Information Technology I

SES #: 1 · TOPICS: Introduction: Course Overview; Inside the CPU · READINGS: Madnick, Stuart. Little Man Computer.

Optional: How Computers Work. Parts 1-5.

Gibbs, W. W. Software’s Chronic Crisis . In Scientific American. September 1994, pp. 86-95.

Elmasri, and Navathe. Fundamentals of Database Systems. Benjamin/Cummings, 1989, Chapter 7 (plus pp. 143-144).

SES #: 7 · TOPICS: An Introduction to Microsoft Access · READINGS: Recommended Textbook: Viescas, John L. Running Microsoft Access 2000. Microsoft Press, 1999.

SES #: 8 · TOPICS: Relational Database Design · READINGS: Watterson, Karen. Visual Basic Database Programming. Addison-Wesley, 1994, pp. 12-43.

SES #: 9 · TOPICS: Introduction to User Interface Building with Access Examples · READINGS: Recommended Textbook: Viescas, John L. Running Microsoft Access 2000. Microsoft Press, 1999.

Fitzgerald, and Dennis. Business Data Communications and Networking. 6th ed. Wiley, 1999, pp. 83-92, 107-129.

Optional: Dodd, Annabel Z. Basic Telecom Concepts . Chapter 1 in The Essential Guide to Telecommunications. Prentice Hall, 1999.

SES #: 11 · TOPICS: Local Area Networks; Ethernet; Packet-switched Networks · READINGS: Fitzgerald, and Dennis. Business Data Communications and Networking. 6th ed. Wiley, 1999, pp. 192-216.

Fitzgerald, and Dennis. Business Data Communications and Networking. 6th ed. Wiley, 1999, pp. 30-33, 164-189.

SES #: 14 · TOPICS: Wireless Network Technologies · READINGS: Noll, A. Michael. Wireless Telephone Service . Chapter 9 in Introduction to Telephones and Telephone Systems (Third Edition) . Artech House Telecommunications Library, 1999.

Orfali, R., et. al. Client/Server Survival Guide. 3rd ed. Wiley, 1999, Chapters 2-3.

Sadoski, Darleen. Client/Server Software Architectures–An Overview . Carnegie Mellon University, 2004.

Zimmerman, Phil. An Introduction to Cryptography . Included in freeware documentation to Pretty Good Privacy (PGP) software program, which is downloadable.

Behar, R. Who’s Reading Your E-Mail . Fortune. February 3, 1997, 57-70.

Zimmerman, Phil. An Introduction to Cryptography . Included in freeware documentation to Pretty Good Privacy (PGP) software program, which is downloadable. pp. 11-36 (also skim Part 2).

Introduction to SSL . Available on the Web.

Orfali, R., et. al. Client/Server Survival Guide. 3rd ed. Wiley, 1999. Chapters 26-27.

Optional: Wright, R. The Man Who Invented the Web . Time , May 19, 1997.

Optional: Technology Forecast. pp. 545-592.

SES #: 19 · TOPICS: Under the Hood of a Commercial Web Site · READINGS: Davis, Jeffrey. How it Works. Business 2.0. February 2000, pp. 112-140. Optional: Technology Forecast. Pp. 357-472.

SES #: 20 · TOPICS: Data Mining, Data Warehousing · READINGS: Two Crows Corporation. Introduction to Data Mining and Knowledge Discovery. Optional: Technology Forecast. pp. 253-310.

One of the unusual aspects of this course is the diversity of student objectives, backgrounds and previous exposure to the subject matter. To accommodate this diversity we propose that each student select his or her individualized sets of supplementary study materials from the list below. We will describe the recommended study materials and the strategy for choosing between them in the first session of the course. Please feel free to send us email if you have questions related to the best study materials for you. Required materials

Recommended materials

PriceWaterhouseCooper’s Technology Forecast: 2002-2004, Vol. 1: In addition to a concise technical introduction to the various topics covered, it provides excellent surveys of the marketplace, including pointers to leading vendors and products, as well as assessments of trends and directions. Our recommendation: Students with no previous exposure in IT might find this a bit heavy. On the other hand, students who have had some previous IT exposure and especially graduate students who are interested in connecting the technological principles we will learn in the lectures with the marketplace will find this an excellent reference.

White, Ron et. al., How Computers Work, 6th ed., Que, 2001. Good introductory text on the internals of computer hardware and system software. Recommended if you don’t have a background in science or engineering. Science and engineering majors might find this book too elementary. You may purchase this book from an online bookstore.

Finally, for students who would like to learn Microsoft Access in depth, the following is a recommended textbook (you may choose either):

Viescas, John L., Running Microsoft Access 2000, Microsoft Press, 1999. One of the best and most detailed “bibles” on Microsoft Access. Coverage is way beyond what will be covered in this course. This is an excellent reference book for students who are interested in becoming Microsoft Access experts. If you are looking for something more concise, you may consider the Byrne textbook.