1A03E
Introduction to Humanities
Computing
Course Outline
1. What is a computer? (2 Weeks)
- Types of computers
- Parts of a microcomputer
- History of computers
- Readings
- Beekman, Computer Confluence - Chapters 1 and 2, then 3 and 4
- Required Web Browsing
- Introduction to
Computers
The
Virtual Museum of Computing
Computerseum
A Chronology
of Computer History
Searchable Timeline of Humanities Computing
2. The Internet and Computer Assisted Communications (2 Weeks)
- The way networks work
- History of the Internet
- Electronic mail
- World Wide Web
- How computer networks influence communication
- Readings
- Computer Confluence - Chapters 9 and 10
- Required Web Browsing
-
Interactive Timeline of Humanities Computing History
Internet
Timeline
Internet Demographic Survey
Information Policy
Resources
Information Policy for Canada
3. The Electronic Text (2 Weeks)
- Uses of computers in the manipulation
of texts
- From desktop publishing to CD-ROMs
- Past & future of electronic texts
- Related issues (e.g. intellectual property)
- An online text-analysis environment
- Readings
- Computer Confluence - Chapters 5 and 6
- Required Web Browsing
- TACTweb Text-Analysis
Environment
Society
of the History of Authorship, Reading and Publishing
OASIS formerly know as "SGML Open"
Oxford Text Archive
Voice of the
Shuttle: Technology of Writing
Copyright and Intellectual
Property
Humanities Text Initiative
Victorian Women Writers
Project
4. Hypertext and Hypermedia (1 Week)
- Hypertext theory
- Variety of hypermedia works available
- How to critique multimedia works
- Computer games
- Readings
- Computer Confluence - Chapters 7 and 8
- Required Web Browsing
- All
about hypertext - Hypertext Places - Follow links from there.
- "As We May Think" by Vannevar Bush
5. Operating Systems and Human Computer Interaction (2 Weeks)
- Basic issues in human computer interaction
- Dialogue oriented interfaces versus direct manipulation
- Unix (Pine & Lynx)
- Microsoft Disk Operating System (MS DOS)
- Microsoft Windows
- Readings
- Computer Confluence - TBA
- Required Web Browsing
- Human Computer Interaction
6. The Electric Image (2 Weeks)
- Basics of computer graphics
- Limitations & possibilities of the digital
image
- Readings
- Computer Confluence - TBA
- Required Web Browsing
- None
7. What is Humanities Computing and where is it going? (1 Week)
- Uses of information technology in humanities
- Pedagogy
- Research
- Communication
- Discipline-specific resources.
- Readings
- Computer Confluence - Chapters 10 and 14
- Required Web Browsing
-
What
is Humanities Computing?
IHC - 1A03E 
Humanities Computing Centre 
Faculty of Humanities
Prepared by François Lachance
lachanc@mcmaster.ca
Spring 1999.