Shared Journal Week 1

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Andrew Sandler's Entry

Before Reading's

Before Denning articles, answer the following questions

When you hear the term computer science, what comes to mind?

Hardware, software, the enigma machine, zeros and ones, binary, java, python, c++, compilers, electrical engineering, circuits, switches, algorithms, Artificial Intelligence, transformer architecture.

When older relatives or friends hear the term computer science, what do you think comes to their minds?

Punch cards, analog computers, enigma machine, huge mainframes.

When younger relatives or friends hear the term computer science, what do you think comes to their minds?

Video games, AI, newer languages

Before Reading the Janovy chapter (on your honor) answer the following questions

When you hear the term biology, what comes to mind?

Humans, Cells, DNA, Transcription

Do you consider yourself a *biologist*? why or why not?

Im interested in biology, but I don’t have the practical knowledge or experiences I would need to consider myself a biologist. (I read this article before answering these questions accidentally so I am trying to answer as if I hadn’t read the article, I did not read the Denning articles ahead of time though)

After Reading the Dennings Articles and the Janovy Chapter, answer the following questions:

What was the purpose of these readings?

To give us perspective on what we are doing in our course, dispel rumors and help us understand a fuller picture of what is out there and what we can gain and learn and take with us.

Which of the voices in the Voices of Computing article seem to appeal to you the most?

Honestly, not to say this as a cop out but I really liked all of them. I’m not really sure why I am saying this, but I like the Computational Programmer a lot. Its really a tough choice but I think about this one thing from the article on a daily basis where it said: “Perhaps my greatest triumph is to get people everywhere to think their brains are computers and that everything they do and say is simply an output. “

Apply one of the seven principles from the *Computing is a Natural Science* article to something as "non-computer-science"-y as possible, either from other subjects or your daily life.

I was reminded of a youtube video by Artem Kirsanev immediately called Place cells: How your brain creates maps of abstract spaces:www.youtube.com/watch?v=iV-EMA5g288&list=PLgtmMKe4spCMzkiVa4-eSHVk-N4SC8r9K&index=1

It sort of ties into computers already though. In terms of non-computer science, I immediately thought of strawberries, bananas, and nectarines —I really like fruit — and how they are each made up of individual parts (cells). I also think about bottlenecks in terms of my shower faucet, since it always seems to get really high in pressure but never has enough water coming out of it.

What did you find most interesting or provocative about the Janovy reading?

The Janovy Reading was my favorite, I took extensive notes because It really spoke to me. I actually texted my cousin the sentence in the article regarding doing and being, I do, I am. And the differences. This is probably one of my top 10 readings that Ive done in my college career.

What does it mean to be a biologist? Do you consider yourself a biologist? Why or why not?

Since I cheated a bit and accidentally read ahead, it is nice that either way I would have said no. Im naturally extremely curious and observant, but not necessarily about the same things described in the reading. I don’t seek out nature, but I do try and take notice.

Dean's Entry

Before reading the Denning articles

1. When I hear computer science, I think of lots of code on a computer screen that seems cryptic and basically in another language (because it essentially is). I do not understand much about computer science, nor do I know of the languages of coding.
2. When older relatives hear the term computer science, they likely think of big tech companies like google or Microsoft, and they think of all of the work that goes into all of their products and software.
3. When younger relatives hear the term computer science, they likely think of video games or animation, which are the kinds of things that they interact with in regards to computer science.

Before reading the Janovy chapter

1. When I hear the term biology, I think of dissections of animals and their anatomy, although I understand that that relates to a more surface level study of biology whereas the field dives much deeper into the foundations of life.
2. I do not necessarily consider myself a biologist, for I will graduate college with only a minor in the field. However I know that a minor does give me more of a background in the field than most people.

After Reading the Articles

1. The Denning article titled "voices of computing"'s purpose was to give a summary for the different perspectives of the different concentrations and careers within the large field of computing. The purpose of the second Denning article called "Computing is a natural science" was to give insight into the current state of the field of computing. Considering that today many people regard it as a field that is quite different from the natural sciences such as Biology or Chemistry, but it makes the point that computing is not such a different field and it connects it to the other sciences in this reading. The purpose of the Janovy reading "On becoming a Biologist" was to provide an account of how he found himself and how he ended up becoming a biologist.
2. The voice that appeals to me the most is the voice of the computational thinker, for I do find myself often looking for patterns or systematic ways of understanding the world, and attempting to apply them to everything, similar to how the computational thinker uses algorithms and problem solving skills.
3. A principle from the "Computing is a natural science" article is locality or recollection. This can be applied to our daily lives when we see or hear something that is reminiscent of memory of ours. Such as hearing somebody say a certain phrase that somebody else said to us once in a different context.