CompSci 4Introduction to ProgrammingAnimation and Virtual WorldsAug. 28, 2007Prof. Susan RodgerWhat is Computer Science?• Computer science is no more about computers than astronomy is about telescopes. - Edsger Dijkstra• Computer science is not as old as physics; it lags by a couple hundred years. However this does not mean that there is significantly less on the computer scientist’s plate than on the physicist’s: younger it may be, but it has had a far more intense upbringing! - Richard FeynmanComputer Science is a young discipline• First computer science department formed in 1962What is Computer Science?• Artificial IntelligenceRoombaCMU’s SandstormMars RoverWhat is Computer Science?• AnimationWhat is Computer Science?• The Organization of Data, and SearchingWhat is Computer Science?• Medicine, GenomicsWhat is Computer Science?•DevicesComputer Science and Programming• Computer Science is more than programming– Called Informatics in many countries– Elements of both science and engineering– Elements of math, physics, cognitive science, music, art, and many other fields• To some programming is an art, to others a science, to others an engineering discipline.What Will We Do in CompSci 4?• Web pages/html (one week)• Learn to program with Alice (mostly)• Research study• Java (2-3 weeks at the end)•Logistics– Bring laptop or use class laptops– TextbookHow CompSci 4 Will Work•In Class– Lecture/demos– Tutorials– Classwork (in pairs) (REQUIRED ATTENDANCE)• Outside of class– Complete work not finished in class–Reading– AssignmentsWhat Is Alice?• A modern programming tool– 3-D graphics– 3-D models of objects• Animation– Objects can be made to move around virtual world (a simulation or video game)What does Alice run on?• Alice is written in Java – should run on many systems– supports Mac and PCFast Start Up• Can quickly learn to create– A simple animation in a few minutes– A non-trivial animation in a few class periods• Can learn to use the Alice interface after a few more class periodsThe Power of Alice• Automatically keeps track of 3-D objects– What objects are in the virtual world– Types of objects– Positions of objects in the worldObjects Have Multiple Parts that are moveable• Objects already exist in librariesProgram an ObjectClass Today• Demo of Alice–Simple world– Projects from last semester• Go over syllabus, web page• A simple web page•
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