Evil Robots and Helpful Droids

Evil Robots and Helpful Droids
FYS - Fall 2007

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Instructor: Lisa Michaud - lmichaud@wheatoncollege.edu - Science Center, 106A
AIM: ___________________________

Preceptors: Hannah DiCicco, Raleigh Upshur;
Administrative Mentor: Gary Ahrendts; Library Liaison: Mason Brown

Lecture (301)	Monday / Wednesday	12:30pm-1:50pm
Office Hours (106A)	Monday	2:30pm-4:00pm
	Tuesday	11:00am-12:30pm
	Friday	11:30am-12:30pm
	(Other)	by appointment

Welcome to EVIL ROBOTS AND HELPFUL DROIDS .

ANNOUNCEMENTS Last Updated: 12/26/07

GENERAL:

Remember to include the Wheaton Honor Pledge on all work in this course: I have abided by the Wheaton College Honor Code in this work. (signed with your name)
Citations in this course must use the MLA style.

CLICK HERE to see the assignments that are past due and old handouts.

OVERVIEW OF THE COURSE

Since the genesis of the first contraption that could do simple arithmetic, people have been both attracted and repelled by the idea of a "thinking machine." Artificial Intelligence captures our imagination, and machines that are capable of thought, feeling, and independent action are ubiquitous in fiction that represents high technology. Whether a portrayal speaks of something a few decades off on our own world, or something a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, the thinking machine is invariably part of the landscape. In this course, we will explore the fiction and non-fiction that has spring up around the mythos of the thinking machine over the past century, and cast our discussions against the backdrop of some of the realities behind the Artificial Intelligence methods and techniques of today.

EMAIL

Because this course only meets on Monday and Wednesday, information and announcements will be frequently communicated via email. It is the student's responsibility to check for email announcements on a regular basis throughout the week. If you do not usually check your Wheaton account, make certain your preferred account is registered in Blackboard.

REQUIRED TEXTBOOKS

There are several required books for this course, both containing fiction that we will be using as a comparison to the theories of Artificial Intelligence we will be covering in this course:

I, Robot, by Isaac Asimov: This collection of short stories by Isaac Asminov is a classic in the realm of depictions of intelligent robots in Science Fiction.
Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? , by Phillip Dick, a novel about renegade androids, a man who has to hunt them down, and the differences between them.

We will also be reading several articles about Artificial Intelligence and "thinking machines;" you will be provided with copies. Because of the experimental nature of this course, there is no textbook for the theoretical Artificial Intelligence content beyond course handouts and the notes you take in lecture. Because of this, it is vitally important not to miss any classes.

WEBSITE

If you are viewing this text on paper, you may want to also check it out online at:

http://cs.wheatoncollege.edu/lmichaud/teaching/fys

The online version will be kept up-to-date with homework assignments and announcements.