Our lab meets on Google Meet Monday from 3:00 pm - 3:50 pm and our lecture meets in person in HH 306 Tuesday and Thursday 11:00 am - 12:15 pm.  Readings shown should be completed before class that day (since we'll discuss in class). 

Note that UMD defines 1 credit hour as being equal to 3 hours of work. This is a 4 credit hour class, so in total you should expect to spend about 12 hours a week on this class. 4 hours are devoted to attending class, leaving 8 hours per week for reading, writing, etc. Please let me know if you find that you are spending significantly more time on this class than that. 

Please bring whichever book we are reading to class as we will often refer to it. 

Week 1

• Thur Jan 16 : First Day of Class. Intro. What is a Computer?

  • By today you should have a copy of The Thrilling Adventures of Lovelace and Babbage (TALB), and start reading ... 

Week 2

• Mon Jan 20 : [no class] MLK Day

• Tue Jan 21 : [no class, cold weather] Read pages 11 - 44 of TALB. 

• Thu Jan 23 : Read pages 45 - 94 of TALB. Discuss pages 11 - 94 of TALB. Method of Differences. What is a Personal Essay?

  • Watch a 2 minute video of a Jaccard Loom in action (from pages 86 - 87 of TALB)

Week 3

• Mon Jan 27 : [Google Meet] The First program.

  • Scroll through the Sketch of the Analytical Engine (1842). Pay particular attention to the first program/s, and Ada Lovelace's Notes of The Translator. 

• Tue Jan 28 : Read pages 95 - 139 of TALB. Programming the Analytical Engine. Discuss. 

  • Watch a 5 minute video of the MONIAC in action (from page 135 of TALB)

• Wed Jan 29 : Personal Essay #1 due by 11:59 pm. Here is your prompt : Before writing this essay, please watch the following two videos (37 minutes of total viewing time) :

  • • Demo of Charles Babbages' Difference Engine (24 minutes)

    • Sydney Padua (author of TALB) explaining the Analytical Engine (13 minutes)

In this essay I'd like you to share your thoughts about the Difference Engine and the Analytical Engine based on what you saw in these videos, and what we have read so far in TALB. I am not looking for a description or summary of how they work, but instead your impressions of these devices. You do not need to answer these questions, but if you are having trouble getting started here are some examples of points you could discuss : What do they remind you of, what is interesting about them, what do you understand, what is  confusing, what seems connected to modern computing, what seems very strange and unfamiliar, what would have been the impact if the these Engines were built in Babbage and Lovelace's lifetime, etc? You can discuss any aspect of these devices, just make sure whatever you discuss is relatively specific and not overly broad or general. I would suggest that when you watch these videos you make notes of your impressions, and then pick out ideas or thoughts that particularly interest you and use those as a foundation for creating your essay. You should not simply paraphrase what is said in these videos, I am looking for your impressions and what they make you think of. Given that please watch the videos with some care when you have time and few distractions.

• Thur Jan 30 : Read pages 140 - 207 of TALB. Discuss. 

Week 4

• Mon Feb 3: [Google Meet] Read Appendix 2 pages 286 - 309. Discuss.

  • Watch a  9 minute video by Sydney Padua on the Difference Engine Carry Mechanism (from pages 296 - 297 of TALB)

  • Watch an 11 minute video by Sydney Padua on Babbage's Anticipating Carriage (from pages 298 - 301 of TALB)

• Tue Feb 4 : Read pages 208 - 258 of TALB. Discuss. Punched Cards.

  • Watch a 4 minute video about the Jevon's Logic Piano (from page 211 of TALB)

  • [optiona] Watch an engaging 12 minute video from Numberphile on Fantastic Quaternions (pages pages 253 - 254 of TALB)

  • [optional] Watch a very beautiful 31 minute video from 3blue1brown on Visualizing Quaternions (from pages 253 - 254 of TALB)

  • Review the manual (28 pages) for Programming Cards for the Analytical Engine (from pages 302 - 305 of TALB)

• Wed Feb 5 : Personal Essay #2 due by 11:59 pm. Here is your prompt : 

Which one of the following stories told in the graphic novel portion of TALB stood out the most to you? The Client (pp 50 - 94), The Economic Model (pp 95 - 139), User Experience (pp 144 - 207) or Imaginary Quantities (pp 214 - 257). Explain what happens in that story, who are the characters that join Lovelace and Babbage, and why it stood out. Why did our author create this adventure for Lovelace and Babbage, and what was the larger point she was seeking to make? How does this story connect to today's world, and how does it connect to things you have studied previously? What other thoughts and impressions did you have? Please remember to be specific when discussing the story, these connections, and your impressions. 

• Thur Feb 6 : Read pages 258 - 286, 310- 317 of TALB. Discuss.

Week 5

• Mon Feb 10 : [Google Meet] Midterm 1 take home exam questions introduced.

• Tue Feb 11 : [no class] Work on Midterm 1.

• Thur Feb 13 : [no class] Work on Midterm 1.

• Fri Feb 14 : Midterm 1 due by 11:59 pm today.

Week 6

• Mon Feb 17 : [Google Meet] Read Prologue and Ch 1 of The Soul of a New Machine (TSNM). Discuss.

• Tue Feb  18 : Read Ch 2 and 3 of TSNM. Discuss.

  • Watch 8 minutes on How Does a CPU work? (Gary Explains)

  • Watch 11 minutes on Design Your Own CPU Instruction Set (Gary Explains) 

• Thur Feb 20 : Read Ch 4 and 5 of TSNM. Discuss. 

  • Play at least a few turns of Adventure 

Week 7

• Mon Feb 24 : [Google Meet] Read Ch 6 of TSNM.

• Tue Feb 25 :  Read Ch 7 and 8 of TSNM. Discuss. Von Neumann Architecture, Addressing. 

  • Watch 14 minutes on How Computer Memory Works (Computerphile)

• Wed Feb 26 : Personal Essay #3 due by 11:59 pm. Here is your prompt: 

In this Personal Essay I'd like you to identify three technical problems from Chapters 1 - 8 of The Soul of a New Machine. Describe the technical problem, what obstacle it created, how it was solved, and who solved it (by name). A technical problem is something that poses an obstacle to the creation of the hardware or software of Eagle. Problems that relate to marketing, hiring, culture, or business practices are not considered technical problems for this essay. Make sure to indicate the Chapter and page numbers where each technical problem is discussed. Each of your problems should come from a different chapter. Also discuss how these problems relate to any previous classes you have taken or experiences you have had. Be specific and mention course names and numbers (eg. CS 3111 Computer Ethics). Please make sure to spend approximately the same number of words discussing each problem. 

• Thur Feb 27 :  Read Ch 9 and 10 of TSNM. Discuss.

  • Watch 6 minutes on Why do CPUs need Cache? (Computerphile)

  • Watch 11 minutes on Inside the CPU (Computerphile)

Week 8

• Mon Mar 3 : [Google Meet] Midterm 1 post mortem.

• Tue Mar 4 : [no class] Read Ch 11 and 12 of TSNM. 

  • Watch 10 minute video on Processor Addressing Modes.

  • To get credit for attendance today please complete the following : 

Please listen to the following 30 minute podcast. It is about Eagle and The Soul of a New Machine and features a number of people included in the book. https://www.redhat.com/en/command-line-heroes/season-4/minicomputers Answer the following questions and then submit those as a single pdf file to Canvas by 11:59 pm Tue Mar 4. There is no particular format required.

1) Who from the Eagle project was on the podcast? List all of their names and one interesting thing you learned about each of them.

2) List 10 additional facts or ideas you learned from the podcast that seemed interesting to you.   

• Thur Mar 6 : Read Ch 13 and 14 of TSNM. Discuss.

SPRING BREAK (March 10 - 14)

Week 9

• Mon Mar 17 : [Google Meet] Read Ch 15 of TSNM. Discuss.

• Tue Mar 18 : Special Guest TBA

• Wed Mar 19 : Personal Essay #4 due by 11:59 pm. Here is your prompt : 

Make sure you have read Chapters 1 - 14 of The Soul of a New Machine (TSNM) before you start this essay. Microcode is a big part of the story of Eagle in The Soul of a New Machine. In this essay, please first explain what microcode is in your own words, and then what advantages and disadvantages it created for the Eagle project. Then give three examples from TSNM that show how microcode was incorporated into the Eagle project. For each example please explain how the microcode was being used, who was doing the work (by name), and how that fit into and enhanced the larger Eagle project. Provide chapter numbers and page numbers for each example. Spend about the same number of words on each example. Please do not include a summarizing introductory or concluding paragraph in your essay.

• Thur Mar 20 : Read Ch 16 and Epilogue of TSNM. Discuss. Wrap up TSNM.

  • Please read Tom West Obituary (1939 - 2011) Please read, includes answers to the question "What happened to Data General?"

  • Please Read Ed de Castro's Obituary (1938 - 2024). There is some interesting content about Data General in the comments.

  • Scan through Jessamyn West (b. 1968) One of Tom West's daughters, very online, active in addressing the digital divide.

• Thur Mar 20 : Midterm 2 take home exam questions posted at approx 7:30 pm. Note that one of the exam questions is based on having read the Preface (Inside the Black Box, 7 pages) and Prologue (The Road to Blue Mountain, 9 pages) of A Shortcut Through Time. 

Week 10

• Mon Mar 24 : [no class] work on Midterm 2

• Tue Mar 25 : [no class] work on Midterm 2

• Wed Mar 26 : Midterm 2 due by 11:59 pm.

• Thur Mar 27 : Start A Shortcut Through Time (ScTT). Digital Logic Review.

  • Review Logic Gates (pdf)

  • Review Digital Logic Cheat Sheet (pdf)

  • [optional] Use CircuitVerse to design classical digital logic. Watch 6 minute introductory video first. 

Week 11

• Mon Mar 31 : [Google Meet] Midterm 2 post mortem, Question 4 on Top 500 list, Prologue and Preface to A Shortcut Through Time (ScTT). 

  • Please read the section on Judging the Power of Quantum Computing (IonQ Quantum Computing 101)

• Tue Apr 1 : Read Chapter 1 ("Simple Electric Brain Machines and How to Make Them", 7 pages) and Chapter 2 (Tinkertoy Logic, 13 pages) of ScTT. Moore's Law. Please make sure to watch the two videos below and read Gordon Moore's paper before class today.

  • Watch 9 minutes on Moore's Law (Computerphile)

  • Watch 12 minutes on the Physics of Computer Chips (Computerphile)

  • Please read Moore's paper (1965) from which his Law comes. 

  • [optional] Review the GENIAC manual. It is more complex than you might expect.

• Thur Apr 3 : Read Chapter 3 (Playing with Mirrors - Superposition, 15 pages) of ScTT. Discuss. Please watch the three videos below before class today.

  • Watch 10 minutes on Quantum Computer Magic (Computerphile)

  • Watch 16 minutes on Superposition in Quantum Computing (Computerphile)

  • Watch 15 minutes on I did the double slit experiment at home (Looking Glass Universe)

Week 12

• Mon Apr 7 : [Google Meet] Midterm 2 post mortem, Questions 1, 2, and 3. 

• Tue Apr 8 :  Read Chapter 4 (A Shortcut Through Time - Classical Turing Machines, 15 pages) of ScTT. Discuss.

  • Watch 5 minutes on Turing Machines Explained (Computerphile)

  • Watch 6 minutes on P vs. NP on TV (Computerphile)

• Thur Apr 10 : Read Chapter 5 (Shor's Algorithm, 17 pages) of ScTT. Discuss.

  • Watch 13 minutes on How to Break Cryptography (Infinite Series)

    • comments in last 2-3 minutes are about a different episode

  • Watch 17 minutes on Hacking at Quantum Speed with Shor's Algorithm (Infinite Series)

  • Read Shor, I'll do it by Scott Aaronson

Week 13

• Mon Apr 14 : [no class] Please watch the following videos (32 total minutes). There is nothing to turn in, but our discussion on Tuesday will assume you are caught up on all the video watching and reading. 

  • Watch 18 minutes on How Quantum Computers Break Encryption (Minute Physics)

  • Watch 6 minutes on How Shor's Algorithm Factors 314191 (Minute Physics)

  • Watch 8 minutes on Grover's Algorithm (EdX) (will be discussed in Chapter 6).

• Tue Apr 15 : Shor's Algorithm step by step.  

• Wed Apr 16 : Personal Essay #5 due by 11:59 pm. Here is your prompt : 

Please make sure you have read Chapters 1 - 6 of A Shortcut Through Time by George Johnson before you start this essay. What are the three most important ideas that you find in these chapters that directly relate to Quantum Computing? Describe the idea and discuss why it is significant for Quantum Computing. Then discuss how this idea makes Quantum Computing different than Classical Computing. What advantages does each idea offer, and what disadvantages come with each idea?  Support each of your important ideas with an example. Make sure to provide chapter numbers and page numbers that show where each idea is described in your edition of the text. Your essay should be balanced such that you devote approximately the same number of words to each idea. Please do not provide an introductory paragraph or summarizing conclusion. 

• Thur Apr 17 : Read Chapter 6 (Breaking the Code - RSA, 22 pages) of ScTT. Discuss.

  • Watch 9 minutes on Encryption and HUGE numbes (Numberphile)

  • Watch 9 minutes on RSA - 129 with Ron Rivest (Numberphile)

  • Watch 7 minutes on Quantum Computing and other extras with Ron Rivest (Numberphile)

Week 14

• Mon Apr 21 : [no class] Please watch the following videos (32 total minutes). There is nothing to turn in, but our discussion on Tuesday will assume you are caught up on all the video watching and reading. 

  • • Watch 20 minutes on But What are Hamming Codes - the origin of error correction (3blue1brown)

    • Watch 17 minutes on Hamming Codes part 2 - the one line implementation (3blue1bbrown)

• Tue Apr 22 :  Read Chapter 8 (Counting with Atoms - Hamming Code, 19 pages)

• Thur Apr 24 : Read Chapter 7 (Invisible Machines - Quantum Gates, 17 pages). Discuss.

  • Watch 19 minutes on Quantum Instruction Set (Computerphile)

Week 15

• Mon Apr 28 : [no class] Please watch the following videos (38 total minutes). There is nothing to turn in, but our discussion on Tuesday will assume you are caught up on all the video watching and reading. 

  • Watch 7 minutes on Post-quantum cryptography: Security after Shor’s algorithm (Chalk Talk)

  • Watch 8 minutes on Lattice based cryptography : The tricky math of dots (Chalk Talk)

  • Watch 10 minutes on Learning with errors : Encrypting with unsolvable equations (Chalk Talk)

  • Watch 13 minutes on How Quantum Key Distribution Works (BB84 and E91) (Improbable Matter)

• Tue Apr 29 : Read Chapter 9 (Quantum Secrecy, 14 pages)

• Wed Apr 30 : Personal Essay #6 due by 11:59 pm. Here is your prompt : 

Please make sure you have read Chapters 6 - 9 of a Shortcut Through Time before you start this essay. What are the three most significant challenges facing the development of Quantum Computing that you find in these chapters? Describe each challenge, why it exists, the problems it causes, and possible solutions that have been attempted (if any). Which of these challenges seems to be the most difficult to overcome, and why? Make sure to provide chapter numbers and page numbers that show where each challenge is described in your edition of the text. Your essay should be balanced such that you devote approximately the same number of words to each challenge. Please do not provide an introductory paragraph or summarizing conclusion. 

Just a reminder do not use AI at any stage of writing this essay (for more details see our policy in the Syllabus). Also, please make sure that the Google Doc with your essay is shared so that anyone with the link is an editor. If you aren't sure how to  do that, please watch the following very worthwhile 2 minute video : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7q6h1fYuYM4

• Thur May 1 : Read Chapter 10 (The Hardest Problem in the Universe, 13 pages) and Epilogue (6 pages)

  • Watch 22 minutes on How AI Cracked the Protein Folding Code and Won a Nobel Prize (Quanta magazine)

  • Read The Nine Billion Names of God, by Arthur C. Clarke's story after which the Epilogue is named.

Final Exam

The Final Exam is a take home exam due by 11:59 pm on Thur May 8. This is the date our in-class final exam would take place if we were having one. You can find our final exam here.

• But What is Quantum Computing? (A very new 3blue1brown video which I highly recommend. It was released on April 30, 2025 which was too late for our class but if you are still looking at these pages you might want to check it out. 37 minutes.)

  • Where My Explanation of Grover's Algorithm Failed (a clarification from 3blue one brown, released May 4, 2025. 16 minutes.)