Swift & Physical Computing

In this course, students will program with the Swift computing language. Swift is a free, open-source  interactive scripting language that enables users to write programming for iOS computers, Apple TV, Apple Watch, apps for mobile devices, smart TVs and many others. As part of our explorations, we will focus on user-centered design and the user experience. By the end of the course you will use Swift to produce your own apps. For those with experience in other programming languages, we will compare the functionality of other languages to Swift.

In this course, students will explore the complex ecosystem of computer systems, the fundamentals of computer/information networks and computer programming including Swift. 

Swift is a free, open-source industry-level scripting language that enables developers to write programming for iOS (iPads, iPhones), Mac, Apple TV, and Apple Watch. As part of our explorations in Swift, we will address systems thinking, user-centered design, and building the user experience. For those with experience in other programming languages, we will contextualize the interaction between Swift and these other languages. Students will explore computer programming in the context of physical machines and how humans and machines interact.  Students will learn the basics of physical computing while working with simple circuits, open-source Arduino electronics, microcontrollers (Microbit, Makey Makey), robotics (Lego EV3 and/or VexIQ) , and other materials. Students will utilize hardware and software that can sense and respond to analog and biometric inputs (non-digital). We will explore wearable electronics as physical computers as well as deepen our exploration of autonomous machines with robotics.