (AI)

Legal, Moral, Ethical, and Cultural Implications

• Computer technology impacts society with legal, moral, ethical, and cultural implications
• Involves privacy, data protection, data ownership, impacts on employment and social inequality

Copyright Issues

• Involves intellectual property rights for creators and owners
• Computer scientists must follow copyright laws

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

• Involves technology for computers to perform tasks that require human intelligence: Visual perception, speech recognition, and decision-making.
• Raises ethical issues relating to privacy, data protection, data ownership, automation impacting employment and social inequality

Databases

• Databases are collections of data organized for efficient retrieval and manipulation
• Covers database concepts, database management systems (DBMS), data definition language (DDL), and data manipulation language (DML)

Database Concepts

• Refer to fundamental principles for database design and implementation
• Includes the entity-relationship (ER) model, normalization, data modeling, and data indexing
• The ER model is a data model that represents the relationships between entities
• Normalization organizes data to eliminate redundancy
• Data modeling defines the data's structure
• Data indexing creates indexes on database tables

Database Management Systems (DBMS)

• Software systems to manage and manipulate databases,
• DBMS provides tools for creating, modifying, and querying databases
• Types of DBMSs, object-oriented, and NoSQL DBMSs.
• The DBMS choice depends on an organizations requirements

Data Definition Language (DDL) and Data Manipulation Language (DML)

• DDL and DML are both types of programming languages for creating, modifying and manipulating databases
• DDL creates and modifies database structure
• DML to manipulate database data, and inserting, updating, and deleting records
• SQL (Structured Query Language) is a language for managing databases and includes DDL and DML statements

Algorithm Design and Problem-Solving

• Essential skills for computer scientists
• Two essential processes: Computational thinking skills and algorithms

Computational Thinking Skills

• Involves problem-solving, breaking complex problems into smaller components
• Includes identifying patterns, creating algorithms, and developing strategies to manage and manipulate data
• Encompasses abstraction, decomposition, pattern recognition, and algorithmic design

Algorithms

• Algorithms are the set of instructions that can be followed to solve or preform a task
• Designing efficient algorithms requires understanding data structures, programming languages, and computational complexity.
• Techniques used to design and analyze are: brute-force algorithms, divide-and-conquer algorithms, and dynamic programming

Data Types and Structures

• Refer to the ways data can be organized and represented in a computer system
• Data types and records, arrays, files, and an introduction to abstract data types (ADTs)

Data Types and Records

• Data types are basic programming building blocks that create a range of values that a variable can take, and the operations values
• Common data types include integers, floats, characters, and Boolean values
• Records group related data into a single data structure
• A record is made up of fields that contains a separate data piece

Arrays

• An array consists of a collection of elements
• Each element can be accessed using a index
• Used to store and manipulate data efficiently, and used in many computer applications

Files

• Storing data permanently on to a computer
• System provide a way of providing and managing files on a computer, and provide mechanisms for accesing and manipulating files

Introduction to Abstract Data Types (ADTs)

• Defining a data type in terms of its properties and operations that can be preformed on it, rather than implementation
• Provide a way of abstracting away the details of data type implementation
• These data types provide a way of organizing and manipulating data in a way that is consistant and easy to understand

Programming

• Creating computer software using a programming language
• Includes: programming basics, constructs, built-in functions, and structured programming

Programming Basics

• Refers to the fundamentals concepts and principles of all programming languages
• Incorporates variables, data types, operators, and control structures

Constructs

• Used to preform specific tasks, such as controlling program flow, looping over data structures, and manipulating variables
• Includes: conditional statements, loops, functions, and classes

Built-in Functions

• Predefined functions included in programming languages
• They provide a way of performing common tasks, such as manipulating strings, performing mathematical operations, and working with data structures

Structured Programming

• A programming paradigm that emphasizes the use of control structures to organize code
• Allows code to be more modular, easier to read, and less error-prone

Software Development

• Software development is the process of designing, coding, testing, and maintaining software applications
• Essential aspects of software development: the program development lifecycle, program design, and program testing and maintenance

Program Development Lifecycle

• The program development lifecycle (PDL) is a structured approach to software development that consists of several stages
• Planning, analysis, design, implementation, testing, deployment, and maintenance
• Provides a framework for managing software development projects and ensures that software is developed in a consistent, organized, and efficient manor

Program Design

• Defining the architecture and functionality of the a software application
• Necessitates identifying the requirements of the application, creating a design specification, and creating a plan for implementing the design

Program Testing and Maintenance

• Program testing, the process of evaluating a software application to ensure its requirements are met and preforms as expected, and maintenance, the process of making appropiate changes
• Software testing can preformed wth various strategies, including unit testing, and integration testing.
• Maintanance can be preformed using a variety of strategies, including corrective maintenance, and adaptive maintenance

Communication and Internet Technologies

• Refers to the systems and protocols used to transmit information over networks, including the interne
• Essential aspects are: protocols, circuit switching, and packet switching

Protocols

• Governing the exchange of information over a network
• Provide a standard way of communicating between devices and ensure that data is transmitted accurately and efficiently
• Examples include TCP/IP HTTP, and FTP

Circuit Switching and Packet Switching

• Methods used to transmitting data over a network
• Circuit switching involves the creation of a dedicated communication channel between 2 units
• Packet switching involves using transmission of data in small packets that are sent over the network and reassembled

Security

• Critical aspect of computer science, because of the increasing reliance on digital systems for storing and processing sensitive data
• The essential aspects are encryption, encryption protocols, and digital certificates

Encyption

• The process of converting plain text into a coded message
• Involves using encryption algorithms and a key to scramble data

Encryption Protocols

• Uses a combination of encryption and digital certificates to verify the identity of parties involoved and ensure confidentiality and integrity
• Examples include SSL/TLS

Digital certificates

• Electronic documents that verify the identity of the parties involved in an online transaction
• Issued by a Certificate Authority (CA) and contain information such as the owner's name, public key, and experation date

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

• Simulates human intelligence in machines needed for human cognition, such as learning, reasoning, and problem-solving.
• Essential aspects are applications and limitations of AL
• A broad field including machine learning, natural language processing, robotics, and computer vision
• Can preform a tasks for recognizing speech, and analysing large data sets

Applications of Al include:

• Healthcare: Diagnosing and treating deceases more accurately and effiently
• Used in finance, retail and other industries to improve customer service and business processes
• The largest challenge is creating the AI capabilities, as Al systems often require a difficult to obtain range of data to perfrom effectivily

Computational Thinking and Problem Solving

• Essential skils to computer science
• Includes algorithms, recursion, and other concepts relating to problem solving

Algorithms

• A step-by-step to solve a set of problems
• Are used to automate tasks and solve complex problems
• Good algotithms are effieicent and reliable and can handle a range of ouputs and inputs
• Types included: Sorting, searching, and optimization algorithms

Recursion,

• A technique to solve problems broken down into smaller-sub problems
• In a recusive function, it uses itself with a smaller unit until it reaches the base case

Other Key Concepts

• Abstraction involves focusing on the most important parts of the problem
• Decomposition involves braking a problem into smaller sub-problems
• Pattern recognition involves identified patterns in data, and using those patterns to solve new problems

Further Programming

• Covers advanced topics related to programming in computer science
• Focuses on programming paradigms, file processing, and exception handling

Programming Paradigms

• Approaches to programming that are used to solve different types of proglems
• Includes: Procedural, object-oriented, functional, and event driven programming

File Processing and Exception Handling

• Reading and writing to files
• File processing includes opening, reading, writting, and closing to file
• Exception handling deals with errors Exception handling involves detecting, adressing, and preventing errors from crashing from the program