Busy again …
My 4th semester’s begun, and its back to college for over 8 hours a day.
The subjects this time are all mostly theor-ish.
Here are my subjects this 4th semester:
- Probability and Statistics
- Microprocessors and Microcontrollers
- Computer Architecture
- Software Engineering
- Digital Signal Processing
- Information Coding Techniques
Probability is fun, but also involves a wrote of writing, than solving. Bah.
Microprocessors and Computer Architecture are interesting ones which I don’t mind paying full attention to. Though Computer Architecture is something very basic and I end up day dreaming in its classes.
No one’s turned up for Digital Signal Processing yet but from the syllabus it looks like its just a deep extension of the Signals and Systems I had last semester. Signals was easy last year, but I don’t know how it could be an IT Industry application. But the problems were simple nevertheless.
Information Coding Techniques is the lone nice subject I have this semester. It has all those things about data compression, various formats of compression, and so on. Neat.
Software Engineering is full theory of various models, concepts, blah. I never would understand the need of learning so much corporate stuff until I start working I think. But the subject’s just started so I can’t say much. Having the word ‘Engineering’ in its name makes me think its more than just what it looks.
So am off to another grueling 3 months I guess. This time am gonna need 2x the amounts of pens I used last semester. Since there is NO CODE at all. I wish there were more Code/Algorithmic subjects.
In Labs we’ve got 3 again:
- Digital Signal Processing and Communication Lab
- Microprocessors and Microcontrollers Lab
- Software Engineering Lab
Software Engineering Lab has project stuff where we have to make teams of 4 or more and build something redundant. They advised us to use VB and MS-Access even while the Syllabus stated the use of just simple C/C++. Meh. I’m gonna see if they allow the use of other languages and GUI tool-kits as well.
Microprocessor one is all OP-Code and programs with those. Adding two numbers was never this fun. 
Not been to DSP & Communication Lab yet, will update this part next week or so. Its gonna be boring, am sure of that. Cause to me, Communication stuff is ALL boring. Don’t even get me started on how I managed to write things in that Principles of Communication paper in December’s Anna University exams.
Software Engineering Lab has project stuff where we have to make teams of 4 or more and build something redundant
^ LOL!
Microprocessor one is all OP-Code and programs with those. Adding two numbers was never this fun.
^ what do you have prescribed? that barry b brey textbook is it?
and good luck for the new semester, mine just began and broke for a 10 day long christmas vacation. we have tcp/ip, data mining, computer graphics, computer oriented numerical analysis and internet programming.
sindhu
30 Dec 07 at 1:48 pm
hey… so 4th sem. eh? well me writing my third sem exams rite now.. one question … where in India are you???
Kenneth D
30 Dec 07 at 4:40 pm
@Sindhu - No we have some Indian authors prescribed and no Barry Brey in additional references either.
Your subjects are all a lot more interesting, do they go pretty deep too? And are the labs as interesting?
Numerical Analysis, what is that about? Cool subjects though. I’ll have them all the next year (CONA, CG, Networks, IP etc) or in 4th year along with electives (Data Mining, etc).
@Kenneth D - Thanks for visiting here! Am in Chennai and Anna University exams are generally in November/December for odds and in April/May for evens
Harsh
30 Dec 07 at 8:56 pm
What?! Eight hours?! I think that’s normal though. I’ve heard some students staying there with the hours you mentioned.
Wendy
31 Dec 07 at 5:50 am
@Wendy - Classes are a total of 6 Hours and 10 Minutes. Takes an hour to reach the college and 1.5 to return back home. Plus a lunch time of half an hour. 9 Hours +/-
Harsh
31 Dec 07 at 6:18 am
i thought all computer geniuses were drop outs!
Aniche
31 Dec 07 at 1:33 pm
Not all of them! The majority were true geniuses, the dropouts became the same in the hard way. Donald Knuth?
Harsh
31 Dec 07 at 5:42 pm
labs are pretty interesting, we have lab for computer graphics (basically 2d line drawing) implementation in C. and of course HTML. i pwn dat class muwahahhaha ;]
am doing bachelor of computer applications, we skip a lot of things .. in the other words ours is a subset of your syllabus but nevertheless good enough for campus recruitments..
by far i liked data mining paper the best, i really love theory. there is so much one can talk and explain things. CONA is my last on my list. tcp/ip always gets me excited.
sindhu
31 Dec 07 at 10:29 pm