Embedded Files
In this intro assignment to networking, for the people new to computers we were introduced to the different software and hardware parts of a computer, as well as basic communication between protocols
the goals I had were to:
1) Describe the software process required for a computer to run
2) Design the hardware flow for a computer to run
3) Culminate in a mixed hardware/software of an entire system doing specific processes (printing a paper, sharing a file)
and for silent signals
1) communicate basic information, for example numbers
2) communicate more advanced information, for example dates/times
3) establish a way to reliably communicate information quickly with new partners
Planning and Development
Before starting to place the cards down, I had to know what they all meant. Thanks to prior knowledge, I understood all of the hardware cards and most of the software. I did have to learn some of the cards, like the security layer, file system layer, and network stack layer. The worksheet we did had a reading on all the cards, and taught me how security keeps every program running in an almost isolated box, and how the file system layer organized and communicated data between applications.
For silent signals, we were given a small square, blue on one side and white on the other. Using ONLY that square, we were to communicate information. One of my early plans in it was using counting up using movements, for example flipping the card to count, 3 flips meaning 3. also moving the card to represent things, e.g. when asked if we liked mountains or beaches more, I moved my card in the shape of a mountain
Technical Development
for the cards, I started based on the notes we were given in class. There were some clear "this has to come before this" (powersupply comes first to allow everything else to run, the computer has to start (POST/run UEFI) to allow software to run) which laid the baselines, and then there was usally a "spine" that I didnt have enough arrows to connect to (Motherboard, OS). After laying out these 2 basic parrts, it was just a matter of connecting everything else in the right order
Work Gallery
Hardware Alone
Software Alone
Specific software, printing a paper
Combined, printing a paper
Testing and Evaluation
Comparing my component cards to Arshia's we had very similar takes problems. we both came to the conclusion that the cpu and os were the heavy lifters of software and hardware. We also agreed mostly on the order, but took it in different, but both right ways.
For the silent signals, the evaluation of the "protocols" we came up with was partnering with new people and seeing how quickly we could understand the others. My partner was really movement based, for example placing the card over nunmbers in the keypad to communicate those. I quickly understood his, and he quickly understood mine, although it was less "powerful" than his.
Reflection
This Assignment was pretty easy thanks to my in depth use of computers. I built my home computer, have upgraded parts over time, even added a WiFi 6E network card to it recently. I have also done work for the computer lab, replacing computers or upgrading them. Thanks to that, I was easily able to understand where the components fit together on the computer scale, and what needs to do what to make stuff happen.
For the Silent Signals, it showed how hard coming up with a standard is. Everybody had their own ideas on the limits of what we could do (as if we were computers with different tiered specs), how we should do it (akin to wifi and bluetooth both being 2.4ghz but entirely incompatible). We all had to do a "Handshake" to agree on how to do things, just like computers doing this for the communicate speed and similar details. The rectangle itself was also made to be used in just the way computers do, having 2 sides, just like how computers only have 2 bits, on or off.
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