Unit 1 - Information encoding

We start by examining how textual messages can be represented using things that can convey only two conditions of information, such as a lantern, smoke signal, or electrical or magnetic charge. This way of encoding human-understandable information gives us the power to use electronic circuitry to store, share, copy, and manipulate information. You get a chance to form a message and express it in this way using common everyday items. When then explore modern devices that can handle and interpret information stored electronically in this way, some of today's consumer electronics that handle information encoded this way, and how information can be shared between different kinds of computer systems even if they are very different.

Assigned reading and viewing
Unit 1 course workbook. This chapter of the published course workbook is provided here in electronic form. See link B at the upper right to download Unit 1 of the course workbook in .pdf form.

Work due
Repeatable online Exercise 1
Unit Summary Form 1 (USF 1)
Required projects: 
      1.1 ASCII encoding and representation
      1.2 Comparing tablet computers
      1.3 .csv file format
Extra credit: You can do project 1.4 (comparing memory products) or 1.5 (comparing e-readers) for extra credit if you wish.