Course introduction ( if you don't want to watch the video)

Hello and welcome. I'm very thrilled that you are here. You have just enrolled in A Big Picture Overview of Computer Science: The Foundations of Computing.

Our goal is to give you a map for the complex world of technology by studying where it all began. We are recording this in 2025, and it's impossible to ignore the hype around AI. It feels like it's changing everything every single day. And that's exactly why learning the history of computing is more critical than ever, because here's the secret: we have been here before.

This is not the first time there has been a massive wave of excitement about AI. The history of computing is full of cycles: a breakthrough promises intense investment, and then a quiet period where the real, lasting technology settles in.

This course will give you the perspective to see beyond the current headlines. We will equip you with the essential skills to:

• Separate the hype from what's realistic.

• Identify the genuine breakthroughs that will last long after the initial excitement dies down.

• Spot the patterns and develop the intuition to see the changes that will truly shape our future.

You will gain a big-picture view of computing that will act as an anchor in a sea of change. This foundation will give you the confidence to follow public conversations about technology and provide the perfect launchpad if you ever decide to dive deeper into a more technical field.

In the next video, I will walk you through exactly how to use this platform. For now, I want you to be excited. You are about to gain a perspective that few people have: the ability to see the full story of technology.

Thank you for joining me. Let's begin building your big picture.