Whilst your examples are complex, they aren't an order of magnitude beyond say the Sydney Opera House (using as an example simply as we once had a lecture from a partner at Arups which ran over to three hours... good times) which was computer modelled but oh so crudely compared to what's done today. Arups actually designed and commissioned the software to do the necessary calculations - it could have been done by hand, but would have taken an age, each strut and member having to be calculated by "hand" - at a blue sky guess it would have taken about 100 times longer using a calculator and a paper database, or about 20 times longer using exel of the time. In taking this direction we're still at the impasse of "a time saving device" for the original question and probably always will be so we should probably find new territory to romp around in. The one sentence that sticks more or less verbatim from that lecture was from the Q&A section could XYZ be built - I forget the details of the question, perhaps FLW's conceptual mile high tower, regardless, the answer was simple and succinct "With enough money and enough time, anything can be built." I like the idea of first designating what makes a computer - was Babbage's difference engine a computer, when does a calculator stop being a calculator and become a computer, there was an article on BT just a few weeks ago about a guy building his own 8bit computer from scratch - is it considered a computer by today's standards, or an antiquated curiosity?
I didn't mean to play down the importance of testing in my post - you've got to try things out eventually. It's just that CAE saves having to build something which may not work! It'd be nice to simulate a car crash test before slamming a newly built prototype into the wall, or check the lift of a wing section before booking scarce wind-tunnel time. Computing helps preserve resources. It also give engineers a bit more latitude to try more "out-there" ideas.
WHAT ARE YOU?! I'll post a proper response to this thread when I get back to my keyboard. My fingers have been tortured enough on this iPhone screen all day and are aching at the moment :/
hey guys, so I started writing the essay today and for one thing I managed to write about 500 words or so. Many of the posts repeat themselves one way or another and I did love Margos Post +rep. I don't think I have finished writing the essay and for the most part I think I could end it right now and have it pass. Hoping to send the assignment off this weekend. Should have done it months ago. Thanks for the input. Bit Tech to the rescue!!
You can do all this: write e-mail, spreadsheets - easy database and recordkeeping, word processing - nicer than a typewriter, powerpoint - provides easy way to reinforce a speech with graphics, internet access, entertainment - games, video, etc. The list is long.
I got my feedback today and u passed. I managed to get Margo's image incorporated into the final essay question. I just didn't add the last part of it just rep coming later today thanks again!
Well I referenced the location of the image on the web. I showed my girlfriend the image and she thought it was an awesome concept. The feed back I got stated that I defined why a computer is useful in the fullest extent possible. Thanks again
why is a computer useful in education i think this website describes it well http://www.raspberrypi.org/faqs raspberry pi wise anyway
