computer project

Ask questions about projects relating to: computer science or pure mathematics (such as probability, statistics, geometry, etc...).

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avishkar
Posts: 2
Joined: Tue Mar 06, 2012 7:39 am
Occupation: student; 8th grade
Project Question: what computer project could i do for science fair
Project Due Date: 9 april 2012
Project Status: I am just starting

computer project

Post by avishkar »

hey guys, :mrgreen:
any idea what i could do for my computer project in grade 8 :?:
hhemken
Former Expert
Posts: 266
Joined: Mon Oct 03, 2005 3:16 pm

Re: computer project

Post by hhemken »

avishkar,

What are your personal interests? What are your hobbies? Do you know any programming languages? What operating system is on your computer?

In order to get a programming project to successful completion, you have to be more or less excited and passionate about what it's going to do. If it solves a problem for you, or does something that will help you a lot in one of your hobbies, or if it is simply going to be fun to use, that will be your main driver.

So, what do you want to do?

Heinz
Heinz Hemken
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Science Buddies Expert Forum
avishkar
Posts: 2
Joined: Tue Mar 06, 2012 7:39 am
Occupation: student; 8th grade
Project Question: what computer project could i do for science fair
Project Due Date: 9 april 2012
Project Status: I am just starting

Re: computer project

Post by avishkar »

My laptop runs windows 7 professional 32-bit, I currently dont know any programming languages. It would be great if it could do something like calculate the power (foot pounds) of an air rifle pellet of "x" weight travelling at "x" speed. or something that could help with fish keeping. It would be great if you could give me a c++ code to create 1 of these.
thanx :mrgreen: :D
hhemken
Former Expert
Posts: 266
Joined: Mon Oct 03, 2005 3:16 pm

Re: computer project

Post by hhemken »

avishkar,

You have to write the code, that's the fun part! Anyway, that sounds like a good project that you will successfully finish.

I don't think C++ is the right language for the project. There are a lot of issues that might needlessly distract you, and it would be hard to show something cool at the end. I would recommend JavaScript (a.k.a. ECMAScript). The cool part is that your program will be integrated into a web page that should be viewable in any browser. You can even put it in a web page hosted for free at places like wordpress.com so that the whole world can see and use it.

Have a look at this:
http://www.itworld.com/storage/254444/k ... r-language
https://www.google.com/search?q=learnin ... javascript
http://jquery.com/
http://code.google.com/p/flot/

Beware! Keep it simple! Don't get lost in programming issues that don't have to do with your project! The air rifle problem sounds like you just need to allow people to plug values into an equation and have the program spit out an answer. That can be done with an HTML form to input the values and press a button (or have JavaScript detect the entries) and then show the answer on the page. JavaScript is exactly the right tool for such a thing.

As to something with fish, you could also create forms where people plug in values for common everyday fish calculations (I know nothing about such things, though) and have the form provide the answer. Temperature conversions, salinity, pH, I don't know what sorts of things are involved, but I suspect you do.

Good Luck!

Heinz
Heinz Hemken
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hhemken
Former Expert
Posts: 266
Joined: Mon Oct 03, 2005 3:16 pm

Re: computer project

Post by hhemken »

avishkar,

Here's something more philosophical but interesting and relevant to new programmers:

http://inventwithpython.com/blog/2012/0 ... o-program/

Python is not as good a fit as JavaScript for your project, but the overall message is equally relevant to JavaScript.


Heinz
Heinz Hemken
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