1. Social networking tools (powerpoint extract)

2. Last time (1/26) We talked about Chapter 0 (algorithms)
Recall our definition of an algorithm
A set of steps that defines how a task is performed
Let’s look at an algorithm for processing the social tools survey results…

3. An algorithm for processing the survey
Goal – summarize this information
What would you do?
Let’s create an algorithm for writing a computer program to do this…

4. Creating an algorithm…
Identify the goal
Identify the inputs
Identify the outputs
What are the inputs?
What are the outputs?
Challenge
Computers are precise! Chapter 1 - 1s and 0s…
Humans can be (very) imprecise, unique, creative, helpful, mercenary

5. Examining the input more closely
Extra information…
“Response 1”
“Response 2”
Clutters up the info visually, but it also makes it hard for a computer program to process this data, too
Solutions?

6. Refining the input
Slimmed down easier to work with input due to preprocessing outside the scope of the computer algorithm
Still not good enough!

7. Refining the input
Standardize, common format
Now what?

8. Deciding on the outputs
Sample output using semi-accurate data
Problems?
different terms for same thing
people like pictures better than numbers
Goal
output response grouping together as much as possible in format we can import into Excel to make bar graph

9. Almost there … the algorithm in pictures
Again, I ask, what would you do?
How would you manually tabulate the numbers?

10. The algorithm Do the following for each term in the input:
Check to see if the term is already in the list. If so, then add 1 to the count
If the term isn’t already there, add the term to the list and set the count equal to 1
Output the list of terms along with their counts (comma-separated)

11. Now what? It’s time to implement the algorithm
In other words, it’s time to do some programming
Decide on a programming language
JavaScript

12. Run the program

13. Survey results – types of tools

14. Survey results – what groups?
Churches, church groups
On-campus groups (frat/sorority/stepsing)
Sports teams
Friends
Samford friends
Friends back home
Church friends
Facebook friends
Classmates
Coworkers
TRADITIONAL

15. Survey results – what groups?
Facebook friends
Facebook groups
Facebook networks
Xbox live
Online / Electronic
Facebook networks?

16. Survey tools – how do you communicate?
Same as bar graph +
in-person***
texting*
posters
“gin system”?

17. Survey tools – discussion
cell phone i text people more now then i actually talk to them in person
communicate with friends whenever I want
contact with my friends around the world via skype

18. Chapter 0, review cont’d
developing an algorithm for processing the social tools survey … in words
determine the goal
determine the input
determine the output
determine the steps to transform the input into the desired output
start at the beginning and add each term to a list of terms, or increment a counter if the term is already there … more formally on the next slide

19. The algorithm Do the following for each term in the input:
Check to see if the term is already in the list. If so, then add 1 to the count
If the term isn’t already there, add the term to the list and set the count equal to 1
Output the list of terms along with their counts (comma-separated)

20. The entire algorithm in pictures1 2 3 5 6 4