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This course provides students with an understanding of how the digital world is engineered, and exposes them to a range of tools commonly used by knowledge workers. Students will learn to critically evaluate systems from both a technical and human point of view.
This course will give you a deeper understanding of computers by examining how they work, how they interface to the human world, and what the limits of computation are. It focuses on how the technical considerations (hardware and software) impact the other key part of the computer system, the human. This connects technical issues (such as clock speed, colour depth and encryption) with the corresponding human issues (such as reaction times, colour perception and privacy).
1. Critically evaluate interfaces and explain digital systems beyond "screen essentialism" [WA2]2. Analyse digital systems and their role in society [WA6]3. Use digital systems efficiently and effectively [WA2]4. Discuss the impact of a digital system on society, including ethical and privacy considerations, and the impact of digital systems in Aotearoa New Zealand as a bicultural society [WA6, WA7, WA8]5. Discuss current trends in computing, and the limits of computation [WA6]
This course will provide students with an opportunity to develop the Graduate Attributes specified below:
Employable, innovative and enterprising
Students will develop key skills and attributes sought by employers that can be used in a range of applications.
COSC110, DIGI101
DIGI101
Please note that the 2026 timetable has not been finalised.
Scheduled days and times will be confirmed, following review, on 15th October.
Students must attend one activity from each section.
• Two lectures per week will provide the platform for learning terminology and the details of how digital systems work and how they impact their users.• Two hours a week will be scheduled for tutorials; these will vary between hands-on labs where you work with tools and explore how to use them effectively and efficiently, and discussion tutorials where you will gain experience applying the frameworks you have learned to critically discuss issues that arise in digital systems.
Tim Bell
Christoph Bartneck
Mark Guzdial
• There is no formal recommended textbook, as we will use online resources and material supplied through Learn.• We will also make use of Internet sites with relevant material, such as howstuffworks.com and wikipedia.org. References to these sites will be given throughout the course, but you should also use them when you need more detailed explanations of terms used in the course.
Course Information on Learn
The Computer Science department's grading policy states that in order to pass a course you must meet two requirements:1. You must achieve an average grade of at least 50% over all assessment items.2. You must achieve an average mark of at least 45% on invigilated assessment items.If you satisfy both these criteria, your grade will be determined by the following University-wide scale for converting marks to grades: an average mark of 50% is sufficient for a C- grade, an average mark of 55% earns a C grade, 60% earns a C+ grade and so forth. However if you do not satisfy both the passing criteria you will be given either a D or E grade depending on marks. Marks are sometimes scaled to achieve consistency between courses from year to year.Students may apply for special consideration if their performance in an assessment is affected by extenuating circumstances beyond their control.Applications for special consideration should be submitted via the Special Considerations website within five days of the assessment. Where an extension may be granted for an assessment, this will be decided by direct application to the Department and an application to the Examinations Office may not be required. Special consideration is not available for items worth less than 10% of the course.Students prevented by extenuating circumstances from completing the course after the final date for withdrawing, may apply for special consideration for late discontinuation of the course. Applications must be submitted to the Examinations Office within five days of the end of the main examination period for the semester.
Please click HERE for the CSSE Department's policy for the academic remedy of applications for a special consideration for final exams.
Domestic fee $1,058.00
International fee $5,388.00
* All fees are inclusive of NZ GST or any equivalent overseas tax, and do not include any programme level discount or additional course-related expenses.
This course will not be offered if fewer than 15 people apply to enrol.
For further information see Computer Science and Software Engineering .