We Created Outer Space!

     Hello again! It's been a while since my last blog post, but this time I have something super interesting to share. In APCS we are getting to the end of our first semester. We've gotten to the point in the class where we have begun to learn the basics of programming, so naturally our last project of the semester would be to create our own masterpiece that we programmed. My group and I created outer space. OUTER SPACE. I love everything about outer space so when we decided we were going to program it I was really excited. The aspects of outer space we included were the stars, planets, aliens, and comets/meteoroids.  I was in charge of creating all the stars. It was so fun to create something real. When my group members and I put all our parts together it was so cool. It looked like such a unique, digital outer space image. To add to the cool factor of our image, every time we refresh it the position of the stars, planets, aliens, comets/meteoroids would change! We programmed it to change position every time the program is run. Below is a couple pictures of my part and then how it looked in the end. I hope you enjoy it!
~K

Encoding Experience

     Last week in APCS we were given a fun project. We had to choose something we've experienced in our life and then encode it! We learned how things can be broken down and recreated digitally and then applied it to our project. I chose dog sledding in Alaska as my experience. First I broke the experience down into 5 units. Then I picked one of the units and formed subunits to it. After, I repeated the process again. At this point I had 7 sub-sub units. I decided how each one would be interpreted digitally and then proceeded to convert them digitally. I found the number of bits each sub-sub unit would amount to and why it was so important to include it. That is how we encoded an experience! Below I have a picture of the chart I made as an outline for the project.
~K

                                

Encoding Color Images

     Today in computer science we continued learning about encoding images. Instead of using only black and white images though, we learned how to add some color! We learned about the RGB color scale and how to apply it in binary and hexadecimal to our pixel images. I practiced using the colors by creating color scales on a grid.

Then I had to make my own pixel image in color. It could be anything we wanted so I decided to make a sunset. Here's my project!

I hope you enjoyed it :)
~K

Encoding Black and White Images

     Yesterday in computer science we learned about encoding black and white images! I learned how to create images and change them however I like, through a widget on code studio. It was so cool to learn about. It's the first time I feel like I've been able to actually create something with my computer science knowledge. Below you will see a pixelated image of the Instagram logo I tried to replicate.
~K

Netflix Censorship

Hello! I said I would report any interesting findings from AP Computer Science, so here I am. A couple weeks ago we were assigned a flash talk assignment. We basically had to choose a topic and then a sub topic focus. The topic that stood out to me was censorship. When doing projects, it makes it more fun if you can talk about something you're interested in. Which is why I decided to make my sub topic something I enjoy. Naturally, I chose Netflix because who doesn't like Netflix? Below is my project that I turned in. Here is what I discovered about Netflix and censorship through my research.
~K

" Internet censorship determines what can be shown, viewed, and published on the internet. It can be controlled by the government, private organizations, and by oneself. The benefits of censorship include: shielding users from inappropriate material, viruses, and illegal content. It’s wonderful that censorship protects us from potential harm, but it also brings negative side effects. When material is censored, we are blocked from seeing the actual content. That’s great when it comes to computer viruses or graphic material, but this is not the case when it comes to movies, tv shows, and music. When these things are censored, we miss out on the original material. Personally, when I’m listening to a song, I don’t like to hear a beep cutting off the lyrics. And when I’m watching a tv show or movie, I don’t appreciate scenes being cut or skipped over. I want the whole product. Netflix, a website that allows you to watch movies and television shows, supports my view. Netflix believes that their users should have the freedom to self-select which programs they would like to watch. They provide brief descriptions of titles, what it’s rated, and a star rating based on reviews. Since Netflix users are given all this data, they are trusted to make an educated decision on what they will watch. And even if they don’t, it’s their choice to watch it. Therefore, there is no need to censor their material.
    Many support and appreciate Netflix’s decision on censorship, but currently two countries are strongly against it; Kenya and Indonesia. Both believe that Netflix content should be censored due to a fear of their people seeing explicit content that they don’t agree with. While Netflix continues to refuse censorship, Kenya and Indonesia both wish to block Netflix. Unfortunately that means that Netflix loses some international sales and the people of Kenya and Indonesia don’t get to receive the luxury of Netflix. The people of these countries should let their people make their own choices. Censorship can occasionally be used for good, but most times it’s better to give people freedom and leave things uncensored."

APCS

     As a regular high school student I spend about 8 hours, every weekday at school. Then I come home and do more work for school until I go to sleep. With most of my classes, it's the same work every day; just building off what we've already learned. I do have one class that isn't like the rest though. This year I decided to take an AP Computer Science Principles course. I have never taken a course like it before, but it was a new course and it sounded really interesting so I went for it. So far I have really enjoyed it. I learn something new every class and I'm building up valuable knowledge about things we use every day. I would definitely recommend the class to anyone who asks about it. I will be sure to post about anything interesting I find or make; that way I can demonstrate some of the amazing things about the course.
~K

Friday Nights

     A couple nights back I had the privilege of spending my Friday night at the beach with some of my best friends. With sand between our toes and salty ocean air surrounding us, we witnessed one of the most beautiful sunsets I have ever seen. The sky looked like it was on fire until the sun dipped below the sea. Then the sky turned into a delicate, cotton candy haze. I got to experience nature's beauty with some of my favorite people in the entire world. I am incredibly fortunate to be able to spend my Friday nights watching something so gorgeous light up our world. I will never take that for granted.
~K