My Science School

To use the computer to its optimal potential, we need to install various software that let us perform different tasks such as word processing, accessing the Internet, and watching videos. The Operating System, which helps users interact with the computer, is also a software.

While some software come pre-installed with a laptop or desktop, some are expensive, making them inaccessible.

What is software piracy?

In simple terms, software piracy is the illegal copying, use or distribution of a software. Most software, except open source ones, is copyrighted. When you buy a software, you become a licensed user of the software comes with it’s own terms and conditions of usage. When these are breached, and you start using the software for your own profit by illegally circulating it, you indulge in software piracy.

Types of software piracy

Software piracy is practiced in different ways. Some of these are:

Softlifting: Also called softloading, this is the most common type of software piracy. Softlifting means sharing a program with someone who is not licensed to use it. For example, if you share your licensed Microsoft Office Software CD with your friend when it mentions it is licensed for only one computer, you are involving in softlifting.

Counterfeiting: Another common type of piracy, this involves creating duplicates of the original software and selling them for profit.

Online/Internet Piracy: One of the fastest growing forms of piracy, this involves copying of a software and putting up the file on the Internet for download. There are many sites that let you download pirated versions of software. Be aware, as much as the person who uploads the software online, the person who downloads it is equally guilty when it comes to piracy.

Hard disk loading: This is usually committed by hardware dealers who load an unauthorized copy of a software on the system and sell it to the end user.

OEM unbundling: In this form of piracy, one usually sells a stand-alone software from a bundle of software. For example, Adobe suite is a bundled software. If someone sells you just Adobe Photoshop from it, it is known as OEM unbundling.

 

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A new research from the University of Washington in Seattle, the U.S., revealed that one need not necessarily excel in Maths to be a coder. According to the research, a natural aptitude for learning languages is a stronger predictor of learning to programme than basic math knowledge. This is because writing code also involves learning a second language and the ability to learn that language’s grammar and vocabulary.

The study had examined the neurocognitive abilities of more than 30 adults as they learned a programming language called Python. Following a series of tests that assessed their executive function, language, and math skills, participants also complete a series of online lessons and quizzes in Python.

Those who managed to learn the programming language faster and with greater accuracy tended to have a mix of strong problem-solving skills as well as language abilities, stated the findings published in the journal Scientific Reports.

Maths has always been considered one of the most important skills when it comes to coding. However, this new study states while mathematical skills are important, there are other skills, apart from the aptitude to learn a new language, which are equally important.

If you wish to become a coder, here are a few skills you should develop:

Problem-solving: One of the most important soft skills required to be a programmer is problem-solving because a programmer’s key role is to solve a problem. If the boss wants to know what the users are reading through in the site, the programmer needs to solve the problem by writing a code that instructs the computer to track user clicks.

Logical reasoning: The computer is a logical machine. If a+b=c, the computer will follow that logic. Hence, a programmer too needs to work on his logical reasoning skills to understand the workings of the computer and provide step-by-step logical instructions.

Good memory: ‘Practice makes perfect’ is a popular saying. But before you are close to perfecting your programming knowledge, you need to work on your memory skills. This is because programming involves the use of several keywords for specific tasks which need to be remembered.

Basic math: You don’t need to be an expert in math. But basic math, especially arithmetic and algebra, is a must since programs need to perform calculations at different points in time.

Communication skills: A programmer needs to be an effective communicator. Apart from being attentive and listening to the brief a client gives him or her, a programmer needs to effectively communicate what can or cannot be done when it comes to coding.

A keen eye for detail: Programming languages involve the use of several keywords and special characters. If one character is missing, then the whole program can crash. Hence, a programmer needs to have a keen eye for detail.

Curiosity: Being curious is an essential skill for a programmer. A programmer needs to ask questions and look for answers to ensure writing the best version of a program. So, are you ready to code?

 

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Today, if you find doing assignments on the computer easy, you have to thank Larry Tesler. Wondering why? For it was he who invented the cut-copy-paste command. Does it ring a bell? Be it students, teachers or working professionals, you could probably count the number of people in the world who wouldn’t have used the cut-copy-paste command. Actually, you might not find anyone at all because that’s how essential this command has become in today’s computing.

Who was Larry Tesler?

Born in Bronx, New York, in 1945, Larry Tesler was a computer scientist. Having graduated from the Stanford University, California, Tesler started working for the Silicon Valley in the early 1960s – a time when the computer was still inaccessible to a majority of people. He specialized in user interface design and worked for a number of firms during his lifetime, such as Xerox Palo Alto Research Centre (Parc), where he started his career, and Apple. Post Apple, he set up an education start-up and worked with Amazon and Yahoo for brief periods.

Tesler believed in making the computer accessible to people. He wanted to simplify its use to make it easier for people to operate it.

During his time at Parc, Tesler, along with his colleague Tim Mott, devised the cut-copy-paste command. The idea for the same was inspired by the old method of editing, where people would physically cut portions of printed text and glue them elsewhere. Tesler also came up with the find & replace command during his time at Parc.

The cut-copy-paste command was first incorporated into Apple’s software on the Lisa computer in 1983. After this, computers have only become more and more user friendly.

Tesler passed away on February 20, 2020. He was 74.

What do we thank him for?

Cut, copy and paste. These commands are an indispensable part of our lives today. Instead of typing out chunks of text, one could use these commands to complete the process in a fraction of time.

In Windows computers, to cut text, you can highlight the text using mouse and right click and select Cut. Alternatively, you could use the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+X.

For copying text, you would follow the same process and choose Copy instead from the list or use the shortcut Ctrl+C.

For pasting text, select Paste from the menu, or use the shortcut Ctrl+V to paste the text in the place you want.

Remember, when you Cut and Paste text, the text will no longer remain in its original place. Whereas, if you Copy and Paste text, you are creating a copy of the text, meaning the original remains intact.

 

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A chatbot, or chatterbot, is a computer program designed to stimulate conversation with humans. A chatbot usually has textual conversations with users, guiding them through simple processes. Sometimes, it is hard to identify who you are chatting with – a human or a robot. Many websites today use chatbots.

The term chatterbot was originally coined by computer scientist Michael Mauldin in 1994. Mauldin is the creator of Verbot, a popular chatterbot program.

The first conversational bot, however, was written in the U.S. in 1966. Implemented by Joseph Weizenbaum, a computer scientist of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the chatbot was called Eliza. The chatbot was so authentic that it misled many people it was human.

Advantages of a chatbot

Chatbots are a great help for businesses, helping improve customer service and personalizing communication. However, for a user, a chatbot can be a boon when it comes to getting immediate responses for queries. Most chatbots are operational 24x7, meaning you can ask it a question even at two in the morning and you will be served a response. A chatbot also comes in handy when you don’t have the patience to read through the Frequently Asked Questions. Most chatbots are equipped with answering the FAQs.

Chatbots are also linked to human customer service professionals. If it cannot answer your query any further, it will put you through to a professional, thereby ensuring seamless customer service.

How do chatbots work?

Depending on the purpose they are designed for, chatbots can be divided into two groups – simple, and trained/smart.

Simple chatbots work according to pre-programmed commands.

Usually, a developer writes a list of keywords and command for the computer program to look for and execute. When a user chats with such a bot, if the keyword is present, the bot will execute the command. If not, it might say something like “Sorry, I do not understand”.

A smart chatbot, on the other hand, relies on artificial intelligence to communicate with users. Instead of pre-programmed answers, this bot will offer you a list of suggestions based on what you key in. The smart bot also stores all the words and sentences you use for later processing to improve on its responses.

Chatbots and the Turing test

While chatbots are highly intelligent, they haven’t passed the Turing test as of 2019. The Turing test, developed in the 1950s by Alan Turing, is a test of a machine’s ability to exhibit intelligence equivalent to or indistinguishable from humans. Simply put, a human judge has a conversation with a human and a chatbot. If he can identify the machine, the chatbot doesn’t pass the Turing test.

 

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Ever since gadgets entered our lives, we have been addicted to them. Checking the mobile phone as soon as we wake up has become a part of our daily routine. Similarly, on returning from school, playing games on the computer has become a norm.

While the computer is highly useful for academic purposes such as project work, it is also used as a means of entertainment. However, constant use of the computer can take a toll on our health. One could instead use this time to channel one’s energy towards other interesting and beneficial things. Hence let’s see how taking occasional breaks from the computer can be rejuvenating.

The need to detox

Using the computer for long periods of time can affect the eyes as well as the body. The harsh light emitted by the monitor can tire your eyes and leave you with dark circles. The light is also said to affect sleep.

Besides, due to lack of physical activity, your body will feel much weaker than it is. You could develop poor posture that causes back and neck pain. Many people also complain of headaches and disorientation.

Another major health problem encountered by many of us today is obesity. Sitting in front of the computer for hours together can lead to weight gain. This in turn affects our heart and mind.

Ways to detox

So the best way to stay away from the computer is to to keep yourself occupied with other interesting things. Here are a few ways to detox and rejuvenate yourself.

Take regular breaks:

Don’t sit in front of the computer for too long. Have a sand clock on your computer table to remind you to get up and move around.

Take power naps

You could feel exhausted with all the things you need to do during the day. So, to relax, take power naps instead of playing games on the computer.

Read books

Books are our best friends. There’s a book for every mood. So, grab one and start reading during your free time.

Go out and play

With free spaces shrinking, make the most of the outdoors – go out and play. There’s nothing a good game with friends can’t fix. It’s one of the best stress busters.

Reward yourself

It can be difficult to detox. A reward is a good way to keep yourself motivated. Every time you do something other than using the computer, reward yourself with something useful.

 

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