Computer Programming and Interactive Graphics

Learn the fundamentals of programming by implementing interactive graphics applications, from simple games to complex systems.
Teacher: Curran Kelleher

Want to learn how to bend computers to your will by telling them what to draw on the screen and how to respond to the mouse and keyboard? Ever wondered how computers can generate artificial trees, simulate water waves, or draw the Sierpinski Triangle? Want to know how to program Pong? …and make it work inside a Web page?

This course covers fundamental computer programming concepts and how they can be applied to create interactive graphical applications. Motivating examples are taken from the field of Complex Systems to demonstrate the power of computation combined with graphics and human interaction. Topics covered include simple games, basic user interface components, recursive geometric structures, cellular automata, and agent based models. Programming projects comprise the backbone of the course. The language is Javascript (and perhaps CoffeeScript), and the graphics system is HTML5 Canvas.

For the application...

Prerequisites

At least one high school geometry course.

Relevant experience

Any experience with geometry, trigonometry, computer programming, complex systems, graphic design, and gaming.

Application Question (Core-specific free response)

If you had the capability to produce any computer program you can imagine which draws something on the screen and responds to mouse and keyboard input, what program would you choose to create and why? What would it be capable of doing? Who would benefit from your creation? Would your creation benefit the world as a whole?