phcaudle's blog

I learned alot about robots this week. In fact I learned more about robots this week than I have in my entire life. I thought the honda robot was the craziest thing I had ever seen. I showed the video to a number of people this weekend. I guess I was a little behind because I had never heard of it before and some people had, but either way it is pretty fascinating. I thought that the few minutes we got to spend on the lego robots was interesting as well. It is cool just to be able to tell a computer a code and get a machine to do something from that. Then it becomes even more interesting when you are the person telling it what to do. The fact that typing code, simply numbers and letters, into a computer and getting a robot to move and perform different activities from that is amazing. Who knows where we will be in a few years from now with robots, and I am looking foward to learning more about robots next class.

I have always thought the idea of hacking was interesting. It could be a fun thing if there weren’t people out there trying to destroy everyones computer. It does not take much knowledge to create a virus, I have recently found out. It seems like if you are paying hundreds to thousands of dollars for a computer then it should be a little harder to make a virus that can totally screw your system up. I did think that “Captain Crunch” was a cool thing. Who would have ever thought a cereal box whistle could take over the phone industry. I guess my overall view of viruses and hacking is bad, but could change as I learn more about doing it myself.

I thought that Pausch’s “last speech” was perfect. It touched all the right points and was executed perfect by him. He made me think about life in general and realize that there are plenty of oppertunities for your dreams. My first impressions of Alice are good. I have played around with it a good deal, and I am having alot more fun with Alice than any of the other assignments we have had thus far. I feel like im playing a game rather than stressing out about computer languages all the time. It is awesome making a little video game type deal. It is also crazy how you can take anything and make it do pretty much anything. I think me along with the rest of the class will enjoy working with Alice the next few weeks.

I will have to say that HTML is one of the toughest activities I have encountered on a computer yet. I do not know alot about computers as is so this assigment was a little tough. It was pretty interesting as far as getting to play around with making my own webpage, but when it came to coding it the right way and making everything flow well together it got a little more difficult. Believe it or not the hardest part I have encountered is turning the assignment in. I still to this minute cannot figure it out, but I think things are looking up tomorrow if it is not counted late. Overall it was a fun asssignment. I just need to fugure out the turning in process…

I have found this to be the most interesting assignment we have had. The last lab we had with minor computer programming was too confusing for me. The HTML is alot to take in, but it is also easier to understand. This has made it more interesting, and in return I have been learning alot more. Hand-coding HTML is important because you learn how to build an actual webpage. It helps with learning everything that you need to know about webpages; font size, color, underlining, bold, creating links, and alot more. It will take me at least another week to get a better idea about HTML, and by then I should be able to build my own webpage correctly.

This has so far been the hardest assignment that I have dealt with in the class. The machine code was not that hard to understand because ones and zeros are all it dealt with. Basically you put the assembly language in then you get it translated to machine code. However when I got to the Pseudo-computer, simple programming, I had a rough time. Not only do you have to tell it what to do and convert it, but you also have to figure out exactly how to speak to the computer. This took hours of playing around with it and watching the online video. I still do not totally understand it, but I am hoping to keep improving.

A. Parts: Tower case-http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=KJ-3393&cat=CAS    (Fan included)

Motherboard-http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=P5E-VMDO-DT&cat=MBB

CPU- http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=ADX6000IAA6CZ&cat=CPU

RAM- http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=KTH-DL385-4G-DT&cat=RAM

Graphics/Video Card-http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=SFPX98GT512D3&cat=VCD

Sound Card- http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=CL-S8768-8&cat=SND

Hard Drive-http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=ST3750330SV-R&cat=HDD

Power Supply- http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=AK800&cat=PWR&cpc=PWRbsc

DVD-ROM-http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=BWU100A-R&cat=DVD

Cooling System- http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=FAN8X25TX3L-DT&cat=FAN  (For extra cooling)

B.   Putting the computer together:

First I would take the mother board and put on the CPU (Heat sync included) and the memory first. When I hook up the
CPU, the heat sync cooler will go over it. Then the memory goes in, making sure it goes in right slot.  After this is done correctly I would go ahead and put the mother board in, making sure everything is lined up correctly. Next I would install the hard drive. I would have to take out the cooling fan and place the hard drive behind it. Next I would put the DVD-ROM in, which is pretty simple. Next I would install the power switch, lights, etc.  by simply plugging them into correct spots labeled on the motherboard. Next I would plug in the USB, FireWire, etc. Then the next step we have is the power supply, which should slide in very easily. Then plug in all the power cords as you need them. The last card is the video card, which only goes in one way. Then lastly run all of the cords, and I would have my computer built besides running windows.

C. Why I chose these parts:

I always imagined that if I took the time and put in the money/effort to build my own computer, then I would make it an awesome one. So I chose alot of what I thought were the best parts. Starting with a cool looking tower, and on to a mother board that has everything I would need. The RAM would be awesome with keeping up with games. The video card is also up to gaming standards. I added the blue-ray disc burner just because I thought it was cool. That is pretty much it. If I were to build a computer myself I am thinking it would be one of the best.

I thought that it was actually pretty cool that computers use only two numbers to read/process information. However, when it came down to actually using binary code myself , it became a little less cool. My friend was actually the one who helped me see it clearest. He explained that you can look at the binary number and go right to left just adding as you go to get your regular number.

For exaple: we know we have the 2 base 128-64-32-16-8-4-2-1. So when you have a 1101, you simply go from right to left adding; 1+0+4+8= 13. I do not know if that helps anyone else, but it definitely helped me.

What really stumped me was the hexidecimal system. It was hard enough learning the basic 2-base let alone the 16-base. I am working on it now trying to make at as easy as possible.

I hope my blog made sense to everyone. I tried to explain as best as possible, and look forward to reading other blogs to help with my hexidecimal issues…

I am currently completing my last semester at Pellissippi, and then it is off to UT. I am majoring in Turfgrass Science Management. As far as hobbies go; I go to fort sanders gym and play disc golf just about every day. I do not really have many websites i go to regularly.