Touchpad Prime Ver. 2.1 Class 8

By Bhawna Sharma

Computer Science Textbook Designed for Joyful Learning

KEY FEATURES
- National Education Policy 2020
- QR Code: Scan the QR Code given on each chapter to start chapter animation.
- Fun Fact!: This presents a fact about the topic.
- Computer Ethics: This section describes the best computer practices to develop conscious thinking.
- Group Task: This section focuses on peer learning to improve coordination.
- Soft Hint: This section provides technology specific knowledge to students, keeping them up to date.
- Digital Resources

DESCRIPTION
Touchpad Prime (Version 2.1) is based on Windows 10 and MS Office 2016. The books have been designed in such a way that teachers can use them as tools to integrate computer science with other subjects and skills. The chapters introduce the concepts in a simple and easy to understand language that helps the students to learn the concepts easily.

The content has been developed using a conversational style for the young generation to make it an interesting read. There are three characters found in the chapters discussing various topics to make the learning process more interactive for the student.

In order to emphasize on the use of concepts in this book, "Mind Drill" has been added to challenge students and encourage learning. Mind drill contains different sections to engage the students in meaningful learning process, such as Rapid Fire, Evaluation Time, Activity Time, Hands-On, Find Out, Group Task and In the Lab. This book also incorporates elements like Warm Up, Fun Fact, Soft Hint, Word Bank, Let’s Revisit, Computer Ethics as important tools to enhance teaching-learning process.

WHAT WILL YOU LEARN
You will learn about:
- Fundamentals of computers
- ICT Tools
- Computational Thinking
- Computer Networking
- Photoshop CC
- Python
- Robotics and AI
- HTML
- Access 2016




WHO THIS BOOK IS FOR
Grade - 8

TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Latest Technological Developments
2. Computer Networking
3. Working with Access 2016
4. More on Access
5. More on HTML
6. Introduction to Photoshop
7. More on Photoshop CC
8. More on Python
9. Loops in Python
10. Robotics and AI
11. Project
12. OGO Cyber Sample Questions

• Language: English
• Publisher: Orange Education Pvt Ltd
• Release date: Nov 20, 2021
• ISBN: 9789390475643

Book preview

Yesterday, I watched a movie in which many robots worked like humans. They could communicate, learn and sense. Is it possible for a machine to work similar to human being?

Yes, it is possible for a machine to work similar to human being with the help of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics.

In today’s rapidly changing world, technology has played a major role. Newer technologies are evolving every day across the globe. To keep ourselves updated, it is important for us to know about the latest technological developments. In this chapter, let us upgrade our knowledge about some latest technologies.

There are a number of latest technological developments. Some of them are Artificial Intelligence, Intelligent Apps, Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality, Internet of Things, 3D Printing and Robotic Process Automation. Let us learn about these.

Artificial Intelligence

You have already read about Artificial Intelligence in earlier classes. AI is the branch of computer science that aims at creating expert and intelligent computer systems that simulate certain human qualities such as, learning, reasoning, communicating, seeing, hearing, and sensation. So, AI is used to create intelligent machines that help us. AI is a part of almost everything we use today such as smartphones, cars, and banks.

Some main areas of application of AI are:

Expert system: It can be defined as a communicating computer program that can solve problems which would otherwise require human assistance. These programs replicate the reasoning process of experts in certain areas. For example, PROSPECTOR was the first expert system that analysed geological data to identify and locate mineral deposits.

Natural Language Processor: It is the method by which computers can recognize and understand spoken or written human language. Speech recognition software are an example of NLP where computers translate spoken speech into text.

Natural Language Processor

Intelligent agents: It is a type of computer program that has built-in intelligence which keeps a check on the work patterns, asks questions and performs tasks on the behalf of the user. The simplest example of intelligent agents is surfing the Internet. What happens when we search for something on the Internet? The intelligent agent searches the Internet and the available databases for information and compiles the result for you after filtering it based on your previous surfing history.

Intelligent agents

Pattern recognition: This type of software comprises a camera and software which together identify repetitive patterns and establish connections between the patterns stored in the database and the perceived patterns. Facial recognition software, video surveillance cameras, fingerprint identification, and automatic voice recognition software are some examples of pattern recognition software.

Pattern recognition

Robotics: Shakey was the first robot to use AI to navigate. It was developed in 1970. There are so many robots that use AI such as Rosie and Roscoe are used in hospital to supply medicines, Robodoc performs hip implant surgeries, Roomba and Scooba can do housework such as cleaning the floor, etc.

Robotics

Intelligent Apps (I-Apps): Intelligent Apps are software written for mobile devices based on artificial intelligence and machine learning technology, aimed at making everyday tasks easier. This involves tasks like organizing and prioritizing emails, scheduling meetings, logging interactions, content, etc. Some familiar examples of I-Apps are Chatbots and virtual assistants.

Intelligent Apps

Augmented Reality and Virtual Reality

Although the term Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) are taken together here, there is a distinct difference between the two.

Augmented Reality

Augmented Reality is the blending of Virtual Reality and real life. AR is using technology to superimpose information such as sounds, images, and text on the real world that we can see. Images are created by developers within applications that blend in with content in the real world. AR users can interact with virtual content in the real world and can also distinguish between virtual and real content.

AR is not a new technology. It was used in the display panels of fighter aircraft in the 1990s. The panel displayed information about the altitude, direction and speed of the aircraft. A few years later the panels displayed the target objects.

In 2009, Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s developed SixthSense. It is a small device that is worn like a pendant and combines the use of a camera, small projector, smartphone, and mirror. The projector and the camera are connected to the mobile device in the user’s pocket. The projector projects the visual information on physical surfaces such as walls and other objects. The camera recognizes and tracks the user’s hand gestures with the help of computer-vision techniques.

Google Glass

Google Glass created in 2013 is an example of wearable AR interface. It helps the user to remain focussed on the work. It displays on the user’s glass screen through a small projector. It responds to voice commands to activate an application any time.

Star Walk app

AR enters the lives of most people through phones and tablets. Vito Technology’s Star Walk app lets a user point their phone or tablet camera at the sky and see the names of stars and planets superimposed on the image. One more app called Layar uses the GPS location of the smartphone and the camera to collect information about the user’s surroundings. The app then shows information about the nearby restaurants, stores, and places of interest.

Disney Research developed a coloring book with AR. After the user colors in a character in the book, he / she launches the app on the device. The app uses the camera to detect the character that was colored. The app also uses AR to recreate the character in a 3D form on the screen.

Coloring book

Virtual Reality

In Virtual Reality, we create a virtual world that users can interact with. In this world, the user cannot easily distinguish between what is real and what is virtual.

Head Mounted Display

In both VR/AR, people must wear HMD (Head Mounted Displays) or a VR Headset-like Oculus Rift or the Google Cardboard. The headset has two small video display screens one for each eye. This creates the sense of three-dimension. You can also wear headphones and gloves to experience VR and AR. The headphones play stereophonic sound or even 3-D sound so that feel that you are hearing sounds not only near the ears but also in various places all around you. The gloves have sensors to collect data about your hand movements. This equipment and the software give you interactive sensory feelings similar to real-world experiences.

We must remember that the journey of VR started in the 90s with the Nintendo Boy but it really did not catch on. Now the case seems different as the means of experiencing AR/VR has become less expensive. Also, there is a lot more to offer and we are all connected all the time via our smartphones.

VR Simulator devices represent the behaviour of physical or abstract systems. VR Simulation technology is used a lot in training. They are used to train bus drivers and pilots. Surgeons can develop their surgical skills through simulation on digital patients. Architects can create a walk-through model of their projects. VR therapy is used to treat autistic children and phobias.

Internet of Things (IoT)

Internet of Things (IoT) has become a buzzword nowadays throughout the world. It is a system of connected computing devices, mechanical and digital machines for creating a virtual network where a monitoring center ensures that everything is working smoothly. Each connected device has a unique identifier and can transfer data over the network without any human intervention. The connected devices gather and share data about their usage and their operative environment. The devices can be your smartphones, refrigerators, televisions, washing machines, etc. You must have heard about smart cities. They can be developed with optimized waste management system, traffic system, and efficient energy use by IoT. A lightbulb that can be switched on using a smartphone app, a motion sensor or a smart thermostat in your office or a connected streetlight are examples of IoT devices.

Neil Gross famously said in 1999—In the next century, planet earth will don an electronic skin. It will use the Internet as a scaffold to support and transmit its sensations.

Mimo monitor

The concept of IoT has unbelievable potential in many businesses and industries. To check on SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome), the Mimo monitor is a new kind of infant monitor that provides parents with real-time information about their baby’s respiration, skin temperature, body position and activity level on their smartphones.

You can monitor an aging family member by using a wearable alarm button and other wireless sensors placed around the home. The BeClose system can track your loved one’s daily routine and give you peace of mind for their safety by alerting you to any serious disruptions detected in their normal schedule.

Smart thermostats

Smart thermostats like the Nest–use sensors, real-time weather forecasts and the actual activity in your home during the day to reduce your monthly energy usage by up to 30%. Keeping you more comfortable and offering to save you money on your utility bills.

IoT is here to stay and expand. Many new utilities with rich functionality can be built which will revolutionize our lives. Think of driverless cars and an automatically managed traffic system using IoT sensors, which result in zero accidents. Truly, in the world of IoT, only our imagination is our ultimate limit.

3D Printing

3D Printing technology

3D Printing or 3-Dimensional Printing is a technology which was first developed at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) in the 1980s. It is the process of making a physical object from a three-dimensional physical model. In this technology, we use the 3D digital data on the computer to build 3D objects by adding layers of material which could be polymers, metals, concrete or even plant and human