Exploring Digital Information Technologies for Non-Engineers
Spring 2026

Course Description

This course will give students from outside of Engineering an under-the-hood view of 12 important technologies that will impact their daily lives in the next decade.

• WiFi and Cellular networks
• Internet
• File Systems
• Search Engines
• Recommendation Engines
• Social Networks
• Machine Learning
• Authentication and Security
• Computer Vision and Image Processing
• Speech Recognition and Natural Language Processing
• Self-driving Cars
• Augmented and Virtual Reality

For each technology, students will

1. understand the core technical challenges in realizing the technology
2. gain intuition on how the challenges are being solved
3. appreciate how such technologies translate to business and revenue, and
4. identify implications in areas such as privacy, fairness, policy, ethics, and other paradigm shifts.

Technical subjects to be considered include basics of sensing, computing, communication, and control, the four pillars of technology. To help students better relate to the topics discussed in the course, each technology will highlighted one or more well-established companies using/promoting the technology (e.g., Comcast, ATT, Microsoft, Google, Amazon, Meta, Verisign, ADT, Apple, OpenAI, Tesla, etc.).

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Logistics

Lectures

Mondays & Wednesdays, 11:00am - 11:50am at 3081 Electrical & Computer Eng Bldg (ECEB)

See Lecture Schedule

Labs

Fridays, 10:00am - 11:50am or 12:00pm - 1:50pm at 1009 Mechanical Engineering Laboratory (MEL)

We will use Wolfram Mathematica in the labs. This software is available on the computers in the MEL 1009 computer lab. You can access it using your netID and password.

You can also download and install Wolfram Mathematica on your computers from here (using your netID and password).

Labs will be submitted and graded using Canvas. Details about the submission process will be provided during the first lab.

Communication

We will use Canvas for all communications in this course. We will post important announcements, links to interesting resources, discussion threads (responses to which will count as class participation), class participation and homework assignments and also respond to student questions on Canvas.

We will also respond to student emails.

Office Hours

Instructor: Abrita Chakravarty

Mondays & Wednesdays, 11:50am - 12:30pm or by appointment at 2060 Electrical & Computer Eng Bldg

 

TA: Zhongweiyang Xu (Alan)

Thursdays, 12:00-1:00pm at ECEB 3001

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Calendar

Introduction

Past & Present — Connecting the World

Intelligence & Implications

Future

Final Week

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Exam Information

The course has three midterm exams. There will NOT be any final exam.

Each exam will be 50 mins long. You are allowed 1 letter-size (8.5" x 11") handwritten cheatsheet (you may use both sides). The exam is closed book/notes, and calculators are not allowed.
Detailed information on logistics, format, and grading will be provided during exam review sessions.

Exam 1

Exam 1 will be on Mar 6. Usual lab section times: 10:00 AM & 12:00 PM. 
Location: 3081 Electrical & Computer Eng Bldg (ECEB)
This exam will test concepts covered in the Past & Present module.

Exam 2

Exam 2 will be on April 10. Usual lab section times: 10:00 AM & 12:00 PM. 
Location: 3081 Electrical & Computer Eng Bldg (ECEB)
This exam will test concepts covered in the Intelligence & Implications module.

Exam 3

Exam 3 will be on May 6. Usual lecture time: 11:00 AM
Location: 3081 Electrical & Computer Eng Bldg (ECEB)
This exam will test concepts covered in the Future module.

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Grading Information

Your final grade will be based on a weighted combination of the following:

• Classroom participation: 25% 
• Homework: 11%
• Late submission policy: 10% of the points deducted for each late day
• Weekly Labs (best 8 out of 10): 25% (No late submissions for labs unless with prior permission)
• Three Midterm Exams: 3 x 13 = 39%
  (Regrade policy: You can correct mistakes and turn in for half of the points lost.)

Class Attendance

Students are expected to attend all lectures and labs. However, we understand life happens and sometimes can get in the way of their attending class. Students are allowed 6 free absences during the semester (across lectures and labs), on the condition that they inform the instructor by email either in advance of a planned absence or within 24 hours of an unforeseen absence.

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