[Edu-sig] RE : walky-talky

[Bryan Hann]

Arthur Siegel wrote:
> 
> David Scherer got the walky-talky done in 30 lines of code.
> 
> I ran two localhost sessions and had my DOS prompt talking to
> my DOS prompt.
> 
> Putting aside the technical stuff related to the socket module, the
> thirty lines cover an awful lot of Python syntax.
> 
> I think a lot of students would be all ears in getting a handle on this kind
> of magic.

[code snipped]
[David Scherer's code snipped]
 [mailto:dscherer@cmu.edu]
> 
I think so too.  Cool.  :)

Would not the students find it a drag to have to key in an IP 
address?  Sure they would.  Would they be keen to seeing and 
extending a little name server?  I think they would.  Would 
they like to run the walky talkie from their homes and try 
chatting to their friends?  I'm sure they would!  But it is
a drag to deal with dynamicaly allocated IP addresses.  How
about a long running process at school that would let you
register your current IP address and availability?  That sounds 
great!  Guess what students?  You've created a rudimentary ICQ.
A few years ago someone did what we just did, but just a bit
fancier.  Guess what?  He's a billionaire now.  No kidding!

This is the sort of thing I would *love* to do with a high 
school class.  (In middle school I might prefer to help them
build a computer from scratch!  Well, a combinational circuit
for starters.  (Real hand-wired finite state machines next year, 
perhaps?)  *g*

> Below is David's e-mail:
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: David Scherer [mailto:dscherer@cmu.edu]
> Sent: Wednesday, April 05, 2000 11:09 AM
> To: asiegel
> Subject: RE: [Edu-sig] Walky-talky help
> 
> Arthur,