Computing Innovations

• Computing has spurred creativity in medicine, engineering, communications, and the arts.

• Quantitative data is used by health insurance companies to choose providers.

• Heart monitor watches take blood pressure continuously.

• Microprocessor-controlled artificial legs and blind reading apps improve quality of life.

• Computing innovations can help artists mix media.

• Simulations can predict real-world outcomes based on changing variables.

Hardware Vs. Software

• Hardware is the physical components of a computing device, while software is the instructions in a programming language to the computing device.

• A computing innovation can have hardware components.

• However, the computing innovation is about the software, not the hardware.

Collaboration

• Collaboration helps people learn from each other.

• Collaboration that includes diverse perspectives helps to avoid bias in the development of computing innovations.

• Effective collaboration can help one gain insight and knowledge by applying multiple perspectives, experiences, and skill sets.

• Collaboration with others can make the programmer more self-aware.

• Collaboration facilitates the solving of computational problems by applying multiple perspectives and skill sets.

• Collaboration combines different individuals’ resources, talents, and experiences.

How Programs Function

• A program is a collection of program statements that performs a specific task when run by a computer.

• A program is often referred to as software.

• A code segment refers to a collection of program statements that are part of a program.

Example of a program

Program Input

• Program input is data sent to a computer for processing by a program.

• Input can come in a variety of forms, such as tactile, audio, visual, or text.

• For example, a cell phone can convert voice (audio) to text to send a message.

Development Process

Program Documentation

• Program documentation is a written description of the function of a code segment, event, procedure, or program and how it was developed.

• Program documentation helps in developing and maintaining correct programs when working individually or in collaborative programming environments.

• Programmers should document a program throughout its development.

• Documentation helps the programmer remember what he or she was thinking or the collaborative partners were thinking at the time they were programming.

Program Errors

• Logic error—This is a mistake in the algorithm or program that causes it to behave incorrectly or unexpectedly.

• Syntax error—This is a mistake in the program where the rules of the programming language are not followed.

• Runtime error—This is a mistake in the program that occurs during the execution of a program.

  • Programming languages define their own runtime errors.