Computer Forensics / Entertainments Systems

Thornography

Hey,

Just looking to know if any one does any of these in the W.I.T and if so, Whats your opinion on it, work load, projects, what should I know before going into it. Any info at all would be appreciated.

Sully

All I can say is that they both share some of the same subjects in Applied Computing. After that, I cant comment. I think someone from the forensic course may have posted here before, try searching!

stick-dan

I do a branch off from applied computing into the forensic course, it is a good course, tedious and there is a lot of course work, we are only doing a stream of it and out january report project was over 20 pages long. :O just be prepared to work in the forensics one anyway.

Sully

stick-dan wrote: »

I do a branch off from applied computing into the forensic course, it is a good course, tedious and there is a lot of course work, we are only doing a stream of it and out january report project was over 20 pages long. :O just be prepared to work in the forensics one anyway.

A lot of course work in the stream we took? Cant say I agree. The Applied Computing course subjects give more work then we were given for Forensics IIRC. Sure the final project was long, but that was about the higlight of it. (Unless im not linking a subject with the stream that had a work load?)

Iv heard different reports - some say the stream is very similar to what the course itself does, others say there is a lot more to it and stuff that the stream fails to cover.

Neither of us can comment, since neither of us have done either course. Just Applied Comp. with the Forensic stream.

stick-dan

stick-dan wrote: »

I do a branch off from applied computing into the forensic course, it is a good course, tedious and there is a lot of course work, we are only doing a stream of it and out january report project was over 20 pages long. :O just be prepared to work in the forensics one anyway.

Sully wrote: »

Neither of us can comment, since neither of us have done either course. Just Applied Comp. with the Forensic stream.

I highlighted already i don't do the main course that the poster is on about. I also am only posting so that i may offer some help to the poster in question. I'm doing this because iirc you will be looking a good while to find more than 1 person to post here about that particular course.

The course as i already said is relatively difficult as it does still share modules like programming and maths with applied computing regardless of if you do the forensics course on its own and these two streams are more than difficult enough unless you'd like to differ on opinion. OP, it is a bit of work, can be enjoyable and from the parts of forensics i've gotten to do which will overlap with what you will be doing if you pick it i like. Hope i was of some help anyway

Sully

You failed to see the point I made, Dan. Nevermind though.

2Bv¬2B

Just a friendly word of advice, be prepared to work on your maths.

The amount of people who have already dropped out of both courses has been eye opening. Maths being one of the main reasons they have left. If you intend to do well, be prepared to knuckle down

Sully

2Bv¬2B wrote: »

Just a friendly word of advice, be prepared to work on your maths.

The amount of people who have already dropped out of both courses has been eye opening. Maths being one of the main reasons they have left. If you intend to do well, be prepared to knuckle down

Indeed, the Maths is one of the toughest aspects of these IT courses. People will always struggle with Maths if they are weak at it, even if they do kncukle down. I can vouch for that, but if your prepared to try work at it then all should be fine.

Not every lecturer will agree but if you need extra assistance, dont be afraid to take on grinds.

Thornography

I actualy enjoy maths one of the rarer ones myself.

Aldoh I only did ordinary level for the leaving cery but pulled an A1.

I also did engineering for a while and got on pretty well in the maths,

Do you guys think that would help a deal or still more intense?

Sully

If you like Maths, did well in the LC and done a bit Engineering - should be on the right path anyway.

2Bv¬2B

You need to have a great interest in the subject, i think, (from being in another computer science course) I believe it is essential to have a great interest in the subject

So in saying that, hope to see you in September.

coadyj

I just finished the forensics streem in ac, no offence to dan but I thought it was a piece of piss. Some programming involved, subject very easy I didn't get lower then 80% in every subject and I put in very little work

Sully

coadyj wrote: »

I just finished the forensics streem in ac, no offence to dan but I thought it was a piece of piss. Some programming involved, subject very easy I didn't get lower then 80% in every subject and I put in very little work

Your naturally smart though James and do well in everything

stick-dan

coadyj wrote: »

I just finished the forensics streem in ac, no offence to dan but I thought it was a piece of piss. Some programming involved, subject very easy I didn't get lower then 80% in every subject and I put in very little work

why no offence at all james, i just completed the third year of it and i found it a piece of pi55 too if i'm being honest but it's not some peoples strongest point as i have observed so it's unfair to brand the subject as easy just because you did well. I dare say i did better than you in your third year with regards to the forensics stream but i don't go around declaring it easy.

Sully wrote: »

Your naturally arrogant though James and do well in everything

fixed that there for you :P

Sully

Okay folks, lets take it easy! Lets keep our massive eago outside the forum thanks!

(Yes James, that includes you)

Lets move on. Its an enjoyable course, parts of it people find very easy, some people study around the clock and do very well others dont bother and do very well. Thats life, it happens in all walks. Who cares at the end of the day? I wouldnt go as far as saying it was a "piece of piss" because I know that pretty much everbody did strugle in parts of assignments and course material. Nothing is ever that easy really lads. Plus, the course offers a lot more subjects - maths, electronics, etc.

The real question is; does the course offer quality that will stand with you in the future and is it worth doing? Which is really the theory behind these questions.

stick-dan

I think it does offer that little bit of something that stands by you. There are little bits here or there that don't seem entirely relevant at the time of learning them but when you start to work in computers they sometimes do pop up. I would imagine this would be more frequent in the case of someone soley working in forensics industry but even in normal computing industry some of the things you learn and are made aware of come into play. Most places in computing industry operate fair usage and security policies which is covered in the course, data recovery is also covered which whilst on work experience i find myself using quiet a bit, there is the information there in the course that the students can apply to a vast amount of different work environments in my opinion.

MrMojoRisin'

I am student in entertainment systems, enjoying this first year, although id say the course will be better organised for next years first years. The main complaints i have about the course are that the games module was based on pogo games gamemaker 7, a completely unproffessional piece of software, for introductory purposes it was alright, but we were told we would be using flash, which we never did.
as for the music side, again it wasnt very organised, but there will be a maclab next year for use. Be prepared for some difficult programming and maths, also computer architecture, they are the hard ones. enjoying the course tho must be said.

2Bv¬2B

^^^^

I don't think the programming is that difficult, I believe it's just about understanding what you are doing. I hear it time and time again, you are literally telling the computer what to do. It's up to you how well you instruct it.

Sully

Programming is something your either good at or your not. Sometimes its hard to grasp and fully understand, plus some languages are more difficult to understand then others.

MrMojoRisin'

yea i hav no problem with programming iv already passed it, but many people in entertainment systems didnt realise how much of the course is based on programming, and many people are having trouble with it

emma-fly

It really depends how much of a social life you want. If you wanna go drinking and socialising alot...Steer clear... Whereas if your not much of a drinker and are more career orietated it is probably a very good choice for you.

emma_lemmedy

I studied Computer Forensics last year and only just about stuck it out for the year. Its defo a course you would want to research thoroughly before you make any decisions about studying it. I got the wrong impression of it when i researched it. If you are weak at maths (like me) you will struggle a lot, even for people good at maths they found it difficult. Programming is difficult aswell. Defo if you are a person who likes to socialise a lot, steer clear, even though you have to work hard at any course you choose, you cannot afford to slack off with this course!!!

Sully

I wouldn't say "stay clear" if you want to socialise. If you can balance your social life and studies, you should do fine. If you want to do **** all work, get hammered every night and spend crazy money in the pubs/clubs, expect to do poorly. The course isn't the toughest in the college, and im sure that other courses have a great social life which are tough! Its a course you just have to do a lot of work with unless this kinda thing is easy for you.

emma-fly

Well i dont mean it in the context of every night...I mean it in the context of about once a week....

Sully

emma-fly wrote: »

Well i dont mean it in the context of every night...I mean it in the context of about once a week....

Still though.. we both know people who go out at least once a week and are in IT courses, not struggling! I think people can go out a bit during college fine.

(The only reason why I am rambling about this, is to avoid people ignoring the course because of fear they cant have a decent social life!)

Thornography

Sully wrote: »

I wouldn't say "stay clear" if you want to socialise. If you can balance your social life and studies, you should do fine. If you want to do **** all work, get hammered every night and spend crazy money in the pubs/clubs, expect to do poorly. The course isn't the toughest in the college, and im sure that other courses have a great social life which are tough! Its a course you just have to do a lot of work with unless this kinda thing is easy for you.

Original OP here btw,

Which course are you talking about at this stage lol, people have been talking about this and that without specifiying. Getting a bit confusing at this stage

Sully

eVo|tempest wrote: »

Original OP here btw,

Which course are you talking about at this stage lol, people have been talking about this and that without specifiying. Getting a bit confusing at this stage

There all the same pretty much. I think most, if not all, degree courses in IT in WIT share a lot of the same subjects and then split away depending on whats appropriate for that course.

The subjects we speak about are common models and Emma is talking about a poor social life if you wish to succeed.

Thornography

Sully wrote: »

and Emma is talking about a poor social life if you wish to succeed.

lol im doing architecture technology atm so I know ALL about no social life.

Cheers everyone for the advice, Its looking like entertainment systems is the one for me atm.

2Bv¬2B

I was in CIT last year, and was able to go out every week, (computer networking + software development), I'm in applied computing now and I've only been out once in this whole academic year.

jinxy

Forensics has very small class size, 5 people I think!

2Bv¬2B

yep, just about 5 people, or so, its hard to keep track of them because some have dropped out, and some just dont come in. Applied is still going strong, we have 9, however in September it may be a different story.

RoyalMarine

hi there, ive applied for the forensics this year.. been waiting almost3 years to get this course. last year, my math held me back as i missed the mature student application date and had to go through the cao. this year, i made sure to get in on time. my math results in the lc were a c2 in ordinary, but that was back in 2003. had a lot of time to brush up since and hope to get on the course. cant believe there is only a class size of 5 at the moment! thats crazy!

Thornography

Class of 5?

wow, shockingly small. But probably would suit me well

Did arts for a while with 350+ students, Then architecture with 150+ students.

Classes are stupidly big to learn anything me thinks.

How about the entertainment systems class size does anyone know?

Sully

eVo|tempest wrote: »

How about the entertainment systems class size does anyone know?

Not many of the IT courses have large numbers. There all less then 100 I think.

2Bv¬2B

Entertainment systems..... currently (end of 1st year) i think there is about....20, no more than 30 anyway there were a good few doing it at the start however the numbers have dropped dramatically.

pandamonieum

Hi im doing Entertainment Systems This year was the first year the course has been run in WIT so you have to expect some chaos. It felt biased towards games this year to be honest but Im doing the games part so its cool but the music guys could have done with some more hours in the music lab. Had like 1 hour of music labs a week where he had to rush through ****.

I found the programming tough enuf to be honest, some guys seemed to just get it but once they see your trying your best youll get it.

Overall I really like the course we have had some cool subjects and some not so cool ones but I like it.

Alex

areyawell

basically the course is fine but people find two of the areas difficult, Maths and java programming, ud really want to be somewat decent at maths and investigate java programming before you decide to do the course

2Bv¬2B

I got back my results, and thankfully I only failed one, there are guys who will be repeating 4-5 exams from it unfortunatley,

areyawell

What course r ya in, forensics or media?

2Bv¬2B

Applied Computing,

Sully

2Bv¬2B wrote: »

I got back my results, and thankfully I only failed one, there are guys who will be repeating 4-5 exams from it unfortunatley,

That's common enough oddly. Let me guess.. Applied Calculus one of the more popular failed subjects?!

thelightsbane

Was just enquiring about the forensics course. I got accepted to it during the week and need to brush up on some maths any recomendations about what areas I should be looking at?

2Bv¬2B

I assume the syllabus will be the same, so Discrete Mathematics will be the class, so you are looking at sets i.e. A intersection B, A union B and that lark. Then you will move onto logic, true and false stuff, little bit weird at first, but once you get your head around it you will be fine, also Permutations i.e. all the possible outcomes of numbers from the likes of the lotto, again little bit tricky,

My advice would be to work hard at the discrete maths, and if you have some free time, brush up on your algebra, diffrentiation, integration, complex numbers and distance speed and time for Applied Calculus in the second semester.

Best of luck man !

thelightsbane

Thanks for that. Im fortunate enough to have a lot of time on my hands between now and then and it would be a shame to waste it.

2Bv¬2B

Also having a look at how binary works wouldn't go astray,

areyawell

id also recommend downloading an introduction to java book. Lot of the course based on java programming

jakedixon2004

Hello all. I have just completed my first year of Computer Forensics and I have to say, while I find the course quite hard, it is a very interesting course which I will sacrifice my social life to stay on top of. I did fail the two maths subjects as they were left aside as i studied the more interesting subjects. I would also advise that anyone who is considering doing this course should focus very hard comming up to the exams and not get distracted by other things , such as getting involved with anonymous. If you have your heart set on this course then get ready for "different" maths , java programming and to learn about how the first computers came to be.