Global Arc

An introduction to the concepts of 2D and 3D computer vision. Topics include low-level image processing methods such as filtering and edge detection; segmentation and clustering; optical flow and tracking; shape reconstruction from stereo, motion, texture, and shading. Throughout the course, there will also be examination of aspects of human vision and perception that guide and inspire computer vision techniques. Prerequisites: 217 and 226. Two 90-minute lectures.

Security issues in computing, communications, and electronic commerce. Goals and vulnerabilities; legal and ethical issues; basic cryptology; private and authenticated communication; electronic commerce; software security; viruses and other malicious code; operating system protection; trusted systems design; network security; firewalls; policy, administration and procedures; auditing; physical security; disaster recovery; reliability; content protection; privacy. Prerequisites: 217 and 226. Two 90-minute lectures.

An introduction to modern cryptography with an emphasis on fundamental ideas. The course will survey both the basic information and complexity-theoretic concepts as well as their (often surprising and counter-intuitive) applications. Among the topics covered will be private key and public key encryption schemes, digital signatures, pseudorandom generators and functions, chosen ciphertext security; and time permitting, some advanced topics such as zero knowledge proofs, secret sharing, private information retrieval, and quantum cryptography. Prerequisites: 226 or permission of instructor. Two 90-minute lectures.

How do we create interactive technology centered around people and society at large? This course is a survey of the field of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI). Lectures, readings, and precept discussions cover foundational theories as well as topics in HCI. We focus on two core areas of interactive computing (e.g., input/output, ubiquitous computing) and social computing (e.g., collaboration, social media), and span a breadth of domains, such as AI+HCI, AR/VR, design tools, and accessibility. Put your learnings into practice, with a semester-long group project, by either studying how people think or by designing a novel technological system.

Computation and other aspects of our lives are becoming increasingly intertwined. In this course we will study a variety of topics on the cusp between economics and computation. Topics to be covered include: games on networks, auctions, mechanism and market design, reputation, computational social choice. The aim of the course is two-fold: (1) to understand the game-theoretic issues behind systems involving computation such as online networks, and (2) to learn how algorithms and algorithmic thinking can help with designing better decision and allocation mechanisms in the offline world.

This course introduces computer science and technology-oriented students to issues tackled by Chief Technology Officers: the technical visionaries and managers innovating at the boundaries of technology and business. These individuals are partners to the business leaders of the organization, not merely implementers of business goals. The course covers companies from ideation and early-stage startup, to growth-stage startup, to mature company, covering the most relevant topics at each stage, including ideation, financing, product-market fit, go-to-market approaches, strategy, execution, and management. Exciting industry leaders guest lecture.

Introduction to basic concepts of geometric computing, illustrating the importance of this new field for computer graphics, solid modelling, robotics, databases, pattern recognition, and statistical analysis. Algorithms for geometric problems. Fundamental techniques, for example, convex hulls, Voronoi diagrams, intersection problems, multidimensional searching. Two 90-minute lectures. Prerequisites: 226 and 240 or 341, or equivalent.

This course studies computer networks and the services built on top of them. Topics include packet-switch and multi-access networks, routing and flow control, congestion control and quality-of-service, Internet protocols (IP, TCP, BGP), the client-server model and RPC, elements of distributed systems (naming, security, caching) and the design of network services (multimedia, peer-to-peer networks, file and Web servers, content distribution networks). Two lectures, one preceptorial. Prerequisite: 217.

This course covers the design and implementation of wireless networks, from signals to bits to datagrams. Students will gain an understanding of the principles and techniques behind the design of modern wireless local-area and wide-area networks, as well as their interaction with the design of the rest of the Internet. The class will provide an introduction to the wireless physical layer, presented in a way that is accessible for students with solely a computer systems and networking background.

This course serves as an introduction to the fast-developing world of Web3, focused on the applications of blockchains, cryptocurrencies, and decentralization through technology. Students will learn about blockchains and the decentralization of trust and power through technology, launch a cryptocurrency token, create non-fungible tokens, and build an application on a blockchain. We will also discuss applications, ethical implications, and policy questions around decentralization. See "Other Information" below.