Crossing the boundary: analogue universe, digital worlds

Overview

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This course explores the intersection of analogue and digital worlds, aiming to help learners understand the worlds we live in and how information is represented digitally. By the end of the course, students will be able to work with numbers, text, images, and sound in digital formats. The teaching method includes lectures, readings, and practical exercises. This course is intended for individuals interested in the fundamentals of analogue and digital information, regardless of their prior experience in the subject.

Syllabus

Introduction
Learning outcomes
1 Aims
1 Aims
2 The worlds we live in
2 The worlds we live in
2.1 Between two worlds
2.2 Sensual world
2.3 The computer in the world
2.4 The pervasive computer
2.4.1 Storage and presentation
2.4.2 Control
2.4.3 Exchange
2.4.4 Manipulation
2.5: Crossing the boundary
2.6 Going back
2.7 Manipulation
2.8 The price
2.9 Summary
3 Analogue information: digital representation
3 Analogue information: digital representation
3.1 Ghosts of departed quantities
3.2 Analogue things
3.3 How we perceive things
3.3.1 The human perceptual system
3.3.2 Enhancing the perceptual system
3.4 Discrete things
3.5 Digital things
3.6 A world of numbers
3.7 How we work with numbers
3.8 How computers work with numbers
3.9 A few more terms
3.10 A final word – analogue and digital worlds
3.11 Summary
4 Crossing the boundary
4 Crossing the boundary
4.1 Mere numbers?
4.2 Text
4.2.1 Reducing and processing text
4.2.2 Standards
4.2.3 Text capture devices
4.2.4 Keyboards
4.2.5 Scanners and OCRs
4.3 Graphics and video: images
4.4 Introducing pixels
4.5 Resolution
4.6 Greyscale
4.7 Colour
4.8 Interlude – diagrams
4.9 Making it move
4.10 Standards again
4.11 Image and video capture devices
4.11.1 Digital still cameras and camcorders
4.11.2 Scanners (again)
4.12 Sound and music
4.13 Sound capture devices
4.14 A final word
4.15 Summary
5 Going back
5 Going back
5.1 As to the meaning ...
5.2 A conundrum about meaning
5.3 Regaining meaning
5.4 The meaning of meaning
5.5 Types of output devices
5.5.1 Monitors
5.5.2 Printers
5.5.3 Plotters
5.5.4 Loudspeakers
5.5.5 Summary
6 What if? … changing the digital world
6 What if? … changing the digital world
6.1 Kings of infinite space?
6.2 Mimicking and mastering nature: manipulating the digital world
6.3 Models
6.3.1 The climate model
6.3.2 The cosmos
6.4 Setting models in motion – the power of simulation
6.5 Imaginary worlds
6.5.1 Virtual worlds
6.5.2 AlphaWorld
6.5.3 Virtual reality
6.6 Worlds without end
6.7 Summary
7 Crossing the boundary – a final word
7 Crossing the boundary – a final word
8 Conclusions
8 Conclusions
8.1 Key terms
Acknowledgements

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