[Edu-sig] Scratch interface for Python, and network programming

[Toby Donaldson]

>> I am also thrilled by the idea of Scratch in Python, but this brings
>> us up against the limitations of the web. The fact that Scratch apps
>> can be shared on the web is a crucial advantage. Could Python Scratch
>> be targeted to Jython to provide sharability?

> To Jython, or if we keep to the limited functionality of Scratch, to
> Flash, which would be more self-contained (and faster) than Java.
> Another advantage to using PyGame is that we could provide export to
> self-contained executables, to run the games on Mac, Windows, or
> Linux.  Scratch itself has not yet been ported to Linux (sad, since it
> is built on top of Squeak, which runs fine on Linux), keeping it off
> of platforms such as XO and my trusty N800.
>
> I like the idea of virtual Roombas, especially as a leaping-off point.
> I can imagine kids costomizing their Roombas: spinning blades, laser
> turrets, even Steampunk Roombas.  Once they have a platform to build
> on, anything is possible.

Robocode has done something similar in Java: http://robocode.sourceforge.net/
I've used Robocode with 1st year university students, and while a few
students really go into, most found it only mildly interesting, like
an old-fashioned video game.

Roomba (Create) simulation software exists at least for player/stage
(http://playerstage.sourceforge.net/) and Microsoft Robotics  Studio
(http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/robotics/default.aspx).

I know Python is popular with Player/stage, and it has 2D graphics (3D
in progress), and the ability to use simulations of real sensors (e.g.
expensive laser sensors). It's more of a research tool, but packaging
it up in an education distribution might be worth considering.

The Microsoft Robotics Studio comes with impressive 3D graphics, and
also physics, e.g. so when to Sumo iCreate's bump into each other,
they lift up off the ground a little. Some of the demos are nice; I
have no idea if it works with Python, though.

By the way, here's an interesting video using 36 Create's:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b_kZmatqAaQ

And speaking of the Create, it's quite a nice, cost-effective robot,
and worth looking at for educational purposes:
http://www.irobot.com/sp.cfm?pageid=305

It would be fun to connect a Create into the Python turtle package to
simulate the old turtle graphics drawing robots.

If you haven't seen the demo video, it's worth a look:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UT2bPx9k7D4

Toby
--
Dr. Toby Donaldson
School of Computing Science
Simon Fraser University (Surrey)