How is a photo transferred from one phone to another?

A photo is converted into a pattern of 1's and 0's which are sent from one phone to another by electric pulses. That pattern tells the phone receiving the photo how to recreate the photo by turning on and off tiny lights called pixels. Pixels make up the screens of all our devices.

Can you think of an example where patterns are used to transfer information?

Morse code is an example of patterns of dots and dashes that were used to transfer information. Today’s technology uses patterns of 1's and 0's to transfer information.

Do the number of pixels that make up an image have anything to do with how clear the image is?

The more pixels an image is made up of, the higher the resolution of the image and the clearer it will look.

How is music stored and played on a phone?

Music is stored in a phone as a pattern of 1's and 0's. The pattern is a code of information that is translated back to music by the microchip when it plays.

How does Morse code work to send and receive information? Explain.

Using Morse code, words from messages are translated to a pattern of dots and dashes representing letters and numbers. These patterns of dots and dashes are sent over long distances as pulses of electricity. On the receiving end, the dots and dashes have to be translated back into words so the message can be decoded.

How are Morse code and our current system of 1's and 0's similar?

Both Morse code and our current system use patterns made up of only two things to transfer complex information—Morse code uses dots and dashes and our current system uses 1's and 0's.

How are 1's and 0's used to create the smiley face on Dr. Jeff’s pixel grid?

Patterns of 1's and 0's are sent from the microchip to the lights, telling them which ones should turn on. Those that turn on are the ones that create the smiley face.

When Dr. Jeff shows the three images with different numbers of pixels, which is the clearest and why?

The image that uses 1,000,000 pixels to create the image is the clearest because it has the most pixels. The greater the number of pixels, the clearer the image.

How do pixels work to show a colored picture?

Pixels can be different colors. Instructions for the color of each pixel are provided in the patterns of 1's and 0's.

How is music played from a CD similar to music played from a phone? How is it different?

Both CDs and phones use patterns of 1's and 0's to play music. However, CDs actually store music as a pattern of holes (1s) and no holes (0s) on the disc. A CD player reads these patterns and converts them back into sound. Phones are more high-tech and store music as patterns of 1's and 0's on microchips.

When computer code is used to give computers instructions in a language they can understand, do programmers enter in patterns of 1's and 0's?

No. Computer programmers enter in instructions, called code, that is then translated by the computer into patterns of 1's and 0's.

How are patterns of 1's and 0's used in 3D printing?

Patterns of 1's and 0's tell the 3D printer when and where to lay down plastic. This plastic builds up to create a three-dimensional model. 2D printers use the same concept in two-dimensions.

Information Transfer

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What you will learn from this videoWhat you will learn

Patterns are used to communicate information electronically.
Text and images are transferred through a pattern of 1’s and 0’s.
Patterns of 1’s and 0’s are sent and received by microchips in our devices.
Music is also transferred through 1’s and 0’s, in both CDs and music players.

Discussion Questions
- Before Video
  How is a photo transferred from one phone to another?ANSWER
  - A photo is converted into a pattern of 1's and 0's which are sent from one phone to another by electric pulses. That pattern tells the phone receiving the photo how to recreate the photo by turning on and off tiny lights called pixels. Pixels make up the screens of all our devices.
  Can you think of an example where patterns are used to transfer information?ANSWER
  - Morse code is an example of patterns of dots and dashes that were used to transfer information. Today’s technology uses patterns of 1's and 0's to transfer information.
  Do the number of pixels that make up an image have anything to do with how clear the image is?ANSWER
  - The more pixels an image is made up of, the higher the resolution of the image and the clearer it will look.
  How is music stored and played on a phone?ANSWER
  - Music is stored in a phone as a pattern of 1's and 0's. The pattern is a code of information that is translated back to music by the microchip when it plays.
- After Video
  How does Morse code work to send and receive information? Explain.ANSWER
  - Using Morse code, words from messages are translated to a pattern of dots and dashes representing letters and numbers. These patterns of dots and dashes are sent over long distances as pulses of electricity. On the receiving end, the dots and dashes have to be translated back into words so the message can be decoded.
  How are Morse code and our current system of 1's and 0's similar?ANSWER
  - Both Morse code and our current system use patterns made up of only two things to transfer complex information—Morse code uses dots and dashes and our current system uses 1's and 0's.
  How are 1's and 0's used to create the smiley face on Dr. Jeff’s pixel grid?ANSWER
  - Patterns of 1's and 0's are sent from the microchip to the lights, telling them which ones should turn on. Those that turn on are the ones that create the smiley face.
  When Dr. Jeff shows the three images with different numbers of pixels, which is the clearest and why?ANSWER
  - The image that uses 1,000,000 pixels to create the image is the clearest because it has the most pixels. The greater the number of pixels, the clearer the image.
  How do pixels work to show a colored picture?ANSWER
  - Pixels can be different colors. Instructions for the color of each pixel are provided in the patterns of 1's and 0's.
  How is music played from a CD similar to music played from a phone? How is it different?ANSWER
  - Both CDs and phones use patterns of 1's and 0's to play music. However, CDs actually store music as a pattern of holes (1s) and no holes (0s) on the disc. A CD player reads these patterns and converts them back into sound. Phones are more high-tech and store music as patterns of 1's and 0's on microchips.
  When computer code is used to give computers instructions in a language they can understand, do programmers enter in patterns of 1's and 0's?ANSWER
  - No. Computer programmers enter in instructions, called code, that is then translated by the computer into patterns of 1's and 0's.
  How are patterns of 1's and 0's used in 3D printing?ANSWER
  - Patterns of 1's and 0's tell the 3D printer when and where to lay down plastic. This plastic builds up to create a three-dimensional model. 2D printers use the same concept in two-dimensions.
Vocabulary
- Morse Code DEFINE
- Decode DEFINE
- Radio Waves DEFINE
- Microchip DEFINE
- Pixels DEFINE
- Computer Programming DEFINE
- Computer Code DEFINE
- Transmit DEFINE
- Pattern DEFINE
Reading Material
DIY Activity Guide
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Assessment
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