Announcements

 Links to "Sixth Sense" wearable computer video from the ted.com site.  In general, there is always interesting stuff on that site.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZfV4R4x2SK0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WeRuce775bI

Some general notes for anyone taking my classes:

• Study.  If you can work the problems and answer the questions at the ends of the chapters in the book, you will probably do well on the tests and in the course.  If you can neither answer the questions nor work the problems, you will almost certainly do poorly on the tests.  If you do not know whether you can work the problems or not, I invite you to find out.
• Please come to class prepared.  This means you have read the material to be covered, you have your book with you, and you have any assignments with you at the beginning of class.  If you are prepared, you can ask good questions and it makes the discussion more interesting. Look at the online material for the course, both the references I'll link on the class page and from the text.
• Computers in Class.  I am inclined to ban computers from the classroom on the basis that much of their use tends not to be course-related, but since some students use them to follow along with the material and look things up, for now they are allowed.
• Do not wait until the last minute to start on your homework.  "My computer was down" is the modern equivalent of "the dog ate my homework."  The best students get an early start on assignments. On a similar note, make backups of your work, and computers are always available in the labs.
• Pay attention to details such as the way your programs and papers look, spelling, organization, and the like.  The best programs have both good form and good function.  This is also true for papers.  Our craft is details.
• Full-time school is the equivalent of a full-time job.  That is, you should be spending at least 40 hours per week on school.  Consider that if you're taking 15 hours, you should be spending about 6 hours outside of class for each 3-hour class.  Some weeks it will be more, some less, but that's a reasonable average.
• I don't consider students who come to my office during office hours an annoying interruption; I always welcome the contact and often enjoy the discussions.  I'll help you, but I won't tutor you. 
• For all classes, I will send e-mail only to your UTD e-mail address, even if you write to me from some other address.  There have been times when I couldn't figure out who the student was because the non-UTD e-mail didn't carry his or her name.  This is also now school policy.  I need to know the e-mail is from you.
• Questions via E-mail. I will try to answer questions sent to me via e-mail, but if it is something that could be asked during office hours or in class, you may not get a timely answer, if at all.  Answers to questions of this nature should not take up time outside of the normal school hours.   If you e-mail me, indicate in the subject line which class you're in.
• Programs must be documented. That is, they must contain comments. What is good program documentation?