University Studies 3 (Freshman Seminar)

Spring 2008. Course Code: 87521

Dude, Where’s My Computer?

Professor Nikil Dutt, DBH 4086, x7219, dutt@ics.uci.edu

http://www.ics.uci.edu/~dutt

Class meets Fridays 11-11:50 AM in DBH 3013.

Course Description:

Traditionally the word “computer” brings to mind a box with a big screen (aka a desktop) or a laptop – something into which you type commands and from which you get some “results”. This seminar will explore the alternate and burgeoning world of embedded computing – where the computer becomes both invisible and ubiquitous. We already come into contact with hundreds of embedded computers in the course of a normal day, and even when we’re asleep! This seminar will expose you to the exciting field of embedded computing, give examples of such systems, and provide insights into the technical and social challenges we encounter when the computer, as we know it, “disappears”.

Readings, Assignments, Activities:

The class will meet once a week and will be structured around a combination of lectures, discussions, videos, and demos.

Tentative Course Schedule

Date Topics

4/4 Course Introduction

4/11 No Class (Professor is out of town)

4/18 iPod Case Study

4/25 Automobile Case Study

5/2 SensorNets SensorNet article

5/9 Embedded Computing in Healthcare

5/16 Guest lecture: UCI RESCUE Project and UCI Responsphere Project

5/23 HCI/Social Impacts of embedded/ubiquitous computing