From cell phones to social media, computer science is a part of your daily life. Everything from traffic lights to medical devices requires both computer hardware and software these days. Creative problem solvers are using computer science to tackle social problems, improve agriculture, make great entertainment, and start exciting new companies. What could you create and innovate with a bit of tinkering and programming? Try your hand at one of these computer science projects to learn more about computers, program something interesting, or learn how to defend the cyber world. Whether you already know something about programming and computers or not, we have just the right project for you.
When you were little, did you ever make "music" in your kitchen by banging kitchen utensils on pots and pans? What if you could actually take those kitchen implements now, and play them with different sound effects? In this project, you can convert basic kitchen utensils into your own electronic drum set using the
.
Check out the video to see what this simple, but fun, project looks like:
This project requires use of a tiny computer called a Raspberry Pi and is fun and easy for even…
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Lights and music make a great combination! Getting sound and lights to complement each other just right helps set the mood for everything from DJ parties and concerts, to theater shows, the circus, and ballet performances. You can put together your own lights and music show using the
.
Check out the video to see what this simple, but fun, project looks like:
This project requires the use of a tiny computer called a Raspberry Pi and is fun and easy for even complete beginners. By…
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Have you ever suffered from poor Wi-Fi reception for your smartphone, tablet, or laptop? Certain materials can actually block a Wi-Fi signal; do you think that could be part of your problem? In this science project, you will do an experiment to find out which materials cause the biggest drop in signal strength from a wireless router.
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CompSci_p047
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Time Required
Short (2-5 days)
Prerequisites
None
Material Availability
This science project requires a wireless router and a smartphone, tablet, or computer with a Wi-Fi connection. See the Materials and Equipment list for details.
This is a good first-time programming project. You'll learn how to use JavaScript to create a simple program to alphabetize lists of words. You'll be able to run your program in your Web browser.
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CompSci_p002
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Time Required
Short (2-5 days)
Prerequisites
Familiarity with Web browser and text editing programs
Do you play video games on a console or smartphone? Have you ever wished you had the power to change how a game worked, or even to create your very own game? This project will show you how to make your very own video game and controller using the
.
Check out the video to see what this simple, but fun, project looks like. Of course, you can design the looks and gameplay of your game any way you like!
This project requires use of a tiny computer called a Raspberry Pi and is fun and easy…
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Did you ever have a favorite toy like an action figure or doll that could light up, make noise, or move? This project will show you how to make your own interactive toy using the
.
Check out the video to see what this simple, but fun, project looks like. The version you make does not have to be a robot; it can be any shape and have any sound effects you want.
This project uses a tiny computer called a Raspberry Pi and is fun and easy for even complete beginners. By following the…
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This project is a fun way to try your hand at programming. You'll learn how to create some simple animations, and you'll perform tests and make measurements to help you create more realistic-looking animations. All you need to get started is a Web browser and a text editor (like Notepad).
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CompSci_p012
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Time Required
Short (2-5 days)
Prerequisites
Familiarity with Web browser and text editing programs
This is a good first-time programming project. You'll learn how to use JavaScript to create a basic calculator program that you can run in your Web browser.
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CompSci_p001
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Time Required
Short (2-5 days)
Prerequisites
Familiarity with Web browser and text editing programs
Jpeg, bmp, gif, tiff ... do these just look like words that you and your friends might make up for your own secret language? They are actually just a few of the file formats (which means "types") that you can use to save your favorite photo on your computer. But does it matter which one you use? Try this simple science fair project to find out and you'll never choose the wrong one again!
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In this project you'll learn about how digital image files are encoded, and how digital images can be compressed so that the files take up less storage space and can be transmitted more quickly. You will also measure the quality of compressed and uncompressed images, which will give you important insights into the tradeoffs between file size and image quality.
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CompSci_p006
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- Less Details
Time Required
Short (2-5 days)
Prerequisites
Good computer skills; Project costs lower
depending on printing method and number of images printed.
