Course Objectives:

1. To learn the mathematical and scientific principles* that underlie selected digital information technologies: digital representation of information, programming, digital music, digital images, digital logic, data compression, communication networks
2. To learn the engineering processes by which technologies are created
3. To understand how engineering design involves tradeoffs between cost and performance to achieve technical goals within economic and social constraints

*Satisfies General Education requirements for both Physical Sciences and Quantitative Reasoning II.

Prerequisite: Comfortable with basic Algebra.

Credit: 3 semester hours

Required Text: There is no required text for this course
Suggested References (on reserve in Grainger Library):
Textbook: Geoffrey C. Orsak, Sally L. Wood, Scott C. Douglas, David C. Munson, John R. Treichler, Ravindra Athale, and Mark A. Yoder, Engineering our Digital Future, Pearson Prentice Hall, 2004.
David Cyganski, John A. Orr, and Richard F. Vaz, Information Technology: Inside and Outside, Prentice Hall, 2001.
Roman Kuc, The Digital Information Age, PWS Brooks/Cole, 1999.

Classes: Tuesdays and Thursdays,
11:00 to 11:50 a.m. (Section AL)

Schedule, Assignments and Examinations:
see MOODLE.

Grading:
Course grades will be based on a weighted total of points, with the following weights:

• Homework, 15%
• Lab assignments, 15%
• Citizenship and attendance, 10%
• Project, 5%
• Exam #1, 15%
• Exam #2, 20%
• Final Exam, 20%

Labs are completed in pairs. Exams are completed individually.

Exams are graded out of 100 points (typically) and your adjusted score will be min(raw,80)/80, where "raw" is your raw score on the exam. Note that a raw score of 80 and a raw score of 100 both result in a grade of 100%. Do not be fooled! Expect exams to be challenging. Extra credit is not generally given on exams.

The following cutoffs for course grades may be lowered but will not be raised:

A   95%     B+  85%     B-  75%     C   65%   D+   55%   D-   45%
A-  90%     B   80%     C+  70%     C-  60%   D    50%

Citizenship is a Participation Credit:
When you work as a team on homework and in the lectures, each student must carry his/her own weight. You should always be prepared for lecture exercises and participate in the course project(s). Your "citenzenship" may be also be based on your attendance and your willingness to participate in lecture. It may be calculated on both objective and subjective measures.

Special Concerns:
If you have any concerns about factors such as a disability or a religious practice that may interfere with the successful completion of a course requirement by its deadline, please contact the professor in advance.

Academic Integrity:
The faculty of the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering expects all students to conduct their academic work according to the highest ethical standards of the engineering profession. Every student must neither give nor receive assistance on examinations. Violations of standards of academic integrity will result in an appropriate disciplinary action.