Reflection Blog 5

My thought process for converting from decimal to binary is quite elementary: I simply count up in binary to whatever number I am trying to obtain. For larger numbers, I have relatively big binary numbers and their decimal values memorized to speed up the process. I use the same system of counting for converting from binary numbers to decimal numbers.

I might be able to use this approach to convert between other base systems by memorizing certain values within the system to speed up the process of counting up numbers. Simply counting up by itself is inefficient, thus memorizing larger values will help me to convert values faster.

Reflection Blog 4

My group's numbering system was composed of numeric values assigned to a particular shape, as follows: 

1 = Circle

2 = Triangle

3 = Square

In this numbering system, each pattern is assigned a 3-digit number comprised of the individual component's assigned values. For example, the pattern "Circle - Triangle - Square" would have a numeric value of "123" since Circle corresponds to 1, Triangle to 2, and Square to 3. One major challenge my group encountered while establishing this system was that we had difficulty describing how our system worked in words. We overcame this challenge by working together to create a set of clearly defined rules in our composition notebooks. 

One advantage to the system that my group and I established is that the 3-digit number counts upwards intuitively as patterns change in a logical manner. 

1. "Circle - Circle - Circle" = "111"

2. "Circle - Circle - Triangle" = "112"

3. "Circle - Circle - Square" = "113"

4. "Circle - Triangle - Circle" = "121"

5. "Circle - Triangle - Triangle" = "122"

6. "Circle - Triangle - Square" = "123"

7. "Circle - Square - Circle" = "131"

8. "Circle - Square - Triangle" = "132"

9. "Circle - Square - Square" = "133"

10. "Triangle - Circle - Circle" = "211"

...etc

One insight that I have gained from reading "Computation: A New Way of Science" is that computer science is much more relevant in today's society than it was a generation ago. In modern society, computations are used in almost all fields of study including engineering, science, commerce, literature, art, and music. 

Reflection Blog 3

     The protocol that my partner and I decided on for sending and receiving messages utilized the time loop that was part of the internet simulator. We decided to have the sender send messages at
the beginning of the time loop and the receiver receive messages at the end of the time loop.
     Collaboration impacted the development of my protocol because my partner and I were forced to cooperate in order to receive and send binary messages efficiently. We were presented with the challenge of establishing a system that would allow us to send and receive binary messages without error.
    No changes need to be made to our current protocol since we have tested our method several times without error or incident.

Reflection Blog 2

     The question "What did you do this week?" cannot be answered with a binary message because there are more than 2 possible answers to this question. A binnary message is a message that can only be one of two possible values. 

     We decided to send a message as a sequence of states (A and B) rather than modifying our devices to represent more states (State C, State D, State E, ...) due to the fact that sending messages as a sequence of states opens up more possible types of answers while not over complicating the system of messages. 

     Collaboration impacted the development of my protocol because my partner and I were forced to cooperate and jointly come up with a system of messaging using our device (flashlight). Working in a group presented us with several different challenges, such as the fact that my partner and I had to be open to each other's ideas without only focusing on our own. Ultimately, collaboration positively impacted my final product due to the fact that my partner and I worked together to establish the most efficient system of messaging we could come up with. 

Reflection Blog 1

     Artificial Intelligence is a possible technological innovation for the 21st century. I think that there is a need for this innovation to come about in modern society because AI will be able to process many different types of trivial tasks at a significantly faster pace relative to humans.
     The dangers of AI being used for malevolent purposes is one barrier that may hinder the realization of this innovation. However, if we prototype different versions of AI and allow its access to the general public, it will be more difficult for a group of people to use AI for malevolent purposes due to the fact that everyone would have access to this same potential.
     Many other fields besides technology, such as business, architecture, and psychology, can benefit from innovation and prototyping. Businesses can prototype models of marketing/sales while psychologists can prototype systems of therapy.