LIS3353 - Technologies for Information Professionals

ATTENDANCE LINK: https://jrm4.com/3353roll/output.html


Welcome to the course!


The first front page - in Canvas - is the primary source of material for this course; everything you need for the course will be available here. Many links go through http://jrm4.com (including a mirror of this page for backup and emergency purposes); feel free to browse that as well. Links to all tools and readings will be available from the front page.


The official methods for contacting me are in person during class, or via email, at jmarks@fsu.edu .


Note: I'm also a big fan of Discord. It is in no way required, but I will make my semi-private (non-profit) Discord server available to you all, with a channel dedicated to this class. You may use this for class-wide discussions, as well as a meeting point for team work.


No textbooks are required, and nothing is due for the first class.


Here is the +Official Syllabus - but About the Class is probably more useful to you.


See you in class!


Week 5 - Linux and the Command Line

https://jrm4.com/slides/LIS-3353_-_Linux_and_Text_and_Power.html


https://www.linux.com/what-is-linux/
https://opensource.com/resources/linux


This week will be a bit different, we will focus on getting you a working version of Linux.


If you like VIDEO, this goes into detail on most everything - Videos
(The virtualbox.org site is cleaner looking now, but the fundamentals are the same)


If you prefer READING and going on your own, see the below.


Default method: Virtual Install.


A "virtual install" is a completely non-destructive, completely reversible way to do "real Linux" on your computer. It's not much different from installing an app, though the process is a little more involved:


For a virtual install, you will need VIRTUALIZATION SOFTWARE and A LINUX DISTRIBUTION


VIRTUALIZATION SOFTWARE

Most of you can still use https://www.virtualbox.org/
New fancy M1 mac people, you can't, but you can use https://mac.getutm.app/ - watch for which type, usually you'll want the specific Ubuntu flavor
VMware and others are also acceptable; https://www.ubackup.com/enterprise-backup/linux-vm-on-windows-10.html


LINUX DISTRIBUTION

A "distribution" or "distro" is just a version of a full Linux Operating system, and there are a bunch of them:
Presently I recommend one of the following — but LITERALLY ANY WILL DO.
https://mxlinux.org/
https://linuxmint.com/
https://ubuntu.com/ as a last resort for new computers?


Or again — ANYTHING here, check the leaderboards!
https://distrowatch.com/


If you end up unable to get the above working:


Mac users: You may use the native Mac terminal
Windows users: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/wsl/install


Or, the following
Tech Guides:Linux


Week 4 - History of Operating Systems

https://jrm4.com/slides/LIS-3353_-_History_of_Operating_Systems.html


Apple
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/rise-fall-rise-apple-history/


WOZ!
https://gotopia.tech/articles/210/fascinating-life-stories-about-Apple-from-Steve-Wozniak
https://www.thestreet.com/investing/apple-co-founder-steve-wozniak-says-steve-jobs-elon-musk-are-similar-except


Cultural Defeat of Microsoft
https://www.devever.net/~hl/windowsdefeat


https://www.theregister.com/2024/04/21/microsoft_national_security_risk/


https://thomasbandt.com/the-day-windows-died (LANGUAGE!)


Linux
https://web.archive.org/web/20210427033605/https://www.techrepublic.com/blog/linux-and-open-source/apple-steals-innovation-from-the-heart-of-the-linux-community/
http://www.zdnet.com/article/linux-and-open-source-have-won-get-over-it/


https://itsfoss.com/windows-10-inspired-linux/


http://www.naughtycomputer.uk/free_software_better_than_open_source.html


https://techtalk.gfi.com/do-operating-systems-matter-anymore/


Web as OS
https://tscreativ.substack.com/p/is-the-next-operating-system-the


Phones?
https://www.techradar.com/opinion/the-iphone-vs-android-battle-isnt-about-technology-its-about-us


https://www.aboutchromebooks.com/now-more-than-ever-chromeos-is-linux-with-googles-desktop-environment/


Week 3 - Software I - Math and Instructions

https://jrm4.com/slides/LIS-3353_Software_I_-_Big_Ideas_and_Math.html
https://jrm4.com/FSU_Courses/LIS3353/3353-binarynew.pdf



What is code?
https://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2015-paul-ford-what-is-code/


http://www.coding2learn.org/blog/2013/07/29/kids-cant-use-computers/


What programming is
http://siderea.livejournal.com/1241996.html


https://web.archive.org/web/20200901073754/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2017/10/18/why-we-still-need-to-study-the-humanities-in-a-stem-world/


Basic Binary
http://www.mathsisfun.com/binary-decimal-hexadecimal.html


(also this — brilliant!) - https://i.imgur.com/NQPrUsI.gifv


(and this, goofy! - https://looo.lol/


Basic Algorithms
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/question717.htm
https://web.archive.org/web/20140716042310/https://medium.com/@_marcos_otero/the-real-10-algorithms-that-dominate-our-world-e95fa9f16c04


https://www.wired.com/2016/06/deep-learning-isnt-dangerous-magic-genie-just-math/


https://www.mathsisfun.com/hexadecimal-decimal-colors.html






Week 2 - Hardware


https://jrm4.com/slides/LIS-3353_-_Hardware.html



IN THE NEWS


https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2025/08/intel-details-everything-that-could-go-wrong-with-us-taking-a-10-stake/


https://gizmodo.com/tech-giants-are-scrambling-to-comply-with-emerging-right-to-repair-laws-2000492474


https://www.reuters.com/markets/us/nvidia-becomes-worlds-most-valuable-company-2024-06-18/






https://openlab.citytech.cuny.edu/com-basics/hardware-guide/


Does Moore's Law Matter?
http://www.slashgear.com/is-moores-law-still-relevant-for-pcs-0780747/


IoT
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jacobmorgan/2014/05/13/simple-explanation-internet-things-that-anyone-can-understand/#4614fcdd1d09


(Warning, strong language ahead. But, it makes for perhaps the most frank and honest discussion I've seen on the topic)
https://motherboard.vice.com/en_us/article/pgkdm7/when-the-internet-of-things-starts-to-feel-like-the-internet-of-shit


Does HARDWARE Matter?
http://www.computerworld.com/article/2494720/computer-hardware/preston-gralla--does-hardware-matter-anymore-.html


On Shenzhen
https://medium.com/wonk-bridge/shenzhen-the-tech-capital-of-the-world-7b1a0469c39f



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