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Computer Science Reflections on the Field, Reflections from the Field (2004) / Chapter Skim
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Prelude: Emily Shops at VirtualEmporia.com
Pages 1-8

The Chapter Skim interface presents what we've algorithmically identified as the most significant single chunk of text within every page in the chapter.
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From page 1...
... Thus it is possible to identify some of the computer science (CS) research that enables retailing online and to provide pointers to discussions of that research later in this volume.
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From page 2...
... Hill (in programs -- and run them much Chapter 2) describes the phenomenon of faster -- than the first computer exponential growth in computing power, her employer bought only 20 and he shows how computer science years ago.
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From page 3...
... A wide range of programming rooms -- to computer-based languages and tools are available today and new languages and tools are the enhancements to more traditional subject of computer science research. See tasks like creating and typesetting Aho and Larus in Chapter 4.
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From page 4...
... Here, Emily's browser and VirtualEmporia.com's Web site use a communication protocol called http that is built on top of the Internet. The World Wide Web, another of the many uses of the Internet, owes its origins in part to earlier computer science research on hypertext, which provides a way of navigating among linked documents.
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From page 5...
... Emily can also refine her Computer science research on reputation choices by reading reviews on the systems allows VirtualEmporia to provide VirtualEmporia site, including some indications of how much trust one reviews published by recognized should place in opinions contributed by critics and comments from other strangers. customers -- which she takes more or less seriously depending on the credibility ratings these comments have accumulated.
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From page 6...
... The online setting enables business partnerships that were previously difficult or impossible. VirtualEmporia also allows Emily to consider offerings from multiple booksellers, including not only a large seller who can provide almost all books currently in print, but also numerous used-book sellers, both companies and individuals.
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From page 7...
... Impatiently awaiting her purchase, Emily starts to wonder why the book even had to be a physical object: why couldn't it just be delivered as a digital object, transmitted over the Internet? Indeed, computer science research has already
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From page 8...
... What other stories, which may seem fantastic today even as computer science research is laying their foundations, will we come to label mundane 10 and 20 years from now?
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Key Terms

  • electronic books
  • communication protocol
  • hard drive
  • user interfaces
  • multiple booksellers

  • science groundwork
  • design computers
  • universal turing
  • technical results
  • called http

  • universality rests
  • improved user
  • exponential growth
  • designed usually
  • potentially enable

  • enable emily
  • virtual store
  • reviews published
  • word processors
  • obtain information

  • originally designed
  • additional software
  • carry portable
  • messenger services
  • previously difficult

  • enables business
  • exchanging information
  • information processing
  • secure version
  • internet address


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