This is an archived handbook for a previous year. The current undergraduate and postgraduate handbooks can be viewed using the links above.
Undergraduate Handbook 2021-2022 (archived)
Module COMP4117: ALTERNATIVE COMPUTING
Department: Computer Science
COMP4117: ALTERNATIVE COMPUTING
| Type | Level | Credits | Availability | Module Cap | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 4 | 10 | Available in 2021/2022 | None. | Durham |
Pre-requisites
- COMP2181 Theory of Computation AND (COMP2261 Artificial Intelligence OR COMP2231 Software Methodologies)
Corequisites
Excluded Combinations
Aims
- To introduce students to Natural Computing as a paradigm of Computer Science concerned with both simulating natural processes as well as emulating them for algorithmic advantage.
- To introduce students to Quantum Information Processing and Quantum Computing with emphasis on where these may be advantageous over the classical approach.
Content
- Topics selected from
- Philosophy of Natural Computing
- Evolutionary Computing
- Swarm Intelligence
- Biological Computing
- Geometry of Nature
- Qubits and Quantum Key Distribution
- Computing with Multiple Qubits
- EPR paradox and Quantum State Transformations
- Quantum Gates and Circuits
- Quantum Algorithms
Learning Outcomes
Subject-specific Knowledge
- On completion of the module, students will be able to demonstrate:
- an understanding of various ways in which computation can be accomplished through the mimicking of processes in nature
- an understanding of various ways in which computation can be accomplished through the use of natural processes outside of a conventional chip
- an understanding of the fundamental notions from Quantum Information Processing.
- an understanding of the workings of Quantum Computing.
Subject-specific Skills
- On completion of the module, students will be able to demonstrate:
- an ability to formulate and solve computational problems using methods inspired by nature.
- an ability to formulate and solve computational problems using natural materials other than the conventional chip.
- an ability to apply basic methods from Quantum Physics for the study and analysis of systems of Quantum Information Processing and Quantum Computing.
Key Skills
- On completion of the module, students will be able to demonstrate:
- an ability to formalise computation problems in a variety of contexts.
- an ability to reason mathematically about information in a variety of ways.
Modes of Teaching, Learning and Assessment and how these contribute to the learning outcomes of the module
- Lectures enable the students to learn new material relevant to Alternative Computing.
- Summative assessment assesses the application of methods and techniques.
Teaching Methods and Learning Hours
| Activity | Number | Frequency | Duration | Total Hours | Attendance Monitored |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| lectures | 22 | 1 per week | 1 hour | 22 | |
| preparation and reading | 78 | ||||
| total | 100 |
Summative Assessment
| Component | Component Weighting | Element | Length/Duration | Element Weighting | Resit Opportunity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coursework | 100% | Summative Assignment | 100% | No |
Formative Assessment
Example formative exercises are given during the course.
Students who do not attend monitored activities shown under Teaching Methods
and Learning Hours, or who fail to complete the summative or formative
assessment(s) specified above, may be subject to the Academic Progress
procedures defined in the University's General Regulation V, and may be
required to leave the University.