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C00002 00002			    Computer Literacy: a Holistic View
C00006 00003	Section I:   Introduction.
C00010 00004	Section II:  The Form.
C00022 00005	Section III: The Substance.
C00028 00006	Section IV:  The Seminar Plan.
C00030 00007	Section V:   The Cost.
C00031 00008			Section VI	-- Additional Applications of System
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		    Computer Literacy: a Holistic View

			    A Faculty Seminar

Abstract.

This report  discusses the  substantive issues  underlying the  phemonenon
called "computing" and proposes a seminar to develop a solid understanding
of  modern  computing  for  the  technical  and  non-technical  University
faculty.

The local issues involve the form and substance of computing -- the  form:
the computing devices, their languages, and the techniques that we use  to
communicate our requests; the substance:  the principles of computation as
fundamental tools of thought.

The more global  issues involve  the impact  of computing  on culture  and
society --the  interplay between  the arts  and sciences,  and  computing.
This area moves out of the technological domain and views computing in the
more general context of human endeavor.  We expect to draw heavily on  the
experience and skill of the seminar participants, bringing their depth and
understanding to bear on the general cultural picture.

We expect  the  seminar to  provide  the participants  with  two  tangible
benefits.  First, the  participants will establish  a level of  competency
with  the  tools  that  will  support  their  independent  application  of
computing  in  their  field.   More  importantly,  we  believe  that   the
participants will  be prepared  to  understand and  relate the  impact  of
computing on their speciality to that of society in general.

As a  computing  tool,  we  propose a  small  local  network  of  personal
computers.  We propose the network, rather than existing campus facilities
for several reasons. First, this  network will give participants  exposure
to the kind of computing that they and their children will soon experience
--personal computation; second, these machines allow experimentation  with
interactive facilities not yet  inexpensively available on large  machines
--for example, graphics and music;  and third, these local networks  offer
substantial payoff in  decreasing the  computing load  on the  large-scale
campus facilities. This network strategy frees the DEC20/60 for its  forte
--large computation and  massive data manipulation,  while giving the  new
users a computational medium that  will support their learning; much  like
using flight simulators to train pilots.





			    Contents of Report

		Section I	-- Introduction
		Section II	-- The Form: The Tools
		Section III	-- The Substance: The Ideas
		Section IV	-- The Seminar Plan
		Section V 	-- The Cost
Section I:   Introduction.

It is important to  view the "computing phenomenon"  in a broader  context
than just a technological, engineering  accomplishment.  While it is  true
that electronic computing machinery  is a recent  addition to the  world's
society, the ideas of computation --indeed even primitive realizations  of
these ideas-- have existed for many centuries.  It is therefore  important
to put "computing"  in perspective to  the development of  other arts  and
sciences:  examining the  fundamental ideas independent  of their  current
manifestation  as   "Computers";   relating  computing   to   "information
processing";  relating   the  "information   explosion"  to   "knowledge";
examining the impact of personal computing on society, technologically  as
well as aesthetically and ethically.

One should view  the content of  "computer literacy" as  comprised of  two
facets:   the  "form"  (or  training)  facet,  and  the  "substance"   (or
educational) facet.   To  us, literacy  in  "substance" implies  that  one
understands  the  fundamental   principles  that   support  the   specific
discipline.  Literacy in "form"  implies that one  is conversant with  the
current technological tools.  In the  computing field, technology has  the
typical physical aspect  of an engineering  discipline --the devices  that
carry out the  computations.  However one  important novelty of  computing
technology is its dependence on, and attention to, areas not traditionally
associated with  "hard science".   

In particular,  there  is  a linguistic  component  to  computation.   One
expresses requests for computation as "programs" in artificial  languages;
these programs may be as simple as numerical computations; they may be  as
complex as programs that attempt to simulate some fragment of  intelligent
behavior.  In either  case, these programs  represent the "literature"  of
the languages  and, as  such,  may be  analyzed.  This  analysis  involves
issues of style,  elegance and expressibility  --questions of quality  too
often ignored in science.

The integrated  examination  of  these  facets  --  "substance"  for  mind
training, and "form" for fluency and literature-- can give content to  the
term "computer  literacy".  This  report  proposes  a  University  faculty
seminar that will  establish a solid understanding of modern computing and
its relation to society.
Section II:  The Form.

Computing is  a puzzling  phenomenon.  It  is driven  both physically  and
intellectually, and  its  "form"  contains  both  these  components.   The
physical component contains the devices  --the instruments that we use  to
express our  ideas and  requests.   This component  is apparent  in  other
technology-driven  domains;  however,  in   computing  we  also  have   an
intellectual component.

In computing,  we express  our ideas  and requests  to the  technology  in
languages.   Though  these   languages  are   "artificial",  rather   than
"natural", one should expect that a literature exist.  Unfortunately,  the
quality of  expression in  these computing  languages typically  is  quite
poor, though a few exceptions exist.  A study of computing should  discuss
this phenomenon of  expressibility, and  examine the issue  of quality  in
computing languages.

Like the phenomenon of driving,  fluency in the computing domain  requires
experience with an instrument. Therefore a computing laboratory is  needed
to reinforce the concepts. As  with other experimental domains,  computing
experience should be gained  on the most  modern equipment possible.   The
computing device of the next decade is the "personal computer".

These personal computing devices  will soon supply the  power of the  last
decade's research machine.   The potential for  information processing  is
staggering,  not  just  in  terms   of  the  computing  power  but,   more
importantly, in  terms of  the novel  ways  that people  will be  able  to
interact with the machine.  In  this view of information interchange,  the
local user  will be  able to  interact with  other individuals  through  a
network, and will be able to send computations or data to larger  machines
when  the  local  processing   power  is  not   adequate.   In  short,   a
computational community  is formed,  where the  "local nodes"  are  highly
interactive personal  machines, perhaps  with some  shared devices;  these
nodes are  linked  together  to  larger  machines  that  can  supply  more
processing power and perhaps a more global view on the local  communities.
We propose to supply an Interactive Programming Laboratory that will be  a
prototype for a local computing community.

Besides bringing  the  concept  of personal  computation  to  Santa  Clara
University, the laboratory will be able to relieve much of the burden from
the DEC 20/60.  Many applications, like text editing, program  preparation
and small-scale  student computations  are well-suited  to these  personal
machines; several software systems that are available on the DEC 20/60 are
also available  on personal  computers. Experience  has shown  that  these
smaller systems  can,  in  many  cases, operate  at  least  one-third  the
effective speed of the larger machine, while costing many times less  than
main-frame computers.  This  makes  small computers  very  attractive  for
education and  small computation.  One may  then learn  about  computation
--even to the  point of  using the same  languages and  editors-- and  not
misappropriate the expensive main-frame. That machine is then utilized for
massive computation  or  large  scale data  base  activities  --tasks  not
well-suited to small micro computers.

The small machines can  offer several packages that  are not available  on
the larger processors.  The hallmark of these applications is their highly
interactive behavior,  involving rapid  manipulation of  screen images  to
communicate  results.   Such  activity  is  difficult  to  sustain  on   a
time-shared machine since the amount  of information needed to change  the
screen tends  to  be  substantial  while  the  communication  channels  to
terminals tend to be low speed; furthermore, unpredictable execution rates
on a shared machine can detrimentally affect visual performance at a local
node.

The laboratory will demonstrate  these interactive applications and  offer
the opportunity to  the seminar  participants to  become comfortable  with
these techniques.  It is this class  of applications to which the  general
public will be exposed, and it will be this class of individual that  will
be responsible for disseminating an accurate, humanistic view of computing
to the University community.



Several classes of examples are projected for use in the laboratory:

At the simplest level one has a selection of computer-based games:  Kalah,
Adventure, Chess, or even Space Invaders. The point here is to demonstrate
that computing  can  be  entertaining  and need  not  be  numerical.   The
important  components  in  these   applications  are  that   non-numerical
computing is taking place and visual/graphical output is highly important.
These applications can also put the novice at ease with respect to  simple
operations of computing tools.

Special  purpose   applications   packages   will   also   be   presented.
Text/word-processing: several  very  elegant  video  editing  systems  are
available, including one that is a substantial subset of a DEC-20  editor.
Since  a  large  portion  of  computer  usage  involves   text-processing,
familarity with such systems is necessary.

A business applications product  that is attracting substantial  interest,
VisiCalc, is only available on  micro-processors.  This system displays  a
segment of  a business  ledger in  such a  way that  whenever elements  of
related quantities are modified, one immediately sees all ramifications of
that action.  It is an excellent tool for planning and hypothesizing.

Another work-reduction tool that utilizes both numerical and non-numerical
capabilities is an "algebraic manipulation system". These systems are able
to compute with  algebraic quantities much  like hand calculators  perform
with  numbers.   They  will  perform  complex  algebraic  simplifications,
symbolic differentiation and integration, as will as arithmetic operations
whose accuracy  is  not  restricted  by the  hardware  of  the  underlying
computer.  Several languages  exist that utilize  the visual potential  of
these machines.  These involve  applications as diverse as  computer-aided
drafting, machine  design, and  animation. Audio  experimentation is  also
possible using speech and music synthesis programs.

At a further level, we will examine the tools and techniques that  support
the games and special applications. Though the discussion of the ideas  is
in the "substance" part of the seminar, the lab will have several  general
purpose  interactive   systems   available  to   demonstrate   issues   of
expressibility  in  computer  languages.   These  systems  include:   USCD
Pascal, the widely  used personal  Pascal system;  Rosetta Smalltalk,  the
example of  the  Xerox PARC  personal  computer language;  and  LISP,  the
language that supports much of the content of Smalltalk.

We expect to have an experimental Computer-Aided Learning system available
to  aid  the  novice  in  learning  about  LISP.   This  includes  on-line
documentation and assistance. One novel benefit of computers is that  they
are potentially able to aid a user in helping to understand the  computing
phenomenon itself; other technologies are not so fortunate.

Section III: The Substance.

Just as there is more to creative writing than knowing how to type, so too
we  must  not  overlook  the  explication  of  the  fundamental  ideas  in
computing.  As with other fundamental disciplines, the principal computing
ideas are  not  technological; they  are  intellectual. In  the  computing
sciences these  principles  are  based on  simple  information  processing
concepts involving the manipulation of symbols.  These symbol manipulation
rules, coupled with the phenomenal speed of present-day computers,  result
in the powerful machines that we now see.

Computing  languages  allow  one  to  combine  these  simple   information
processing steps into complex entities.  These more complex entities  form
the  literature  of  computing.   Just  as  some  natural  languages  have
difficulty expressing some  concepts, many of  these artificial  languages
suffer from restricted  expressibility.  A  few languages  exist that  are
worthy of study; they support creative expression and experimentation with
ideas.  It  is these  languages that  are worth  presenting, initially  to
illustrate examples  of  "quality computing  literature",  and  ultimately
allow the participants  to express their  own creative experimentation  in
computing terms.

The challenge, then, is to present these concepts in such a way that  they
are clear and practical.  We are  fortunate to have at least three  useful
models that we can look to for support:

First, as an interesting  piece to "set the  tone", Robert Pirsig's  novel
"Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance" gives valuable perspectives on
the relationships  between art  and  science, and  more generally  on  the
concern for quality in human endeavor. This work supports the notion that 
creative art and science are intertwined, and thus one should not view the 
phenomenon of computing as a purely technical contribution.

A less  oblique  support  for  our  work  is  the  Pulitzer  prize-winning
non-fiction work  entitiled  "Godel,  Escher,  Bach:   An  Eternal  Golden
Braid",  by  Doug   Hofstadter.   This  fascinating   book  relates   many
computational ideas  underlying  the mathematics  of  K. Godel  to  themes
appearing in M. C.  Escher's art and J.  S. Bach's music.  It is a  highly
readable account of many of the ideas that support modern computing.

At a more global  and unifying perspective, the  work of Oswald  Spengler,
"The Decline of the West", offers insights on the impact of  technological
advancements in other cultures  and civilizations.  This work  encompasses
the views of the previous selections,  relating the general issues in  the
historical development of cultures to that culture's view of  mathematics.
A compelling argument may be made that modern computing, as a mathematical
theory, represents the kernel of a new culture, and we are involved in its
birth.

The technical and cultural aspects of these issuse are discussed in a book
being written by John Allen.  This text discusses the computational  ideas
directly, relating them to the laboratory work, and to the wider  societal
questions. A draft of this book will  be used for the course, "The Art  of
Computer Science",  this spring  at  Santa Clara  University, and  in  the
summer at the  Eleventh Annual Institute  in Computer Science  also to  be
held at Santa Clara University.

Section IV:  The Seminar Plan.

We would  expect to  cover the  following material  in a  one-to-two  week
summer seminar, the duration depending on the intensity of the treatment.


The Reading and Discussion of 
  Godel Escher, Bach; 

  Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, 

  The Decline of the West.

The study of J. Allen's notes of computing.

Discussion and experience with computing tools:

  EMACS:  A DEC-20 editing  and  word-processing  language also  available
          on Z-80's.

  Smalltalk: A personal computer language used for designing art and music
             programs as well as general computing.

  Visicalc: A graphical  business-oriented language,  based on  Artificial
            Intelligence programming techniques.

  LISP: The  primary language  for the  course.  A  foundational tool  for
        computation theory and Artificial Intelligence.


  UCSD Pascal: A  standard  "computer science"  language,  available  on
               personal computers in an interactive setting.


  Mu-math: A symbolic mathematics (algebra and calculus) program to perform
           manipulation of algebraic expressions.
Section V:   The Cost.

 The following is an approximate  budget, based on over-the-counter prices
  for single units and no educational discounts:

	Ten Z-80 microcomputers with 64K RAM		      $30,000 

	Ten display systems from Scion Corp.		      $15,000

	Mass storage and network		              $11,000

	Printer						       $1,500

	Software costs         				       $8,000

					                      _______
	Total			                              $65,500 

		Section VI	-- Additional Applications of System


One may also consider the hardware and network as it relates to the global
needs of the EECS department. Existing and future courses can utilize this
system; even in ways not possible  of the cammpus system.  In  particular,
systems software experimentation cannot be  performed on a shared  machine
that must remain  reliable and accessible  to many users.  Courses in  the
design of operating systems, computer networks, and distributed processing
are all within this category.


Additional Applications of System

This system  may be  effectively utilized  in a  broad range  of  courses.
Particular attention should be given to its applicability in courses  that
would require implementation of system-level hardware and software.  These
applications are not possible  on a shared machine  since they can  damage
the operating system and affect other users.

Undergraduate Applications

  E3 The system will  support UCSD Pascal,  as well as  a full array  of
    more traditional language systems and program preparation aids. This
    interactive programming system is not available of DEC 20's.

  E10 The system has  the potential to  support graphics and  computerized
    mechanical drawing.

  EECS15 UCSD Pascal, TLC LISP, and Rosetta Smalltalk will all run on this
    system.  Each  language   system  offers  its   unique  and   valuable
    perspective on data structuring.

  EECS101  Same  considerations  as  EECS15,  but  emphasis  on   in-depth
    performance in specific languages.

  EECS xyz (Operating Systems) System will be useful for development,  and
    indispensible for  experimentation with  implementations of  operating
    systems. One cannot expect to experiment on the campus DEC 20 facility.

  Special topics courses: This system is an integral part  of  the  Spring
    1981 course, The  Art of  Computer Science.   Further possible  topics
    include: network architectures,  distributed computation,  interactive
    programming systems,  computer  graphics,  intelligent  computer-aided
    learning.

  Freshman induction course:  The system  will give  students an  accurate
    view of  interactive  computing,  including  an  introduction  to  the
    benefits of interactive technical writing.

Graduate Impact

  The system is valuable  in at least 301,  both parts of 310,  Functional
    programming, Artificial Intelligence, and Operating systems.