Paul Wang, Computational Thinking 8, A World of 1's and 0's. Photo at Kent Free Library Kent, Ohio, by photographer Matt Keffer.

Paul Wang - Computational Thinking

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The book From Computing to
Computational Thinking
can be ordered at: computize.org

Paul Wang From Computing to Computational Thinking.
Computational Thinking NAND Rules The World Paul Wang aroundKent Kent Ohio

The 8 Stages of the GAI Revolution

Paul S. Wang, Ph.D.

It is complicated to explain what Generative AI (GAI) is. Simply put, traditional AI are systems built to perform a specific intelligent task—such as facial/voice recognition, fingerprint matching, or self-driving. However, GAI systems are built to interact with people through natural languages, generating content and orchestrating many different tasks to achieve specific goals on their behalf.

Computational Thinking NAND Rules The World Paul Wang aroundKent Kent Ohio

Scams in the Digital Age: A Survival Guide

Paul S. Wang, Ph.D.

In an earlier article on Objectivity, we emphasized the value of staying calm, collected, and attentive to details. These qualities allow us to see situations clearly instead of emotionally. In the digital age, objectivity is not just good practice—it is a powerful defense against scams.

Computational Thinking NAND Rules The World Paul Wang aroundKent Kent Ohio

Cookies You Can’t Eat

Paul S. Wang, Ph.D.

We all love cookies, sweet and tasty! But here, we are talking about a different kind of cookie–the cookies used by websites and browsers. Such cookies are stored data to make your web surfing easier, more effective and efficient.

Computational Thinking NAND Rules The World Paul Wang aroundKent Kent Ohio

Computing Is in Your DNA!

Paul S. Wang, Ph.D.

In modern times, the term DNA is one of the most well-known and for good reason. We use DNA to store and pass on genetic information to the next generation. In fact, all known living organisms do it with DNA, including bacteria, viruses, plants, and animals.

Computational Thinking NAND Rules The World Paul Wang aroundKent Kent Ohio

A Chat on Smartphones

Paul S. Wang, Ph.D.

The concept of a smartphone began in the 1990s with devices like the IBM Simon (1994), which combined a mobile phone with a touchscreen, calendar, and email capabilities. Although basic by today’s standards, it laid the groundwork for future smartphones. A few years later, Palm Pilot was released.

Computational Thinking NAND Rules The World Paul Wang aroundKent Kent Ohio

Hello, How Do You Reboot?

Paul S. Wang, Ph.D.

Oh, no it froze again! I know how annoying it is when your computing device suddenly stops working, not responding to any input, from the mouse, touch screen/pad, or keyboard. You could call the help desk but that would be troublesome and very time consuming. Often, the help desk would suggest that you reboot your device.

Computational Thinking NAND Rules The World Paul Wang aroundKent Kent Ohio

This CAT Can See through You

Paul S. Wang, Ph.D.

We often say that computational thinking (CT) is important in the digital age and CT can even save lives. Here we talk about a different CT, Computed Tomography, whose sole purpose is to see inside your body as a medical tool. And this CT may very well save your life.

Computational Thinking NAND Rules The World Paul Wang aroundKent Kent Ohio

Computational Thinkers Do It Virtually

Paul S. Wang, Ph.D.

We say modern computers are universal machines. That is because a computer can do almost anything as long as a program can be written for it. Here we will focus on using computers to imitate reality through simulation. Computer simulation is a technique that uses computing to build models that mimic or imitate real-life systems in order to investigate, study, understand, gain experience, or otherwise deal with those systems.

Computational Thinking NAND Rules The World Paul Wang aroundKent Kent Ohio

TikTok Not the Problem: Data Privacy Is

Paul S. Wang, Ph.D.

TikTok is a popular short-form video app that has raised concerns about its potential threat to US national security, as highlighted by both the Trump and Biden administrations. The controversy revolves around data security and privacy concerns. In this article, we will delve into what TikTok is and explore the concept of privacy protection, which is crucial for everyone in the digital world, particularly for computational thinkers.

Computational Thinking NAND Rules The World Paul Wang aroundKent Kent Ohio

Let's Chat About AI

Paul S. Wang, Ph.D.

The recent media coverage of ChatGPT has once again raised the profile of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and people’s attention to this developing technology. But what really is AI? its goals, implications, technologies, and applications? Citizens in the digital age, computational thinkers in particular, should have a basic understanding and appreciation.

Computational Thinking NAND Rules The World Paul Wang aroundKent Kent Ohio

Don’t Stop–Do It Again!

Paul S. Wang, Ph.D.

The universe and the world around us work with rhythm and repetition. Sunrise and sunset; the seasons; you get out of bed, go to work or school, come back home and go to bed at night. Many things repeat regularly—songs and music have reprises, visual arts and architecture designs also use repetition of patterns, animals breath in and out, their hearts go on beating. All that is not surprising. But, what if I tell you that repetition is also a powerful way to solve problems?

Computational Thinking NAND Rules The World Paul Wang aroundKent Kent Ohio

Computer Programming by Chickens and Rabbits

Paul S. Wang, Ph.D.

The modern computer brought us the information age and a digital universe. Because it’s a universal machine, a machine that can be programmed to do anything computable, its impact on the world and civilizations everywhere is much more profound than any other machine. Thus, a clear understanding of programming is important for Computational Thinking (CT). Here, we will give a simple explanation of programming with an easy-to-grasp example. An appreciation of program writing can show us many effective ways to solve problems that are useful in different areas, even our daily lives.

Computational Thinking NAND Rules The World Paul Wang aroundKent Kent Ohio

Computational Thinking 15 - Time For Location, Location, Location

Paul S. Wang, Ph.D.

In the information age, a wonderful thing is the automatic navigation for automobile driving. This much appreciated capability results from the convergence of advanced computing and space technologies. The core technology is the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) that can precisely fix positions anywhere on/near Earth. In fact GNSS is a global infrastructure that enables applications in many areas, making our economies more efficient and effective.

Computational Thinking NAND Rules The World Paul Wang aroundKent Kent Ohio

Computational Thinking 14 - Face To Face With The Interface

Paul S. Wang, Ph.D.

Computers, the Internet, and the Web changed our lives in significant ways. We often can’t do without them. We control such powerful systems through their user interfaces to make them work for us. Interfaces are not limited to computers or computing. In general, the easier it is to control any given system through its interface the better. This article focuses on the interface from a computational thinking (CT) perspective, giving it the proper attention it deserves.

Computational Thinking NAND Rules The World Paul Wang aroundKent Kent Ohio

Computational Thinking 13 - Cache—Efficiency Thinking

Paul S. Wang, Ph.D.

The dictionary defines the word cache as “a store or collection of items kept in a safe place”. However in computing, cache is a technical term referring to a memory for fast storage and retrieval of data. In this blog post we are going to talk about the latter.An understanding of the cache concept can focus our attention on ready access and efficiency. Knowing how cache memory works inspires us to employ the same ideas to better manage businesses, improve our daily living, and even save lives.

Computational Thinking NAND Rules The World Paul Wang aroundKent Kent Ohio

Computational Thinking 12 - Encryption in The Digital Age

Paul S. Wang, Ph.D.

The Internet and the Web made the entire world a global village. Digital information travels at light speed making instant communication and interactions among people, near and far, a reality. Yet, because of their open nature, data traveling on the Internet and Web are subject to public view, making information security and privacy a real concern for almost everyone.

Computational Thinking NAND Rules The World Paul Wang aroundKent Kent Ohio

Computational Thinking 11 - Here Pattern, There Pattern, Everywhere Pattern Pattern

Paul S. Wang, Ph.D.

We communicate with patterns. Reading is to remember spelling or stroke patterns in a language. Speaking is to pronounce words in prescribed sound patterns. To understand speech, we must first hear and detect the sound patterns, connecting them to words, filter words through grammar patterns, then interpret their meaning in the right context. We can even think of the context as the overarching pattern containing the words.

Computational Thinking NAND Rules The World Paul Wang aroundKent Kent Ohio

Computational Thinking 10 - NAND Rules The World

Paul S. Wang, Ph.D.

Digital computers are logic machines. They use bits to store information. A bit is nothing but a switch with two states, on and off. In computer speak, we use 1 to represent the on state, 0 the off state. In logic speak, 1 is called true, and 0 false. Combining the two, a bit can either be in the state on/1/true or in the state off/0/false. In other words, inside the computer 1 means true and 0 means false.

Computational Thinking NAND Rules The World Paul Wang aroundKent Kent Ohio

Computational Thinking 9 - AI: Aiming for Intelligence

Paul S. Wang, Ph.D.

‍The term Artificial Intelligence or AI has seen wider and wider use, certainly in the past five years or so. Proponents say AI is the future of information technology (IT) and companies should get on the AI bandwagon. Tractica, a market research firm, forecasted huge market growth globally for AI software, expecting revenue to increase from about 10 billion U.S. dollars in 2018 to 126 billion by 2025.

Computational Thinking NAND Rules The World Paul Wang aroundKent Kent Ohio

Computational Thinking 8 - A World of 1’s and 0’s

Paul S. Wang, Ph.D.

We live in a world dominated by information technology (IT). IT is everywhere and enriches our lives in countless ways. At the very heart of IT is the digital computer. Digital computers use 1’s and 0’s, nothing else, to represent and store information. There are no exceptions–all data and all programming are coded in 1’s and 0’s.

Computational Thinking NAND Rules The World Paul Wang aroundKent Kent Ohio

Bitcoin is No Coin

Paul S. Wang, Ph.D.

The digital revolution has brought many significant and wide-ranging changes to our lives—both positive and negative. Understanding the pros and cons of digital technologies and knowing how best to make use of them are part of Computational Thinking (CT). The widely publicized and curiously fascinating Bitcoin, started in January 2009, is a case in point and our focus here.

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