1. 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

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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)

5. 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

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

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

8. 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.

9. 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

10. 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

11. Object Parts
Objects may be composed of parts

12. Changing Parts – menu

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

14. 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…)

15. 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

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

17. An Odd Center
Roll Tutorial

18. 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

19. 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)

20. 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.

21. 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.

22. 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.

23. 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.

24. 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?

25. 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.

26. 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

27. Introduction to IT at SRU
Help Desk

28. 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

29. 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

30. 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$