What Is a Computer Anymore?

Here's a good question:  just what is a computer?  Perhaps more significantly, as new information continues to form at ridiculously fast speeds, what impact (if any) does this have on our understanding of what a computer is?

This article attempts to answer that very question.

http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2015/07/what-is-a-computer-anymore/399014/

- Svetty

Car Hackers (?!?)

Yep.  As is often discussed in class, any device that is connected to the internet somehow is susceptible to vulnerability.  As connectivity to the internet in a vehicle itself continues to increase as a convenience for car buyers (for instance, to stream Pandora through the radio console or to get live traffic updates), so too does the question arise as to what this could mean for hackers.

Read for yourself.

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/07/21/security-researchers-find-a-way-to-hack-cars/?_r=0

- Svetty

The 2015 Top 10 Programming Languages

For those curious "why Java" in today's economy and educational settings, check this article out:

http://spectrum.ieee.org/computing/software/the-2015-top-ten-programming-languages.

As a C-based language in syntax, Java remains prominent in providing students with solid fundamental skills necessary to broaden their programming experiences to fit the needs of their employer.

- Svetty

So What Exactly Is "Code"?

An excellent introduction to anyone who is interested in learning what "coding" is.

http://www.bloomberg.com/graphics/2015-paul-ford-what-is-code/

$10k Award for High School Computing

New $10,000 Award for CS Students: ACM/CSTA Cutler-Bell Prize in High School Computing

Dear CSTA Community,   CSTA is pleased to announce a new award aimed at recognizing talented high school students in computer science. The ACM/CSTA Cutler-Bell Prize in High School Computing seeks to promote and encourage the field of computer science, as well as to empower young and aspiring learners to pursue computing challenges outside of the traditional classroom environment. Four winners will be selected annually and each will be awarded a $10,000 prize and cost of travel to the annual ACM/CSTA Cutler-Bell Prize in High School Computing Reception where students will demonstrate their programs and discuss their work. The prizes will be funded by a $1 million endowment established by David Cutler and Gordon Bell. Eligible applicants for the award will include graduating high school seniors residing and attending school in the US. Challenges for the award will focus on developing an artifact that engages modern computing technology and computer science. Judges will look for submissions that demonstrate ingenuity, complexity, relevancy, originality, and a desire to further computer science as a discipline. The application period for the inaugural award is scheduled to open August 1, 2015 and close January 1, 2016. The inaugural awards will be announced in February 2016. Please share this exciting announcement with your fellow teachers and your students, and Good Luck!  View the full press release here.  Questions regarding this email? Contact customerservice@csta-hq.org

Ant-Man Challenge!

Check this out!

http://www.ant-manchallenge.com/learn-more.php 

- Mr. Svetlik

Online programming competition

Check out the details below on an online programming competition coming up soon!

HSCTF 2: A Programming and Cybersecurity Competition For High School Students HSCTF.com, an online programming competition, will run for the second time from May 17th to May 24th, 2015. HSCTF educates high school students across the country about computer science. Last year HSCTF ran with over 2000 students participating. Competitors in High School Capture the Flag (or HSCTF) will learn computer science skills, and use ingenuity to discover a series of increasingly hard to find "flags" encrypted, hidden, or otherwise stored somewhere difficult to access. While HSCTF includes topics such as computer security, programming, algorithm design, and programming language design. Prizes include several hundred dollars and Facebook swag. You can sign up for email updates at HSCTF.com.

For questions, contact Jacob Edelman, HSCTF Lead Founder and Organizer at jacob@HSCTF.com.