Introduction to Computing and Processes

Computing

• Computing is a powerful intellectual tool, impacting various aspects of human culture.
• Tools have amplified physical abilities, but intellectual ability enhancers are rare.
• Language and writing were early amplifiers of intellectual abilities.
• Computing acts as the ultimate mental amplifier, automating intellectual activities.
• Computing has profoundly altered the world, impacting nearly all human endeavors.
• Key reasons to study computing:
  • Nearly all current and future technologies, arts, and sciences rely on computing.
  • Studying computing provides insights into human minds, culture, and the universe.

Processes, Procedures, and Computers

• Computer science studies information processes.
• A process is a sequence of steps that change the world's state, leading to a goal state.
• Examples of processes: baking a cake, mailing a letter, or planting a tree.
• Processes involving abstract information are a focus of computer science.
• A procedure describes a process by listing steps.
• An algorithm is a mechanical procedure guaranteeing completion.
• Procedures involve mechanical steps without needing thought.

Measuring Computing Power

• Information is measured by the change in uncertainty.
• A bit is the basic unit of information, reducing uncertainty by half.
• A binary question (yes/no) yields one bit of information.
• A six-sided die provides more than one bit of information.
• Multiple bits can distinguish a greater number of values.
• A series of questions can identify a specific value from a set.
• Bits can efficiently distinguish among many values.
• Computing power can be measured by processing speed and information storage.

Representing Data

• Data, including text and images, can be represented using bits.
• Text sequences can be converted to unique numbers, represented efficiently.
• Characters can be represented by specific bit sequences.
• Sequences of bits are used to represent various forms of data, like numbers and text.
• Bit sequences in various lengths and complexities can represent texts and images.
• Representing images often involves splitting them into smaller squares (pixels), each with a color value encoded in bits.