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Before taking this class, I though that I knew a good amount about computer and how they work. I knew how to build a computer, basic knowledge on which parts do what, and the basics on how programs work. After sitting through the weeks and listening to Dr. Brown’s lectures, I began to gain more knowledge on the subjects. Since I am a hardware guy, I took most to the hardware related discussions. Learning more advanced knowledge about the CPU, GPU, RAM, HDD, and SSD was euphoric. The numerous cache’s a computer deals with, the speed at which the computer can process the millions of bytes that are constantly being throw at it, and the storing process of a HDD and a SSD are baffling. Out of the numerous classes I have taken at PSTCC, this one topped the cake.

Although I take Hardware more to heart than Software, the knowledge I gained in Software is completely viable. Basic to advanced knowledge in all fields of CSIT are almost required these days for anyone pursuing a career in Computer Science. Being able to learn the basic software knowledge that I gained taking this class was a tremendous help. Understanding the language is the first step in knowing how programs work and how they carry out their actions.

Overall, I commend Dr. Brown’s ability to teach his student’s the needed knowledge it takes to excel in the Computer Science field. The class was well planned and contained a numerous amount of helpful activities that improve the learning experience. If I ever had a question regarding the class, or really anything computer related – emailing him was given no second though. I knew he wanted to help and would respond quickly. In the future, if I see a class that I need and he is the teacher I will, with no hesitation, select him as opposed to other teachers I see. I thank you Dr. Brown on a great semester and hope to see you in the future.

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Unfortunately, I was not able to attend this weeks LEGO Mindstorm LAB due to a large spider bite next to my eye (I live in apartments that are located in the woods). I wish that I had been able to see the programming portion of the lab. Last week, my partners and I had begun and finished constructing the Explorer Mindstorm. Its purpose is to explore around the room and while using Touch and Ultra Sonic sensors. The intriguing part would have been the programming. After seeing the comic on Artificial Intelligence, the way a robot works is in a sense of a toddler. So programming this way would have been quite the challenge.

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During our lab assignment, me and my partners chose to use the LEGO Mindstorm robots. With this, we decided to construct an explorer bot. The explorer will use the ultra sonic sensor and touch sensor, and will attempt to detect any obstacles in its way and adjust if there is. The programming part of the assignment will be the hardest part. Although it IS a visual programming language, it is still difficult due to the numerous different things we must do to actually make this thing explore. Overall, this lab is extremely fun and I have enjoyed it so far.

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Viruses, Keyloggers, DDOS, etc.. and crowding the online scene these days. By simply visiting some websites one can obtain trojans, malware, and other unwanted programs onto a beloved computer. To stay save, always make sure an anti-virus is present on the PC. Also, try to grab some malware filtering programs such ad Ad-Aware and CC Cleaner. Hacking has become a professional’s game. With the numerous amount of security measures set into place to deny hackers, people still find obscure ways to break into a secured network. Ways to help prevent these attacks include heavy duty firewalls and putting computers that should have never been hacking off of the Internet, and in extreme cases even off of the network.

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When first talking about scratch I assumed that this would be some silly project that wouldn’t take long to complete and that it wouldn’t be very complex. I was wrong. Although it isn’t nearly as hard as coding is, this program takes the same commands and puts them in a nice user-friendly GUI. With this, scratch allows low level and first time programmers to become familiar with the relative commands used when coding. The GUI allows the user to see what he is doing, rather than typing text and playing the program in another program. Scratch lets you instantly insert code and execute, allowing for quicker fixes and faster program creation. Yes, scratch is limited in what you can do in it, but if you are a just beginning in the programming stages it allows you to become familiar with the whole process and over is a very nice stepping stone that MIT has provided for the internet.

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Although I was already familiar with the use of HTML to create websites, I was not familiar with the process of viewing a website. It is almost impossible to imagine the World Wide Web. If I was a college student in the year 1950 and was told about this network of computers inter-communicating with one another, I would have called you a blasphemer and sent a letter to the local priest. Learning and visualizing it now, I almost feel like myself from the 1950′s. It is truly amazing. It has changed my whole perspective on how websites work, how bittorrent works, and even how online multiplayer gaming works. Data being carried from server computers, sometimes in another country, to mine in order to view websites, download materials, or talk to friend. Throwing in how it all is just binary being transferred through these cables. How then, once we’ve received the data, our computers decode, translate, and execute this data. Mind blowing. I can easily imagine transferring data within a LAN or WAN, but throughout the world – instantaneously.

This week when we were talking about SQL and databases, I was reminded of a person I use to work with. He was a very old man, probably mid 80′s, but always bewildered me about what he did outside or work. He owned his own leather branding company. He would take leather and make it into whatever the customer wanted. Handbags, wallets, keychains, you name it.. Wayne made it. He also owned and operated his own website. With online retailers, SQL and databases and CRUCIAL. They determine the price, quantity, and items being purchased. I had told him that I was familiar with HTML, which led him to believe i was a pro in with databases. The truth was that I had no idea. He would always talk to me about it, leading me through his database and explaining to me the errors he would get expecting me to have some Godly answer to save him. I just nodded, smiled, and told him I would have to see it to get what he was saying (I lied.) Now though, I understand to an extent of what he was trying to tell me. SQL and databases are quite simple, well that is until you get into the thousand page databases. Managing and maintaining a database for a large retailer would be a burden, but their salary probably makes the burden easier. I do plan on taking a database based class, whether it just be an internet class or an actual college course. They are interesting and are required when making corporate websites.

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My first experience with HTML was during High School. The school offered a Web Design class that consisted of parts 1 and 2. At the time, taking this class made me feel like a genius. Turning tags and code into full on visual websites. This stuff was just simple, though, nothing more than adding National Geographic text and pictures to a site in a way that simplified the reading experience. At the end of the semester the teacher would always assign a project that required us to create our own website about whatever topic inspired us at the time. I spent weeks creating my website. Making the margins perfect, adjusting the table padding and spacing, making the image size exactly how I wanted it. After it was all said and done, we would present our websites to the class and explain why we chose the subject, what part of the coding was the hardest, etc… After a few people went and presented their websites, I realized these people either didn’t learn anything in this class or they just didn’t even attempt to try hard on this project. When it was my turn to present, I opened my website and immediately heard a few wows and ooohs. After I had presented the teacher had asked me if he could keep my website for the next class to see. Of course in my ego-maniacal state I promptly agreed and said it was no problem. Three years later my sister, attending the same High School, comes home one day and says she hates me. Being three years ago, I had no idea what she was talking about. Apparently the same teacher had been using my website to detail what could be accomplished in this class if you put your mind to it.

I told this story because what I did for my HTML Class was the complete opposite of what I did with my website. It’s been about 3 years since I have even attempted to do anything with HTML, and while doing this website for CSIT I realized that even though I haven’t done it in forever it all came back to me so quickly. Although I had to re-look up almost all the tags, once I saw them I quickly understood what the code did and wouldn’t have to look it up again because I had forgotten it. Overall, I did enjoy making this website.. even though it was quite terrible.

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When deciding on what computer I should build, I brainstormed through the option. I could build an overly powerful gaming PC, or a high-end graphics design computer, but instead, decided to stick with an affordable, yet powerful enough to run everyday processes, and “average” PC.

First off I’d start by selecting a case

RAIDMAX SMILODON ATX-612WBP

Next is the motherboard:

GIGABYTE GA-Z68P-DS3 LGA 1155

Next is the Processor:

Intel Core i5-2300 Sandy Bridge 2.8GHz (3.1GHz Turbo Boost)

Next would be the Memory:

CORSAIR Vengeance 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600

Next would be the Hard Drive:

Seagate Barracuda Green ST1500DL003 1.5TB 5900 RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s

Next would be the Video Card:

ZOTAC ZT-50603-10L GeForce GT 520 (Fermi) 1GB 64-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16

Lastly we have the monitor:

Acer G235HAbd 23” 5ms 1920×1080 WideScreen LCD

For a mere 661.94, you could easily have a top of the line home PC capable of running most games, playing movies in HDMI format, and flawlessly browse the internet.

To build a PC, you must first make sure that the case is the proper case you want. Cases come in many different formats. So you want to make sure that you pick the right size and ATX build for you. Next, you will have to purchase a motherboard. The motherboard is the base component that fits into the case, so you will have to make sure the motherboard fits properly with the ATX build you had selected for the case. Next, comes the “brain” known as the processor. The processor has a certain build to it, and to determine which processor you want you need to look at your motherboard. Whether it’s AMD or Intel, make sure the socket size is the exact fit of the motherboard. The ram a crucial component, transferring and exchanging data from the CPU and the Hard drive, acting as a connector. Ram is cheap these days, so it is extremely easy to get a high memory, fast data transfer rate, and affordable set of RAM sticks. You need to make sure that they match the rate of the motherboard. Next the hard drive, which is where the main OS and files are stored. Hard drives and the slowest of the memory components, but also hold the most data. Finally install the video card to finish up the system. Plug the monitor into the PC, and insert your Ubuntu OS to begin plowing away at the internet!

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