Day 7: Labs

LAB 1:

To redesign the punch card system, we assigned letters A-Z values from 1-26. When added, the numbers punched in each column equal one of those values and represent a letter. To show symbols, a 0 is punched and then a number.
0=space
01=.
02=,
03=?
04=!
05=:
06=;

Here we've coded "Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Nulla tellus cras amet."LAB 2:
To decipher the binary code, we used this binary translator:
http://www.roubaixinteractive.com/PlayGround/Binary_Conversion/Binary_To_Text.asp

"Be sure to drink your Ovaltine."

The translator must have seperated the chunk of numbers into bytes (groups of 8 bits), because each byte stands for a specific character. It strung the letters together and gave us our answer.

Day 6: Punch Cards

Punch cards were an IBM invention used in early mainframe computers, banks, instruments, textile looms, etc. for permanent data storage. They are pieces of stiff paper with 80 columns of 12 rows, and they can be read according to the presence or absence of holes. To read a punch card, you must understand that each column represents one figure. Start with the leftmost column and decipher rightward.



Consult the key above for a visual aid:

-If there is only one punch in the column, the data represents the NUMBER that is punched.
-If there are two punches in the column, the data represents a LETTER.
-As you can see on the key, one of the punches will be in the top margin, and another will be
on a number. There are two possible levels for the punches in the top margin, and the
the row with 0s also serves to show letters. Three levels are necessary because there are 9 rows, therefore each level can only stand for 9 letters. The first tier represents A-I. Each of these letters has a numeric value 1-9. (For example, A=1, B=2, C=3...I=9. Therefore, if there is a punch in the top line of the top margin, and a second punch on the number 3, the data is "C".) The second line in the margin stands for letters J through R. Again, each of these letters is assigned a value 1-9. If there is a punch on the second blank line and the number 1, the data is "J". Finally, punches on 0 represent the rest of the alphabet (unless only 0 is punched, in which case the data is 0.)
-If there are three punches in the column, including one in the top three lines (like the alphabet), one number, and one "8", this represents a symbol. The system is the same as the alphabet. Consult the key for how to represent each symbol. (example: a period is top row in the margin, 3, and 8.)

Day 4: Comments on classmates' blogs

http://jackiecsc111.blogspot.com/2009/09/burning-questions.html

http://virginiacsc111.blogspot.com/2009/09/day-two-hardware.html

Day Two: Hardware

What is the computer doing when you can hear it running really loudly (usually while it's going slow or there is a delay)? Is it the fan? Does this mean your request is too much for the computer to handle? Does it do eventual damage to your computer?

Day One: Triumph of the Nerds

Stereotypes of Computer Nerds in 1995:
1. Young Males
2. GLASSES
3. Always working on computers, no time for other things

Most of these stereotypes still hold true, although there seems to be less programming and more with the internet and web design now. Most are still males, and contacts are probably more prevalent now. If I were to make a movie, the stereotypes would stay the same but they would be working on much more advanced software like we have today.

About Me

My name is Linsey and I'm a senior here at Elon. I hate science, so I'm taking this computer class instead to fill my non-lab science credit. I'm a member of Phi Mu and I live off-campus with my best friends. I'm a Corporate Communications major and I'll be very sad to leave this place in May!