Introduction to Computer Science & Basic Programming Lecture Notes

Vocabulary flashcards covering course policies, assignments, grading scales, VR/HCI concepts, binary numbers, and computer architecture based on the lecture transcript.

Decimal System

A base-10 number system that uses ten unique digits: 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9.

Binary System

A base-2 number system that represents all data and mathematical computations using only two unique digits: 0 and 1.

Unsigned Binary Representation Range

A binary number system without positive or negative signs, capable of representing integers in the range from $0$ to $2^n - 1$ using $n$ bits.

Two's Complement

Signed binary numbers represent both positive and negative integers by using the first bit as a plus/minus indicator via Two's Complement, and their valid range of values for an n-bit sequence is calculated using the formula

-2^{n-1} to 2^{n-1} - 1.

Von Neumann Architecture

A computer hardware design framework comprising an Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU), Input/Output (I/O) interfaces, and storage (the memory) connected together by a system bus .

Transistor

A microscopic hardware switching component that replaced vacuum tubes, allowing hundreds of billions of digital logic elements to fit on a modern CPU.

Logic Gates

microscopic electronic decisions makers inside computer chips that control how electricity flows using inputs of 1 (True) or 0 (False). By combining strict AND gates, flexible OR gates, and opposite-flipping NOT gates, microchips can process complex digital logic and run all modern software.