Computational Thinking

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• Thinking techniques SSO – Single Sign on
• Problem  Solution LTTS websites; WebEx
• Coding Login credentials
• Normal job (alarm  6:00 am) (username / empid - password)
• Does not Product1  company; LTTS account
• Multiple methods
• Battery / charge
• Settings correct Cyber …
• Set 1 more alarm for 1 min Lab exercise – fake website, accpt real user’s
• Check credentials
• Language / coding independent www.facebook.com
• Problem (day-to-day) WWW.FACEB00K.COM
• Solution COPYE MY LOGIN CREDENTIALS
• Thought process  flavors Database ..storing
• Solution (any of the programming language / syntax)
• Locality Natural language processing
• Newer location Keywords from a movie  rating
• 2BHK Good movie *4 bad movie *2
• Different rents ? *2
• Computational thinking
• Area – locality - rent Movie is Good ??  analyze make sense
Good *4 ?*2
Ambigous ans
Alexa  voice recognition
decompose this problem  my voice not clear / not audible
Computational thinking (CT)
What is Computational thinking
Foundations, Application, Impact, Explore more

Building blocks of Computational thinking

2 A’s, 3 A’s, Decomposition, Pattern recognition, Abstraction, Algorithms

Deep dive
Problems & Solutions

Applying Computational thinking

Real-world examples

More on Computational thinking

Programming language mapping
What is Computational thinking (CT)
Password problem
• Multiple websites, Password expiry, Password repetition challenge, Strong-Weak passwords
• Methods / Solution
• Same password / Same pattern
• Writing down / Password manager
• Can I use Computational thinking?

Google Earth
• 2D & 3D view, Pegman, Location update, Famous / Common places, Transition
• Methods / Solution
• Satellite picture + enhancements methods
• Data storage / snapshot
• Can I use Computational thinking?
What is Computational thinking (CT)
Vehicle breakdown
• Causes of vehicle movement halt, flat tire, fuel, malfucntion
• Methods / Solution
• Call service, vehicle tow
• Self - experience
• Can I use Computational thinking?

Disease Spread Gizmo : ExploreLearning

What is Computational thinking (CT)

Password problem
• Multiple websites, Password expiry, Password repetition challenge, Strong-Weak passwords
• Methods / Solution
• Same password / Same pattern
• Writing down / Password manager
• Can I use Computational thinking?
• Identify the problem
• Can passwords be generated dynamic based on websites?
• Details of solution
• how to generate & maintain & scale the solution
• Simple repetitive solution
• Can this solution be simple, easy to use / recreate
• Security aspect of the solution
• Process to create / automate
• Algorithm approach
• Solution Evaluation
What is Computational thinking (CT)

Password problem
• Computational thinking?
• Facebook, Gmail, Yahoo, …
• faok, gmil, …
• koaf, limg
• koAf, liMg
• koAf8*, liMg5%

• Is it solution secure, simple, effective, repetitive, scalable, ease, evaluation?

What is Computational thinking (CT)
Applications
• Machine Learning
• Google Earth
• Game theory
• Nanocomputing
• Quantum computing
What is Computational thinking (CT)
Password problem
• Computational thinking?
• Facebook, Gmail, Yahoo, …
• faok, gmil
• koaf, limg
• koAf,liMg
• koAf8*,liMg5%

• Is it solution secure, simple, effective, repetitive, scalable, ease, evaluation?

Problem  Password Multiple pieces / Individual piece

Breaking to problem into smaller pieces Repetitive solution / approach

DECOMPISITION PATTERN RECOGNITION

Abstract output / Repetitive solution Repetitive solution / approach

Algorithm / automated Abstract / commonality

ALGORITHM ABSTRACTION
What is Computational thinking (CT)

Computational thinking
• not realistic to expect computers to solve every problem
• shouldn’t rely on computers to solve everyday problems (emotion analysis)

• is a way of thinking like a computer

• using a set process in which to break down a complex problem and derive the solution

• Decomposition
• Break the bigger problem into smaller components
• Pattern recognition
• Looking for patterns within smaller components
• Abstraction
• Focus on important details and ignore irrelevant details
• Algorithm
• Finding steps to solve the smaller problems which will then lead to a solution for the main problem
What is Computational thinking (CT)

Decomposition in Computational thinking

• STEM fields – Clear demarcation
• Non-STEM fields – not so clear demarcation

• STEM fields (1)

• Common ways of decomposing is to break down the problem by its structure, function, sequence,
dependence
• Structural decomposition consists of breaking down the problem into the sub-pieces and resolving each
one separately.
• Functional decomposition breaks the problem down by which functions are performed by which pieces of
the system, separating them so that each can be analyzed separately.
• Sequential decomposition determines the order of operations in a process or other sequence of steps
• dependence decomposition breaks down the problem by which parts are dependent on which other
parts.
• Each of these ways of decomposing a problem appears to be more effective in specific situations,
depending on what information is needed in order to resolve the problem
What is Computational thinking (CT)

Decomposition in Computational thinking

• STEM fields – Clear demarcation
• Non-STEM fields – not so clear demarcation

• STEM fields (2)

• One more way of decomposing is black box programming
• black box programming  aware of inputs, outputs, and relationships to other processes or systems may
be known, but whose internal structure is unknown.
• So prior to successful decomposition, are like black boxes, whose inner structures and relationships are
unknown to the problem solver

• Example
• Print “LTTS” in the center of the screen
• Inputs –
• Outputs –
• Relationship –
What is Computational thinking (CT)

Decomposition in Computational thinking

• STEM fields – Clear demarcation
• Non-STEM fields – not so clear demarcation

• Non-STEM fields (1)

• Focus is on substance and relation
• Strict Inclusion - X is a kind of Y
• Spatial - X is a place in Y; X is a part of Y
• Cause-Effect - X is a cause/result of Y
• Rationale - X is a reason for doing Y
• Location for - X is a place for doing Y action
• Function - X is used for Y
• Means-end - X is a way to do Y
• Sequence - X is a step/stage in Y
• Attribution - X is an attribute/characteristic of Y
What is Computational thinking (CT)

Pattern recognition in Computational thinking

• Pattern Recognition is the observation of patterns, trends, and similarities in information and often drawing
conclusions
• Pattern Recognition is the act of finding and understanding similarities in ideas and objects.
• It is a necessary problem-solving step as it allows us to skip having to consider every individual concept and
rather use previous experience and methods to efficiently and simultaneously deal with multiple objects and
come up with a re-usable solution.
• It helps us solve problems by looking at many similar subproblems instead of one complicated one.
• This means we only solve one problem using a procedure and the others can be solved with the same method

• Example
• SUDOKU
What is Computational thinking (CT)

Abstraction in Computational thinking

• First emphasizes the process of removing detail to simplify and focus attention based on the definitions:
• The act of withdrawing or removing something,
• The act or process of leaving out of consideration one or more properties of a complex object
• Second emphasizes is on the process of generalization to identify the common core or essence based on the
definitions:
• Process of formulating general concepts by abstracting common properties of instances, and;
• General concept formed by extracting common features from specific examples.
• central focus of abstraction is the process of extracting fundamental concepts of a complex problem that affect
the outcome of the solution
What is Computational thinking (CT)

Algorithm in Computational thinking

• Algorithms are step-by-step plans for solving problems.
• Algorithms can be designed using pseudo-code, flowcharts, written descriptions and program code
• Pseudo-code
• not a programming language
• simple way of describing a set of programming instructions in a manner that resembles a programming
language.
• has its own syntax, some of which is very similar to many actual programming languages.
• algorithms designed using pseudo-code will not run unless they are converted into an actual programming
language.
• Flowchart
• diagram that shows an overview of a program.
• Flowcharts normally use standard symbols to represent the different types of instructions
What is Computational thinking (CT)
What is Computational thinking (CT)

• Print “LTTS” in the center of the screen

• Decomposition
• Pattern recognition
• Abstraction
• Algorithm

• Decomposition
• Black box decomposition
• Structural decomposition
• Functional decomposition
• Sequential decomposition
• Dependence decomposition
LTTS
What is Computational thinking (CT)

• Print “LTTS” in the center of the screen

• Decomposition
• Black box decomposition
• Input – String / Numbers / Alphanumeric (data)
• Output – Display the data in center of screen (desktop / laptop / mobile) (display device)
• Relationship – Clear the Screen; find the center of the screen, display the data in the center of screen

• Unknows / Internals / Assumptions

• Display device; Configuration of display device
• Size & format of Data
• Display screen characteristics
• Multiplatform / platform independency
• Performance
• …
• …
What is Computational thinking (CT)

• Print “LTTS” in the center of the screen

• Decomposition
• Structural decomposition
• What pattern to display (…)  subproblem (4)  string / alphanumeric / small data / large data
• Relative position for pattern display (x-y movement)  subproblem (2)  LTTS is the first
character or center
• Display frequency  how long should the screen display the data (2-3-4)
• Device under test  device
• Data input for display
• Configuration of DUT
• DUT test setup
• …
• …
• ..
• ….
What is Computational thinking (CT)

• Print “LTTS” in the center of the screen

• Decomposition
• Functional decomposition
• Device under test setup
• Configuration
• Device setup
• Input data setup
• …
• Display data functionality
• Display style
• Display frequency
• …
• Data / device under test handling
• Freeing up the resources
What is Computational thinking (CT)

• Print “LTTS” in the center of the screen

• Decomposition
• Sequential decomposition
• Device setup
• Device configuration
• Device settings
• …
• Data
• Data pattern
• Data input
• …
• Data Display
• Display format
• Display frequency
• …
What is Computational thinking (CT)

• Print “LTTS” in the center of the screen

• Decomposition
• Dependence decomposition
• Data Display
• Display device setup
• Display format
• …
• Input data configuration
• String / alphanumeric / numbers / so on
• Input data handling
• …
• Data management
• …
What is Computational thinking (CT)

• Print “LTTS” in the center of the screen

• Pattern recognition
• Data management
• Input data
• Device under test
• Device configuration
• Display method / approach
• Display format
What is Computational thinking (CT)

• Print “LTTS” in the center of the screen

• Abstraction
• Data management
• Input data
• Focus on “required data”
• Ignore “whitespaces” “case sensitivity”
• Device under test
• Device configuration
• Focus on “Display screen resolution”
• Display method / approach
• Display format
• Focus on “continuous display” for predefined time
What is Computational thinking (CT)

• Print “LTTS” in the center of the screen

• Algorithm
• Pseudo-code
• “Identify” input data
• “Identify” device under test
• “Identify” configuration
• …

• Flowcharts

• Program Code
What is Computational thinking (CT)

• Problem Statement # 1
• Implementation of Biometric attendance / Access Card swipe

• Problem Statement # 2
• Any problem of your choice

Assessment
• PS No – Problem statement solution # 1  a%
• PS No – Problem statement solution # 2  b%
• Assignment in next week  c%
• MCQ based assessment  d%