Activity 1.2.2 Introducing App Inventor

Conclusion

1.       Step 8 mentions, “In App Inventor, a program is described partly in the GUI Designer and partly in the Blocks Editor.” How is this similar to Scratch? What information about a program in Scratch is not shown in Scratch’s scripts area? Where is it shown?

•  App inventor is similar to Scratch because it uses the block click and drag system to program. You cant see the costumes and where they are on the screen. It is shown in the sprites menu.

2.      The lead creator of the App Inventor project is Hal Abelson, an M.I.T. professor who is also the lead author of the book Blown to Bits (www.bitsbook.com/excerpts). Abelson says that we are entering a new era of personal mobile computing in which the average person can program their own mobile device. Abelson asserts that “personal mobile computing” is an important stage beyond the era of “personal computing” that was initiated by Apple’s Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak in 1976.

In what ways will mobile devices and the opportunity for the average person to program them change society?

• There will be a greater amount of people working on these apps for mobile will greatly increase the amount of app available  and the consumer base for app creation and editing software.

"Blown to Bits" Chapter 1

1.The digital revolution has greatly impacted society, for better or for worse, of the world today.

2. Questions:

1. Identify how they found Tanya's location.
2. Describe how bits behave.
3. Analyze the statement, "The data will all be kept forever, unless there are policies to get rid of it", and discuss why this is put in place and a problem.
4. Debate the good and bad of technology.

3. I agree that computing will transform society. I believe that computing has already made a large impact on society. The storing of bits is a process that police officers use all the time to find people using cell phone records or bank account transactions. The case of Tanya Rider found in the reading is a core example of this.

1.1.7- Scratch Game

Mountain Climb
Brett Melens, Jael Claudio, Alex Winslow
Produced a game that would be appealing to the user. Instructions are in link below.
http://scratch.mit.edu/projects/28794920/

Conclusion

1.       Reflect on the creative process you used. What was useful? Discuss your reflection with your partner and then write a reflection individually.

• First we brainstormed a game design, then chose an idea, programmed it, tested it and edited it.

2.      Reflect on the team dynamic. What helped the team work well together? Discuss your reflection with your partner and then write a reflection individually.

• Communication was the biggest part of our team work. We discussed the task and split work among ourselves.

3.   What went well?

• Everything except for a rock getting stuck on the screen.

4.   What did you struggle with?

• The only thing we struggled with was a rock getting stuck floating on the screen instead of falling normally.

5.   Given more time how could you improve your game?

• We could have added quicker reacting controls, more levels, and removed some small errors.