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Programming… Explained

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Computers are running our world; they help us in school, connect us with our friends and family, and fit in our pockets! But what controls these amazing machines we use every day? Understanding the basics of what makes our computers function the way they do is powerful information. That is where the world of computer programming comes in. Simply put, computer programming is a way to instruct a computer to complete various tasks. Let’s break down this area of STEM a little more so we can understand how a major part of our world works.

The Basics

If we break down a computer, they can really only understand two types of data, on and off. Essentially this means when communicating with this type of technology we are relaying different combinations of on and off switches to result in different outcomes. Confused yet? This might be difficult to understand, but we have a lot more information to help you out.

The combination of on and off switches is known as binary code, which can be written using 1s and 0s. Binary code is grouped into bytes which are groups of 8 digits representing 8 transmitters (the collection of on and off switches).

However, writing code by using solely 1s and 0s is extremely inefficient and unrealistic, that is where coding languages come in. Different coding languages are essentially a set of rules on how code should be written and programmed. Some examples of different coding languages include; JavaScript, Python, HTML and Ruby– each language is designed to work for different purposes. For example, some are better suited to work for development, web design and even game design!

The Difference Between High-Level and Low-Level Programs

Low-level programming languages are closer to binary code and high-level programming languages are a lot less similar to binary code and much easier to work with typically. This means the high-level programming languages are closer to english, so they are easier to work with.  That is why most of the programming languages used by software engineers today are high-level.

How to Create a Command?

How do we take all of this information and turn it into real results? What does this process look like, and can anyone do it? Well the answer is creating a program/line of code to instruct a computer is fairly simple, and yes anyone can do it. In its essence, a code is simply a text file written in a given coding language. This means to write code all you need to do is write the code in a text editor like notepad, and save it to your computer. How you actually implement this line of code into your computer varies depending on the coding language you are working in. Some languages operate under a certain software that will implement the code, and some save a separate accompanying binary code file that your computer can directly run.

Fields that Involve Coding

Coding and computer programming may seem like a faraway and foreign practice, but coding is starting to influence and affect every industry. This includes fields outside of STEM such as art and design. A huge part of the art and design industry includes web design, and this, of course, goes hand in hand with coding. Software engineers and designers collaborate in order to make highly effective and aesthetic websites. This career clearly affects technology in a big way, so there is no surprise that coding is also a huge part of the healthcare industry. The technology and tools behind the health care system are often created and managed in collaboration with software engineers because they involve computers. Finance is also heavily affected by coders, which includes creating the websites in which people complete online banking.

There are so many possibilities when it comes to the beautifully complex world of coding and programming. Every field is evolving and moving the direction to need code. Computers control our future, which means coding will control our future in a big way. Do you want to be a part of that change?

Aerospace Engineering – Explained

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Have you ever wondered what Aerospace Engineering was all about?

Some universities have a total of 8 different branches of engineering, and with all those names and degree options it is easy to be overwhelmed and a bit confused. Instead of randomly picking a field of engineering, it is important to understand what each program does. This will help you decide what school to go to and really find your passion for engineering.

Aerospace engineering is offered at 5 universities in Canada, and 2 of those are right here in Ontario. This emerging field, is one of the newest and advancing areas of engineering. 

In simple terms, aerospace engineering is designing and building machines –that fly. That’s right, anywhere from drones, airplanes– to even rockets! There are two specialties within this field; aeronautical engineering and astronautical engineering.

Aeronautical Engineering

Aeronautical engineering involves designing air crafts that are categorized as “lighter than air” this includes helicopters, gliders, airplanes and jets.

Astronautical Engineering

Astronautical is just what it sounds like, it is the design of spacecraft. This means that a career in aerospace engineering can look very different depending on which specialty you choose. So, whether you are interested in making an impact on flying technology in this world or in this universe, aerospace engineering has got you covered. 

Aerospace engineering is a very specialized and a relatively new field, so there is only a select few universities that offer the program here in Canada. The universities that do offer a bachelors in aerospace engineering include: Ryerson University, Carleton University, Concordia University, École Polytechnique de Montréal and the Royal Military College of Canada. 

Careers in Aerospace Engineering

Aerospace engineers can work in the corporate field, for an airline. This would involve designing commercial airplanes, and even change the way they run to adapt to the escalating problem of climate change. Commercial engineers have really had to rethink their design recently, because of climate change. This proves to make their jobs interesting, and of course impactful on the world. 

Then, of course, you have the opposite side of the scale which would be spacecraft engineers. These engineers help countries propel into space technology, and research more about outer space to understand the world we live on. Spacecraft engineers often find themselves using supercomputer simulations, because of the danger surrounding their line of work.

The geniuses behind this technology are engineering, science and data processing managers. These process managers make the simulations more efficient and effective to use. This is vital to the spacecraft engineer position, because the ability to try machines before being used by astronauts, will save lives.

Since safety is such an important part of aerospace, there are also compliance officers. These are the engineers that use their knowledge of aerospace to ensure that all rules and regulations are followed to meet safety standards. 

Lastly, drafters are engineers that create detailed drawings and specification sheets for the product designed. That can range from commercial airplanes to a spacecraft. either way very specific and detailed drawings are needed. 

Aerospace is a branch of engineering that covers everything flying under the sun. Hopefully, you have a better understanding of this branch of engineering. This field of engineering is going to change the world as we know it, and you can be a part of the change. It’s only up from here!