Once upon an algorithm: how stories explain computing
Description
"Picture a computer scientist, staring at a screen and clicking away frantically on a keyboard, hacking into a system, or perhaps developing an app. Now delete that picture. In Once Upon an Algorithm, Martin Erwig explains computation as something that takes place beyond electronic computers, and computer science as the study of systematic problem solving. Erwig points out that many daily activities involve problem solving. Getting up in the morning, for example: You get up, take a shower, get dressed, eat breakfast. This simple daily routine solves a recurring problem through a series of well-defined steps. In computer science, such a routine is called an algorithm. Erwig illustrates a series of concepts in computing with examples from daily life and familiar stories. Hansel and Gretel, for example, execute an algorithm to get home from the forest. The movie Groundhog Day illustrates the problem of unsolvability; Sherlock Holmes manipulates data structures when solving a crime; the magic in Harry Potter's world is understood through types and abstraction; and Indiana Jones demonstrates the complexity of searching. Along the way, Erwig also discusses representations and different ways to organize data; "intractable" problems; language, syntax, and ambiguity; control structures, loops, and the halting problem; different forms of recursion; and rules for finding errors in algorithms. This engaging book explains computation accessibly and shows its relevance to daily life. Something to think about next time we execute the algorithm of getting up in the morning" -- From the publisher.
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ISBN:
9780262036634
9780262341707
9780262341707
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Grouping Information
Grouped Work ID | 5c84edcb-31d2-a522-55e7-330cb9fc5a06 |
---|---|
Grouping Title | once upon an algorithm how stories explain computing |
Grouping Author | martin erwig |
Grouping Category | book |
Grouping Language | English (eng) |
Last Grouping Update | 2024-04-24 15:18:24PM |
Last Indexed | 2024-04-25 20:55:24PM |
Solr Fields
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0
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author
Erwig, Martin
author_display
Erwig, Martin
detailed_location_bemis
Bemis Lower Level
display_description
"Picture a computer scientist, staring at a screen and clicking away frantically on a keyboard, hacking into a system, or perhaps developing an app. Now delete that picture. In Once Upon an Algorithm, Martin Erwig explains computation as something that takes place beyond electronic computers, and computer science as the study of systematic problem solving. Erwig points out that many daily activities involve problem solving. Getting up in the morning, for example: You get up, take a shower, get dressed, eat breakfast. This simple daily routine solves a recurring problem through a series of well-defined steps. In computer science, such a routine is called an algorithm. Erwig illustrates a series of concepts in computing with examples from daily life and familiar stories. Hansel and Gretel, for example, execute an algorithm to get home from the forest. The movie Groundhog Day illustrates the problem of unsolvability; Sherlock Holmes manipulates data structures when solving a crime; the magic in Harry Potter's world is understood through types and abstraction; and Indiana Jones demonstrates the complexity of searching. Along the way, Erwig also discusses representations and different ways to organize data; "intractable" problems; language, syntax, and ambiguity; control structures, loops, and the halting problem; different forms of recursion; and rules for finding errors in algorithms. This engaging book explains computation accessibly and shows its relevance to daily life. Something to think about next time we execute the algorithm of getting up in the morning" -- From the publisher.
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Book
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Books
id
5c84edcb-31d2-a522-55e7-330cb9fc5a06
isbn
9780262036634
9780262341707
9780262341707
itype_bemis
Juvenile Biography
last_indexed
2024-04-26T02:55:24.588Z
lexile_score
-1
literary_form
Non Fiction
literary_form_full
Non Fiction
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005.1 ERWIG,MA 2017
owning_library_bemis
Bemis Public Library
owning_location_bemis
Bemis Public Library
primary_isbn
9780262036634
publishDate
2017
publisher
The MIT Press
recordtype
grouped_work
subject_facet
Computer Technology
Computer algorithms -- Popular works
Electronic books
Nonfiction
Sociology
Computer algorithms -- Popular works
Electronic books
Nonfiction
Sociology
title_display
Once upon an algorithm : how stories explain computing
title_full
Once upon an algorithm : how stories explain computing / Martin Erwig
Once upon an algorithm [electronic resource] : How stories explain computing. Martin Erwig
Once upon an algorithm [electronic resource] : How stories explain computing. Martin Erwig
title_short
Once upon an algorithm
title_sub
how stories explain computing
topic_facet
Computer Technology
Computer algorithms
Nonfiction
Sociology
Computer algorithms
Nonfiction
Sociology
Solr Details Tables
item_details
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ils:.b59038093 | .i12418456x | Bemis Lower Level | 005.1 ERWIG, MA 2017 | 1 | false | false | Due May 15, 2024 | Mar 16, 2024 | below | ||||
overdrivecmc:ODN0003446887 | ODN0003446887 | Overdrive (CMC) | Online Overdrive (CMC) | eBook | eBook | 1 | false | true | Overdrive (CMC) | http://link.overdrive.com/?websiteID=162&titleID=3446887 | Available Online | Overdrive (CMC) |
record_details
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---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
ils:.b59038093 | Book | Books | English | The MIT Press | [2017] | xii, 319 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm | ||
overdrivecmc:ODN0003446887 | eBook | eBook | English | 2017 | 1 online resource |
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