Introduction to Alice Alice is named in honor of Note to Instructor: Slides may be used either in a traditional lecture format or with an Active Learning approach. If you are using an active learning approach, suggestions will appear in this "Notes" area on appropriate slides. Alice is named in honor of Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland

Alice A modern programming tool Animation Use the software from the CD 3-D graphics 3-D models of objects Animation Objects can be made to move around the virtual world (a video game or simulation implemented in 3-D) Use the software from the CD Can download Version 2.2 (or V2.3, V2.4 or V2.5) from the web www.alice.org

Programming Design a solution to a problem A program is Make the computer do what you want it to A program is A sequence of instructions – set of steps Sometimes done at the same time Sometimes done when an event occurs A way to communicate with others The end user Programmers Your instructor

Demo: Getting started Starting Alice Load and run a world Octopus (movie) Skater (interactive) Appendix A & B… Active Learning: Students start Alice, run FirstWorld and Dancing Bee(from Appendix A worlds)

Kinds of Animations Two kinds of animations: Movie Interactive Passive user watches the animation Interactive Active user clicks on mouse, types a key on keyboard … Actions of user are called events Mixed or minimally interactive

Demo: A new world Create a new world File  New Choose template Go ahead and open Alice…

What’s on the Screen Trash/Delete Clipboard World View Events Object Tree Editor Details

Demo: Adding objects Drag the object into the world to provide the objects initial location. Active learning: Students open a new world and add objects to the world. A simple left-click places the object at the “center” of the world. The location & orientation can then be changed.

Techniques and Tools Mouse is used to Camera Navigation is used to approximately position objects in the scene Camera Navigation is used to set the camera point of view Drop-down menu methods are used to resize objects more precisely position objects in the scene Quadview is used to position one object relative to another object

Objects An "object" is How is an object unique? any thing that can be identified as unique from other things How is an object unique? has a (unique) name has properties: width, height, color, location can perform actions (methods): associated actions it can perform tasks it can carry out

Object Parts Objects may be composed of parts

Changing Parts – menu

Changing parts manually Select affect subparts Select what should happen to part Select part and drag mouse Undo is very useful when doing this

An aside on Undo/Redo Generally, I am a BIG advocate of undo. Alice hides many actions from the user If you click undo and… It “works” – this is true in most cases Great!!!! It doesn’t appear to have done anything Your last action may have several hidden steps I recommend… redo to get back what you just tried to fix Then, manually fix the problem Red-Screen  Alice world is screwed up. Stop working on that world and open one of your backup worlds (then File: Save as…)

3 Dimensions, 6 Directions A 3D object has 3 dimensions height, width, depth 6 degrees of freedom (directions of movement) Bounding Box tutorial Position and Move tutorial

Center of an object At the center of mass Where it stands on the ground Where it is held Where the designer put it!

An Odd Center Roll Tutorial

Class – An object description Objects are categorized into classes Each object is an instance of the class. All objects in a class have similar properties and generally can perform the same tasks. Person Dogs peter mary paul spike scottie fluffy

Galleries Classes (3D models) are found in the galleries Local gallery (installed with the software) Minimum or complete options CD Gallery (only if CD is in the machine) Web gallery (only if connected to Internet)

Demo: Saving a world Best solution: Writing and testing an animation is an intense load on the computing system – a crash can occur. Best solution: save your world every 15 minutes (Or at least every half hour) also save to a backup system (for example, a thumb drive) H: drive is not big enough for alice files Active Learning: Demo how to save a world in your local system. Students save FirstWorld.a2w to their own account/flash key/ or other device.

Key goals in the course… Implement a program or answer test questions that utilize basic terms and theories of the language to solve specific problems. Select tools and techniques such as data types and control flow when implementing a program. Write programs that demonstrate the synthesis and integration of programming ideas into an algorithmic design. Examine the results of the program to ensure it meets program specifications and works for all experimental input data.

A First Program One student approaches two other students, to speak with them. She invites them to a party They ask if they can bring anything She says, “maybe a snack”. The student then leaves to invite others The two invitees think about what they might bring.

Algorithm – a set of steps to accomplish a (specific) task Like a “recipe” for solving a problem Today’s problem: I would like to make chocolate covered strawberries for tonight’s party. I need strawberries, and Dipping chocolate Note that although several things might change in this recipe, strawberries can be trivially replaced with other foods.

Chocolate Covered Strawberries 1 lb fresh strawberries 16 oz dark chocolate chips 2 Tbsp shortening Inputs: Wash and dry strawberries In a double boiler, melt the chocolate and shortening, stirring occasionally until smooth. Holding them by toothpicks, dip the strawberries into the chocolate mixture. Turn the strawberries upside down and place on wax-paper for the chocolate to cool. Outputs: ?? We could separate out Preparation of item to dip Directions for handling the item How would the recipe change for: Milk chocolate chips? Oreos? Pretzels? Or, coffee beans?

Chocolate Covered __?? If necessary, clean and dry items to be dipped Items to dip 16 oz chocolate chips 2 Tbsp shortening If necessary, clean and dry items to be dipped In a double boiler, melt the chocolate and shortening, stirring occasionally until smooth. If necessary, hold the item by toothpicks and dip into the chocolate mixture. For small items, stir in. Remove, allowing excess to drip off when removing from chocolate. Place the item on wax-paper for the chocolate to cool.

Discovery v. Programming Programming is always intended to avoid unintentional consequences… My (dark) dipping chocolate is getting thick… I need to thin out the mixture I like milk chocolate So, stir in some milk (or cream)… Result? An attempt at fudge

Introduction to IT at SRU Help Desk http://www.sru.edu/offices/iats

Basics SRU is your ISP, RNA – dorm expert srunet is the campus net (separated from dorm net: resnet) On campus: H: drive, I: drive, java drive Off campus: sruWebAccess.sru.edu Anywhere: d2l.sru.edu, rockmail.sru.edu, mySRU.sru.edu SRU Citrix

Java Drive Special server for submission of CPSC homework projects Create a directory for each chapter Can only be accessed (for writing) from on campus Must map the network drive Select your course section & userid This space is shared by faculty and you

Let’s do it… Right-click My Computer Select Map a network drive… Choose any available drive letter (W: is shown) Type in the address – no spaces \\cpscstorage02\java$