Part 1: Find Examples of External JavaScript Files

1. Examine the ColorCooler.js file that's used by the course web page.  Obtain the .JS file (you should be able to type the address directly into your web browser's Address Bar, and then open it.), examine it briefly (make sure you also examine how it's used in the main page on the website).  See how much of the code you can understand.
    
2. Use your browser to find an another example of a website that uses an external Javascript file. View the web page's source code to identify the file (look for the '.js' file extension), then download and save the JavaScript file to your local computer.  View the contents of the external JavaScript file that you downloaded in the last exercise using your favorite text editor.
    
3. Find a website on the internet that specifically aims to provide JavaScript for your use, and examine what it provides: what sort of examples & documentation does it provide, in what form is the source code provided, and under what terms are you allowed to use the provided material?
   
   One good way to find such a site is to pick something that you'd like to do in JavaScript, and then use a search engine like Google to look for it.  For example, if you wanted to find a JavaScript based menu bar keywords like "JavaScript menu", perhaps with words like "free", "tutorial", or "how-to" thrown in, as well.
   
   (If you're curious about what an example of a JavaScript menu might look like, follow http://cross-browser.com/x/menus/xmenu1.php .)
   
   For this exercise, you should compile two things:
   1. A list of website(s) that provide good-quality, useful JavaScript code. 
      Remember that the quality of the provided code is not just the code itself, but also 'how easy it is to use' - do they have good, clear examples, and good, clear documentation? 
      It's better to find 1 really good site, than 100 so-so websites!
       
   2. A list of (Google) keywords that you found useful when searching for this sort of thing. 
      (If you use a search engine other than the normal Google engine, please specify that, too)

Part 2: Understanding Intellectual Property

Your two goals are:

1. Be able to explain (in basic terms) what a copyright, a patent, and a  trademark are, and the differences between.
2. Be able to explain (in more detail) what copyright is, and how you can use it to protect your website/source code/etc.
   
   Skim the Wikipedia article on Intellectual Property (often abbreviated 'IP') at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intellectual_property.  It provide a pretty good overview, although does seem to have a large number of sections critical of IP.  Similarly, you should look at the Wikipedia articles on patent & trademark (most of which you can skim/skip, but the sections describing the conceptual foundation of each one should be read in detail).
   You should read through http://www.copyright.gov/ for more information on Copyright.
   http://www.benedict.com/Digital/Web/WebProtect.aspx may be useful for web-page specific information about copyright.
   Another page that might be useful: http://www.uwb.edu/library/guides/bit112/#copyright
    

Please be aware that your instructor is not a lawyer, and that nothing covered in this class (on this website, verbally, or through any other means) should be considered to be legal advice.  You should talk to a lawyer if you have a question about any legal topics.

 

Part 3: JavaScript background & history

1. Visit several of the the following resource links (Note that you do not need to read through all of this material. The idea is to gain enough of an understanding of JavaScript to intelligently contribute to a group discussion).  As you read through these resources, reflect on what your experiences with JavaScript have been like, and how they (in)validate what you read in these resources.
    

   script - internet.com

   Script (computer programming) - Wikipedia

   On Scripting Languages - OSNews.com

   Scripting: Higher Level Programming for the 21st Century - Tcl Developer Xchange

   JavaScript - Wikipedia

   Introduction to JavaScript - W3Schools.com

   JavaScript: How Did We Get Here? - O'Reilly Network

   Get an overview of JavaScript - Builder.com
    

2. As you are reading the above sources, consider the following questions

   ·        What are the origins of JavaScript?

   ·        How does JavaScript differ from some other Scripting languages?

   ·        How does JavaScript differ from some other Programming languages?