An Introduction to TECH230
(Travel+Tech)
Prof. David Bernstein
James Madison University
Computer Science Department
bernstdh@jmu.edu
About TECH Courses
Objectives:
Help you
understand
existing technologies not just use them (i.e., better living through understanding)
Help you
think critically
about existing technologies
Side Benefits:
Help you understand how technologists think
About Prof. Bernstein
The Early University Years
B.A. Economics, B.A. Geography (Binghamton University, 1981)
Honors Thesis: Computer Cartography
M.P.A./U.R.P. Public Affairs/Urban Planning (Princeton University, 1983)
Focus: Computational Modeling
Early Professional Experience
Atlantic Commodities (Computer modeling of world oil markets, Futures trading)
Investment Technologies (Financial software development, Part of the team that took the company public)
Consultant to Merrill Lynch and Dillon Read (Financial software development)
About Prof. Bernstein (cont.)
Back to School
Ph.D. (University of Pennsylvania, 1990)
Focus: Computational social science
Dissertation:
Programmability of Network Equilibria
Faculty Positions before JMU
MIT (Transportation Systems)
Princeton University (Operations Research and Financial Engineering)
JMU (Since 1999)
100-200 Level Teaching: CS139/149, CS159, CS240
300-400 Level Teaching: CS345, CS349, CS446, CS462, CS488
Research: GPS navigation systems, Mobile e-commerce
Textbooks: Multimedia Software, Software Engineering, Programming Patterns
About the Structure of TECH230
Lectures:
Purpose
Materials
Homework:
Purpose
Policies
Project:
Purpose
Expectations
About the Content of TECH230
Recurring Issues - Understanding:
The difference between "hard" and "soft" technologies
The difference between vehicular and "infrastructure" technologies
The difference between sensing, computing and communications technologies
Recurring Issues - Critical Thinking:
Do claims make sense using "back of the envelope" calculations
What's required to evaluate claims more carefully
About the Content of TECH230 (cont.)
Supporting Technologies:
Data
Communication
Computing
Sensing
Specific Technologies:
Traveler Location, Mapping and Navigation
Congestion and Traffic
Toll/Fare Collection
Traffic Control and Parking Management
Driver Assistance and Autonomous Driving
Alternative Fuel Vehicles
Shared-Ride and On-Demand Services
There's Always More to Learn