Today we started a new topic called peripherals.

We started off the lesson by discussing the point of interfaces. We learned that standardized interfaces were introduced so that people could mix and match peripharels from different companies. When apple came out the only peripharels that worked with their computers were also made by apple. This upset the customers and had to be changed. They later introduced usb ports so other add ons would work. However this meant that all their previous peripharels were uncompatible.

We learned about comparing and contrasting different computer products so that an educated purchase could be made for example looking at shape,size and price. To compare actual products we used the internet to try and find good computers to replace the ones that are already in the classroom.

We did this for the rest of the lesson.

Today we furthered yesterday’s lesson of arrays by discussing simpler ways to create programs by using arrays and providing examples.

Programmers prefer to count from 0 to 9, but we will count 1 to 10 as it is simpler.

Counting from 1 to 10 in play –
Dim IntAge(10)As Integer
Dim IntCounter As Integer
For IntCounter = 1 to 10
IntAge(counter) = InputBox(“Please enter number”)
Next

In the line “Dim IntAge(10) As Integer” the area where the 10 is – inside brackets – is where the programmer would enter the number of numbers they wish for the array to create.

When creating programs like this, only the programmer should be allowed to set number of items in the array to be created as if a user were to enter a high number such as one million the program would use a lot of space and eventually have the computer face problems with all it’s RAM gone.

“No_of_items = 100
Dim Name(No_of_items) as String
DimAge(No_of_items) As Integer”

The above code would create a simpler program because if any changes were needed all you would have to do is change one line of code.
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Array Output

Sometimes program code has to be written out for people who can not read a language such as Visual Basic. This is known as pseudocode. An example of how to do this is here –

Refining Step 3
3.1 For 100 Numbers (this would be seen as For Counter = 100 in VB_
3.2 Add current number to total
3.3 Next Number
3.4 Average = Sum total/100

Sometimes, these steps may not be clear enough and require a further explanation such as point 3.2, here we further it – Refining step 3.2
3.2.1 total = total + number

Refining Step 4

4.1 Display the sum of the number
4.2 Display the average
4.3 Display the values

Refining Step 4.3 –
4.3.1 For 100 numbers
4.3.2 Display Current Number
4.3.3 Next Number