本课程的主要目的在于“了解”：了解当打开计算机时你的计算机里在发生什么，为什么技术支援人员经常叫你重新启动计算机，在网际网络上做的事情是怎么被其他人看到的，以及当计算机只是开着没作事，蠕虫病毒是如何侵入的？在课程中，我们去除掉计算机、网际网络及相关专业术语的神秘性，使学员不仅知道如何去处理相关问题，还能了解其执行原理。学员们学完课程后会获知新的辞汇，并且准备好在计算机和网际网络上做更长远的探索。学习的主题包括硬件、软件、网际网络、多媒体、安全、网站开发、程式写作和网络经济。透过选择实习课和研讨会，本地学员也可以获得机会去拆装和及升级计算机，更有效率地搜索网际网络，搭建无线网络，创作数位图像、清除间谍软件和设计网页。习题集会为线上学员提供类似机会。这门课程适合没什么计算机经验的人，也适合每天都使用计算机的人。

This course is all about understanding: understanding what's going on inside your computer when you flip on the switch, why tech support has you constantly rebooting your computer, how everything you do on the Internet can be watched by others, and how your computer can become infected with a worm just by turning it on. In this course we demystify computers and the Internet, along with their jargon, so that students understand not only what they can do with each but also how it all works and why. Students leave this course armed with a new vocabulary and equipped for further exploration of computers and the Internet. Topics include hardware, software, the Internet, multimedia, security, website development, programming, and dotcoms. Through optional hands-on sections and workshops, local students have opportunities to dissect as well as upgrade a computer with additional hardware, search the Internet more effectively, build a wireless network, create digital images, eradicate spyware, and design webpages. Problem sets offer online students similar opportunities. This course is designed both for those with little, if any, computer experience and for those who use a computer every day.

David　J.Malan特此准许奇幻文化艺术基金会，在创作共享理念（姓名标示－非商业性－相同方式共享）授权同意书2.5版本授权下，把
http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~cscie1/podcasts/2005和http://www.fas.harvard.edu/~cscie1/podcasts/2006的内容
进行重新整理并制作成非商业性的MP3和PDF格式的文件，以及QuickTime影片。所有内容均标示出处为
哈佛大学David J.Malan(malan@post.harvard.edu)。
请访问http://creatviecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.5/查看授权书，或者寄信给创作共享理念授权，地址是：
美国加州三藩市Howard街543号5楼， 94105。
（543 Howard Stree,5th Floor, San Francisco,California, 94105, USA）