jowillocks's blog

This class has truly been my favorite class this semester. I think the aspect that I enjoyed the most has been the philosophical side of computers, software, hardware, etc. Dr. Brown has addressed topics that I never even thought about before. I think it is very neat to think about humans as a biological computer with DNA as the program to create a human. I am also taking biology this semester, which has also made me think about this concept. These two classes have actually helped me to increase my religious faith.

I really enjoyed the fact that I didn’t have to buy a book for this class. Dr. Brown’s condensed comics were much more interesting than reading pages and pages of boring manual-like text. Most professors everywhere else would probably charge for their work on something like that, but it was all free and that’s amazing. As I read over other students’ blogs, I see that many share the same thoughts that I have. I have learned some nice things from them, such as several great websites for discounts and deals from Ryan’s posts. It’s always nice to find a great deal and quite addicting too.

We learned about almost every aspect of the computer it seems. We started out at a low level learning how computers function, which was very interesting. I think it’s good to know some background knowledge of something you use every day. After covering the tedious innards of a computer we shifted to a more macro view of the computer and its uses. I know some students probably did not like the first part of the class as much as the last according to their blogs because learning how something works isn’t always as fun as actually using something to a lot of people. I was interested in every aspect of the class though because I find it interesting.

This class has gotten me really excited about the future. We watched multiple videos of robots and other things that seem so futuristic to the average consumer, but in reality many of these things already exist. The extent of current human technology was very surprising to me. I cannot wait for the price of things such as an exoskeleton suit to come down and be available to the average person. I am glad to be alive during this point in time; it’s a very exciting time to be alive.

There is a dark side to all of this technology though. As the power of the individual increases and the ease of obtaining destructive items of technology, I become a little more afraid. There are some crazy people out there that when they get some new technology, it could spell the end of the world as we know it. I think it is quite possible that technology will bring about the end of the world one day.

I have learned a lot in this class and honestly will miss it. I not only learned a lot but I thought a lot as well. This class got me thinking about philosophical issues, which I think is very important.

I have been playing video games for the majority of my life, since I was about 4 years old. I enjoy them very much, but I do not have much extra time now to play them like some people do. I have really only played one game, called Gunbound, online extensively. I haven’t played in a year or so now though. It is a very addicting game similar to Tanks, Worms, or Scorched Earth in which you shoot other opponents with a tank-type vehicle by changing angles and power to make shots. I like Gunbound because you can upgrade your avatar to make it stronger or earn more money and also there are many people from around the world who play it too. I have made several friends through playing this game. Best of all it’s free (unless you want to buy some items with cash instead of through time and hard work).

The pros and cons of online gaming are as follows. As I have mentioned already, it’s nice to meet people online and quite easy. It’s fun, very addictive, helps pass the time on a boring day, and can help one to learn. On the bad side of things, video games can make a person withdrawn from non-virtual society, can take up too much time, and not much exercise is achieved while sitting in a chair playing a video game. I think video games are fine as long as they are played in moderation. As with anything, too much of it can be a bad thing.

Here is one of my avatars for Gunbound. It’s not my favorite, but it’s the one I wear the most to earn the most money.

Artificial Intelligence is definitely an interesting topic. It has come a far way over the last several years. I never really thought about video games using AI, but it is noticeable that things have improved. I think it is pretty interesting that neural networks simulate neurons in a brain. It’s neat to think about how difficult it is to decipher what a computer/robot has learned from what it is shown or experiences. If you think about it, humans are the same way. It’s just easier for us to share our experiences because we can communicate directly with one another. Even so, there is no way we can be 100% sure that everyone learns the same thing from a similar experience. I also never really thought about humans using “natural selection” to solve complex problems, but it makes sense if you can’t come up with a solution on your own. I’m not convinced that language is the only basis of intelligence though. I think many things certify someone as intelligent. I’m sure humans were intelligent long before language existed by learning to use tools and other things.

The purpose of technology, in my opinion, is to make life easier for the creator or consumer. Robots do just that. They are meant to abide by human commands to do tasks for us. These tasks are ones we can’t do, don’t want to do, or won’t do. I can’t wait until the time comes when I can send a robot to work in my place to earn money for me, while I relax; or I could have my robot drive me in my car. The possibilities are endless and very exciting.

Working with the Lego Mindstorm robots has been a fun experience. I expected it to be much more complicated than it was. Programming is not my favorite thing to do, but RobotC was pretty easy to understand (at least what we experimented with was). Then again, I guess manipulating code is much easier than figuring out how to start from scratch. I think it is neat that this kind of thing is what kids these days play with. I wish I had something this cool to play with when I was little. And I thought action figures were cool..

Hackers generally have a negative connotation associated with their title. I understand that all hackers are not out to destroy your computer, but it’s just that the media gives them a negative image by only reporting negative things. Hackers are actually very important, if they use their abilities in the right way. They can find holes in programs and operating systems that could be exploitable to hackers with ill intent. I do not understand the purpose of viruses that just destroy computers. I can’t understand why anyone would want to do that other than to say they can. I guess that’s why they do it.

As for security software, I think it will always be one step behind viruses and other infections. This is because all security software companies do is react; they are always on defense, never offense. That’s the reason when they finally protect consumers against one security threat there are a few more new threats that pop up. So, in my opinion viruses and other security threats will always be a problem.

Programming in Alice seems like it will be fun but time consuming. I agree with the idea that teaching something while having fun is a great way to learn how to do something. Many kids won’t even know that they are learning while playing with Alice! I do wish that there were more popular characters to choose from though, such as characters from actual movies and video games. That would make it better, in my opinion. I am excited about what version 3 might look like and have the power to produce. I think it’s great that this program is free. It’s nice to have some free alternatives to commercial products that help keep their high prices in check.

As for Randy Pausch’s “Last Lecture”, I thought it was highly inspirational. It seems to help provide a secondary outlook on life that many people do not share. Even in the face of death he is enjoying life. I think that is a very important lesson to learn. Everyone should make the most of what they have just like Randy Pausch.

Well, coding in HTML took a little longer than I remembered it taking, but maybe that’s just because I haven’t done it in a while. I think also a big part of it is that I like to do my best on everything, so I had to get everything just right before I would accept it. I understand now why the webpages themselves load faster than other content that is on the page such as pictures or videos. It’s because a webpage’s file is tiny when compared to the large file sizes of different types of media. Designing a webpage is kind of like making blueprints for a house. The browser then reads and builds the page just like a construction worker would. Overall it was a pretty fun experience and I’m glad we covered it so I could refresh my memory of what I learned in high school.

Creating a webpage using HTML is actually fun, in my opinion. It reminds me a little of programming in a computer language such as C++ but it’s not quite the same. At least it is structured like C++ in that it has beginning and ending statements. Coding in HTML is much easier though and much more fun too. I took a web page design class in high school and enjoyed it a lot. I am glad we were able to briefly cover HTML so that I could refresh my memory. The hardest part about hand coding a webpage in HTML to me is remembering the various tags.

Computer languages such as machine code and assembly language can seem impossible to understand at first, but once you take the time to look closely at each, the task becomes much easier. I am coming to terms with the fact that computer code, or binary, is just a representation of two states. These two states allow for calculations and comparisons. Assembly language is just the first successful result of attempts to meld together the natural language humans use and binary.  This is supposed to make things easier on humans. It does make things easier, but programming with assembly language can still be hard. I understand the concept of substituting words for a combination of 0’s and 1’s to make programming easier. However, I just can’t seem to convey what I want the computer to do in a programming language. As with a calculation using pencil and paper, the pseudo computer must complete a calculation in steps; this is not the hard part though. I understand how to do simple calculations such as adding two numbers together in assembly language. The hard part (at least for me) comes when you must produce “if cases” that depend on certain conditions. Using a computer programming language just takes time and practice to learn, just like any human language. So, with time I will get the hang of programming with assembly language but for now I still do not consider myself an expert.

Parts

• Screwdriver and screws
• Case – I chose this case because it has room for upgrades, screwless installation, multiple fans, easy to reach connections, and it just looks cool.
• Motherboard – I chose this motherboard because it can handle up to 16 GB of RAM, it takes up a small amount of space, and it uses less power than some other motherboards.
• Optical drive - I decided to use this optical drive because it is very versatile. It can burn DVD+R, DVD-R, DVD+RW, DVD+R Dual Layer, DVD-R Dual Layer, and DVD-RAM – and it does all of this with good speed for a DVD burner. It even has lightscribe technology, just to be cool.
• CPU – This CPU was picked because its 3.2 Ghz processor is blazingly fast and has dedicated cache for each of its 4 cores. It also uses its power more efficiently, turning off parts it isn’t using at times.
• Cooler – I decided on this cooler because it is supposed to be super quiet. It also saves power, which in turn becomes quieter, when not under strenuous use.
• RAM I chose this RAM because of the amount of memory (4GB) and the fact that it disperses heat evenly throughout the stick of memory to help ensure it does not overheat.
• Hard drive – This drive was chosen because of it’s colossal storage capacity and high RPM rate for faster access times. It even contains 32MB of cache for greater performance. Best of all though, it’s cheap.
• Power supply – Again, as with some of the other components already chosen, this one is energy efficient which is why I chose to include it.
• Video card – I chose to include this graphics card because of it’s support for HD. So I can turn my computer into a HD TV or I can play video games with top of the line graphics.
• Keyboard – The thing I like most about this keyboard is it’s built in lights in the keys, so I can see to type at night. It also is made to be used with games such as WOW if I decide to play them.
• Speakers – Surround sound speakers for my computer, why would I even need a TV? This reinforces the idea of universal machine.
• Mouse – I’m not a big fan of ergonomic mice. I like them simple so that’s why I chose to include this mouse for my computer. Also, I hate wires getting in my way, so it’s a big plus that this one doesn’t have any. The fact that it’s optical is great too so that I don’t have to clean out the roller every week.
• Monitor – I chose this 18.5″ widescreen monitor for it’s size. I want a big screen to watch my movies on.

Steps

*Before starting, ground yourself by touching metal when handling electronic equipment*

Put the CPU in the motherboard

1.      Lift lever next to the CPU socket

2.      Align the CPU so that it fits in the grooves

3.      Push the lever down to lock it into place

Install the CPU cooler on the motherboard

1.      Place the two hooks over the two knobs on the motherboard

2.      Once it is in place, latch the hooks and flip the lever to help hold it in place

3.      Plug in the power

Install RAM

1.      Make sure you put the memory into the correct slot

2.      Push down on the RAM until it clicks

Install the ATX backplate

1.      Push it into place

Put motherboard into case

1.      Line up holes in motherboard with the holes in the case

2.      Line up connectors on the ATX backplate with motherboard, push it into place

3.      Use wide thread screws and screw it in

Install hard drive

1.      Detach drive cage

2.      Slide hard drive in to the front of the cage and screw it in

3.      Slide it back into place and screw it in

Install optical drive

1.      Take the faceplate off and slide drive in from the front, making sure the screw holes line up

2.      Scew it in

Install connectors

1.      Connect the two-pin cables to the block in the correct place

2.      With the hard drive LED, make sure you match positive and negative

3.      Plug the box into the motherboard

Plug in USB, Firewire, audio, and eSATA connections

1.      Match up cable with corresponding outlet and plug it in along the bottom edge of the motherboard

Install power supply

1.      Slide it into the case, line it up, screw it in

Installing cables

1.      Plug what you need into the motherboard, match up colors

Install video card

1.      Put into PCI Express slot, making sure it’s lined up, push into place

2.      Screw it into the case

Installing more cables (2 power, SATA)

1.      Plug the ATX Power connector between RAM and the video card, make sure the cable says “PCIE”

2.      Plug in the SATA power cable at the back of the optical drive and hard drive

3.      Plug in data cables to hard drive and optical drive

4.      Plug in 4-pin molex connectors to connect the fans

Install Operating System

1.      Change boot order so that CDs load first

2.      Insert the OS disk and install

3.      Install drivers for all devices: chipset, video, network, mouse, audio, printer, etc.

4.      Update software online

The End.