About the Course/Instructor

CSC 262 -Computer Vision - Weinman

1  About the Course

Q:
Can I build on the work of somebody else for my independent project or I have to make it from scratch? Will I be working in team or individually?
A:
It depends. I want to make sure you're doing enough to create a vision system. Replicating an existing body of worrk is part of the scientific method (and is a genuine research activity). I encourage groups of two for the project.
Q:
How often will you use Piazza? Or is that more for intra-class discussion on academically honest topics?
A:
I post news notes that I come across (you're welcome to also), but otherwise it's a venue for answering questions.
Q:
Is there a particular editor/IDE for MATLAB that you recommend?
A:
Matlab comes with its own, which is good for stepping and debugging. When I write matlab code, however, I do it in Emacs because that's how my fingers are trained. That said, the built-in Matlab editor does use a lot of emac keyboard shortcuts, so for the most part it should work OK for y'all.
Q:
Are the dates of big assignments and exams likely to change later on in the semester?
A:
I think I've got them pretty well figured out, so "no they're not likely to change", not unless something unexpected comes up or someone tells me about something I did not anticipate.
Q:
On the schedule, what do the due dates correspond to the readings or the labs?
A:
The due dates listed are for the lab write-up. The "due date" for the reading is the day it's assigned for discussion.
Q:
Do you prefer a particular citation style (MLA, Chicago, APA, etc.)? Is there a standard in academic Computer Science?
A:
There is no standard. Each professional society or publisher tends to use its own .sty file for LATEX. Unfortunately, that means references like [23] get used as nouns, which is terrible practice. Personally, I prefer APA citation style but for coursework I just ask that the author of the work is clear and enough bibliographic information be provided to identify and locate the original.
Q:
Since we can do the write up individually for the lab that we work in group, should each person make their own submission on the Pioneerweb?
A:
Yes, if you complete the write-up separately each should do their own submission. However, it is my sincere hope that you'll complete the work (including the write-up) collaboratively.
Q:
How intense will the course be? How can we get familiar with Matlab fast enough to work on future labs?
A:
My hope is that the pace of the course is about right (oscillating between lab and lecture). You'll get better with Matlab practice, and I try to coach you with background through out the semester in the labs. (I start to leave out specific directions, forcing you to try to remember how to do it, which is the best way to learn!)
Q:
How long do the average write-ups have to be?
A:
Not incredibly long; mostly it's dictated by each lab what is asked for.

2  About Me

Q:
What is your favorite color? [insert picture of a ragged old man standing in front of a bridge]
A:
Generally, something in the green family. (No name and quest?)
Q:
What are your thoughts about the future of Computer Science. The major has been gaining immense popularity, do you think this will lead to some sort of bubble-burst or are future jobs going to adapt to this?
A:
I think it will likely take the same pattern as the first two CS boom cycles: An eventual correction, but with a fall to a baseline that was much higher than before the boom. (See Roberts, E. S. (2011), Meeting the Challenges of Rising Enrollments, ACM Inroads 2(3), 4-6., particularly Figure 2).
Q:
What is something about you that you d like me to ask you more about later? Do you have a favorite book (or multiple)?
A:
Thanks for asking. As a parent, I'm always willing to talk about my kids (I think they're hilarious), but I try not to do it unprovoked. :-)
I read a lot of fiction, but Paul Auster is one of my favorite authors. One of my life goals is to keep plodding my way through the Brittannica Great Books collection. Completions of 2018 include Moby Dick, Don Quixote, and I just read Antigone after reading the gripping modern-adaptation Home Fire by Kamila Shamise.
Q:
What is your favorite snack food?
A:
Hm. I'm a compulsive non-snacker. (Because if snack food is around I'll eat it.) That said, my year in Barcelona gave me quite a craving for the wide variety of wonderful tapas, particularly any sort of cured meat and cheese.