20 Questions

Today in class we played 20 Questions to think about artificial intelligence in computers and programs. First, we were thinking of a zebra and it guessed it in 17 questions. We tried again and it was still guessed in 17 questions. Then, we were thinking of Barack Obama which was guessed in 17 questions too. However,when we tried again with Barack Obama,we won. The program also guessed Monsters Inc. in 29 questions, Hannah Montana in 17 questions and Boston in 17 questions. We also won with Michael Jackson and the name Rascal. I think one of the reasons we won those few times were because of human error since we didn't know the answer to some of the questions that were asked. I think that it's really interesting that the program uses other peoples' responses from their past games to figure out what the person who is currently playing the game is thinking of.

Observations

It was very interesting to see different people's interpretations of the different reference pictures and how to translate them onto the software. Also, for peoples' creative pieces, it was interesting to see the different softwares that were used. For example, I used the rug weaver software but other people used the beading or basket weaving software. Overall, everyone did a great job on these assignments and they all look great!

Create Your Own Design

In class we drew patterns on graph paper and then graphed them on the computer. My design was too intricate for the software so I simplified it, and got this.

Virtual Mangbetu

Virtual Cornrows Curves

Virtual Rug Weaver

In this design, I used Linear Iterations to create a pattern. At first it was difficult, but then I got the hang of it and it was easier. From design #1 to design #3, I've become more comfortable in using the different tools that are available in the software to plot more than one point at a time.

Virtual Pacific Northwest Basket Weaver

To make this design, I plotted points by lines and rectangles, because it was faster than doing it point by point. This wasn't too difficult because it was easy to see the amount of spaces between the dark colored sections in the picture, so I could easily translate it into the software.

Virtual Bead Loom Project

Technology Current Event

New technology can be extremely helpful when a dire situation takes place. On October 5th, an Amtrak train in Vermont was derailed, and was in very bad condition, leaving 6 people injured. In order for authorities to respond to the derailment, they had to locate the train, and they did this with drones from the University of Vermont. The drones took many pictures that were geo-located, showing where the train was. Without these drones, the response may have been delayed, leaving people injured and panicked for even longer than they were. With our advanced technology, people who are in bad situations can easily be located, accessed, and rescued.

Article:  http://www.boston.com/news/2015/10/09/drones-used-during-response-vermont-amtrak-derailment/dkuyrRPKukQGsdeTcc9i8N/story.html?p1=stream_news