Scratch

Greatdane · 2009-11-14 22:39:33

Yes, this is true. I am actually making a topic to clear away that 'OMG I WANT SCRATCH ON MY ITOUCH' or 'WHAT THE I CAN'T LOOKMK AT PROJECTS!!!!!!!!!!". Trust me, it actually happens.

So welcome to:

The Computer
(Everyone should know this)

Part 1: The Computer

Most Scratchers don't know the difference between hardware and software.

What do YOU think when you think of a computer? A big box going 'beep bop' or something like that, right? Well, that's called the hardware.
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hard-wear, hardware: noun, things like RAM and hard disk that power a computer
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Scratch is something called software.
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soft-wear, software: noun, programs that run on top of hardware
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It runs USING the hardware. An operating system is software too, it's just the main software.

Think of your computer as a house.

You need to store stuff in it right? Well, you usually use a basement. For a computer, that is called a hard drive.
Sometimes, however, you need to access some stuff right away. For that, you use a closet. For a computer, it is called RAM(Random Access Memory).
Now, you need a something to maintain the computer and perform tasks. You use a butler or a servant. In a computer, a CPU processes information.

Now, let's look deep inside and really see how they work...
Computers are made up of something called a transistor. They are everywhere. They are made out of Silicon, a semiconductor. What's a semiconductor?

Something that can both conduct and insulate electricity.

Computers are powered by little electricity signals. A signal means 1, and no signal means 0. Hence the term:

There are 10 kinds of people. Those who understand binary and those who don't.

'10' in binary is '2'.

Now, back to Silicon. There are two kinds:
N-type silicon
P-type silicon or polysilicon
These make up a transistor. They are named NPN or PNP because the silicon is built in different ways. When a charge reaches a transistor, it uses another charge to determine whether to let it through or not. Transistors are organized into gates, like:

AND gates: if both of the two charges are on, then a signal is sent.
OR gates: if either of the two charges are on, a signal is sent.
NOT gates: if a signal is not sent, send one, and vice versa.

Yes, that is the basis for what you are using right now. 1 or 0.

Part 2: The Software

Software, as you know, is something that runs on top of hardware. You probably have an OS(Operating System) running right now, and it's probably something called Windows. There are three main Operating Systems:
Mac OS
Windows
Linux
Linux is free and open-source.
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o-pen sewrce, open source: adjective, software in which the code is free for all to use.
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Scratch is open source software. Now, let's talk about the web browser.

The almighty question:

What........................................ is the difference between Google and a Web Browser?

You probably don't know. tongue

Last edited by Greatdane (2009-11-18 20:11:06)

billyedward · 2009-11-14 23:32:03

... And what is the functional purpose of this post?

Greatdane · 2009-11-14 23:36:58

I'm working on it...

bendad · 2009-11-15 17:16:46

Here's something else: iTouch and iPhone are NOT computers so they can't have the normal programs. They have special software because it is special hardware. Scratch is not one of those special software pieces. That is why Scratch won't work on your iTouch.

Greatdane · 2009-11-15 17:32:34

Yeah. I'll add that.

songhead95 · 2009-11-16 21:26:42

bendad wrote:
Here's something else: iTouch and iPhone are NOT computers so they can't have the normal programs. They have special software because it is special hardware. Scratch is not one of those special software pieces. That is why Scratch won't work on your iTouch.

Interestingly enough though, they are built off of FreeBsd unix, like Mac OS X. Not enough people look far enough into this, but the squeak vm that the scratch source code is written in is available for a (Jailbroken) itouch/phone. find it at http://isqueak.org/HomePage/
I am pretty into computer science, but a lot of scratchers don't understand enough about computers.

Last edited by songhead95 (2009-11-17 07:49:31)

Greatdane · 2009-11-17 23:33:02

I know a lot, as you can see. tongue

That's cool! I'd rather prefer Android, however, because it is open-source and has enormous potential for more applications than the 'App Store'.

Jonathanpb · 2009-11-18 02:13:02

Hey! I've already done this (though in the Suggestions... more of those people will see it). Why Scratch won't be made for Xbox, Playstation, iPhone, iTouch, etc.

Chrischb · 2009-11-18 05:00:32

Jonathanpb wrote:
Hey! I've already done this (though in the Suggestions... more of those people will see it). Why Scratch won't be made for Xbox, Playstation, iPhone, iTouch, etc.

This is different. Your thread was about why it wouldn't be made, and this thread explains about the computer so people can understand more.

floatingmagictree · 2009-11-18 07:16:54

Good, this'll knock some sense into some people.

songhead95 · 2009-11-18 13:27:25

Wasn't there a version of scratch for samsung phones a lonng time ago? anyone remember that?

jacool · 2009-11-18 14:04:09

bendad wrote:
Here's something else: iTouch and iPhone are NOT computers so they can't have the normal programs. They have special software because it is special hardware. Scratch is not one of those special software pieces. That is why Scratch won't work on your iTouch.

I'm sorry but I can't agree with you...
I'll see what Wikipedia has to say about computers smile

Wikipedia wrote:
A computer is a machine that manipulates data according to a set of instructions.

When you're thinking about computers you're probably referring to Personal Computers or Super Computers.
But cellphones and MP3 players are actually also computers, they have a Processor(s) just like PC's, they have memory just like PC's, they have a storage system just like PC's and they have an OS just like PC's.
But a computer doesn't necessarily have to have an OS to be a computer...
The only difference is that MP3's players and cellphones are often smaller than PC's, they are not as powerful as PC's (even though they often are more powerful than very old computers) and the usage isn't really the same as a PC's.

There's even a special name for computers like MP3 players etc. they are called embedded computers.
But as you might know, cellphones don't fit into that category, they are just like any PC, just scaled down a little...
And there isn't really a size limit for when something can be called a computer.

I've made a 12 page essay about computers smile

Note: When saying the word "Cellphone" I refer to a modern, with other functions than just 'calling'.

Last edited by jacool (2009-11-18 16:24:19)

nerddownthestreet · 2009-11-18 19:05:33

Phones, iPod touches, etc. are a computers.

According to this page on dictionary.com, a computer is "an electronic device designed to accept data, perform prescribed mathematical and logical operations at high speed, and display the results of these operations.". Portable devices do this.

According to this page on Wikipedia, a computer is "A computer is a machine that manipulates data according to a set of instructions". Portable devices do this.

Portable devices run on Operating Systems, like PCs. The iPhone OS is even based on the Mac OS X XNU kernel (simplified: they have the same core).

iPhone 3Gs specs:
-has input (touch screen)
-has output (320 x 480 screen resolution)
-3G network card
-Wi-Fi 802.11b/g
-Bluetooth
-CPU: ARM Cortex A8 600 MHz
-Pre-installed web browser, media player, IM client
-Ability to install more programs

Sure, it may be slow compared to full computer specs, but you cannot deny it's a computer

gershmer · 2009-11-18 19:51:13

bendad wrote:
Here's something else: iTouch and iPhone are NOT computers so they can't have the normal programs. They have special software because it is special hardware. Scratch is not one of those special software pieces. That is why Scratch won't work on your iTouch.

1. Here's an iTouch: http://en.pasen.it/product_detail.php?id=23
Not an Apple product, for sure.
2. Define normal programs...
3. Define "special software" Just because something isn't a common OS doesn't make it "special"
4. ^ You say it is special software because it is specialhardware; an ARM-based processor rather than a PowerPC x86, or x86-64 is "special"?
5. You say "special software pieces", elaborate please.
6. Way to go for vague descriptions, I spent 4 points arguing your vagueness and general idiocy/you don't understand so you don't elaborate, you pretend to know exactly what you mean
7. How is an iPod touch (not iTouch, here's another iTouch for you: http://www.amazon.com/Logitech-967014-0403-Cordless-iTouch-Keyboard/dp/B00001RMDL) not a computer? What does it not do that a computer does?
It:
-Has a processor
-Has memory
-Can process things (processor + memory)
-Has an OS (but that actually isn't directly required to be a computer, just the BiOS is)
-Has storage space

gershmer · 2009-11-18 19:52:15

songhead95 wrote:
Wasn't there a version of scratch for samsung phones a lonng time ago? anyone remember that?

SoftBoard based on Scratch 1.1.
Not valid in the US, when it existed, btw.

jacool · 2009-11-19 02:04:58

nerddownthestreet wrote:
P
Sure, it may be slow compared to full computer specs, but you cannot deny it's a computer

I think it sounds weird to say full computer specs, since there is no limit for for something to have 'full computer specs', and iPhone is faster than a Z3 which is often considered as the first computer, but the Z3 is way bigger smile

Scratch

archived forums

#1 2009-11-14 22:39:33

The Computer

#2 2009-11-14 23:32:03

Re: The Computer

#3 2009-11-14 23:36:58

Re: The Computer

#4 2009-11-15 17:16:46

Re: The Computer

#5 2009-11-15 17:32:34

Re: The Computer

#6 2009-11-16 21:26:42

Re: The Computer

bendad wrote:

#7 2009-11-17 23:33:02

Re: The Computer

#8 2009-11-18 02:13:02

Re: The Computer

#9 2009-11-18 05:00:32

Re: The Computer

Jonathanpb wrote:

#10 2009-11-18 07:16:54

Re: The Computer

#11 2009-11-18 13:27:25

Re: The Computer

#12 2009-11-18 14:04:09

Re: The Computer

bendad wrote:

Wikipedia wrote:

#13 2009-11-18 19:05:33

Re: The Computer

#14 2009-11-18 19:51:13

Re: The Computer

bendad wrote:

#15 2009-11-18 19:52:15

Re: The Computer

songhead95 wrote:

#16 2009-11-19 02:04:58

Re: The Computer

nerddownthestreet wrote:

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