__ __ ______ ____ ______ __ __ __ _ _ __ _ _ L__ ' , _ '

1
__ __ ______ ____
______ __ __ /\ \/\
\/\__ _\ /\ _\ /\__ _\/\ \ /\ \
\ \ \\ \/_/\ \/ \ \ \L\_\/_/\ \/\
\\\/'/ \ \ , \ \ \ \ \
\ _\/ \ \ \ \ \ /' \
\ \\ \ \_\ \__\ \ \/ \ \ \ \ \ \
\ \_\ \_\/\_____\\ \_\ \ \_\
\ \_\ \/_/\/_/\/_____/
\/_/ \/_/ \/_/ ______ ____ ____
______ ____ __ __ ____ __ __
______ ____ /\ _ \/\ __\ /\ __\ /\__ _\ /\
_\ /\ \/\ \ /'\_/\/\ _\ /\ \/\ \/\__ _\/\
__\ \ \ \L\ \ \,\_L_\ \,\_L_\/_/\ \/ \ \ \L\_\
\ \\ \/\ \ \ \L_\ \ \\ \/_/\ \/\ \,\_L_
\ \ __ \/_\__ \\/_\__ \ \ \ \ \ \ \L_L\ \ ,
\ \ \__\ \ \ _\\ \ , \ \ \ \ \/_\__ \ \ \
\/\ \/\ \L\ \/\ \L\ \ \_\ \__\ \ \/, \ \ \\ \ \
\_/\ \ \ \L_\ \ \\ \ \ \ \ /\ \L\ \ \ \_\
\_\ \____\ \____\/\_____\\ \____/\ \_\ \_\ \_\\
\_\ \___\\ \_\ \_\ \ \_\ \ \____\
\/_/\/_/\/_____/\/_____/\/_____/ \/___/
\/_/\/_/\/_/ \/_/\/___/ \/_/\/_/ \/_/
\/_____/

AAA SSSSS CCCCC IIIII IIIII
tt iii AAAAA SS
CC C III III mm mm mmmm aa aa tt
oooo nn nnn sss AA AA SSSSS CC
III III mmm mm mm aa aaa tttt iii oo
oo nnn nn ss AAAAAAA SS CC C III
III mmm mm mm aa aaa tt iii oo oo nn nn
ss AA AA SSSSS CCCCC IIIII IIIII mmm
mm mm aaa aa tttt iii oooo nn nn sss
David Reed Department of Computer
Science Creighton University davereed_at_creighton.ed
u
2
My inspiration

• "Boring is the new Nifty."
• - Stuart Reges (Nifty 06)

• in an age of 3-D graphics and video games, what
  could be more boring/retro than ASCII art?

,,,,,,
o'9MMHb''-,o, .oH"HH' "' ' -Ro,
dMMM""'' .oM"HM?. ,MMM'
"HLbd
MMb . "H - MMMMMMMMMH .
dboo MMMMMMMMMMMM. . dMMMMMMb
MMMMMMMMMP. . MMMMMMMP MMMMMP .
MMMMM MM6P , '
MMMP" HM, ' MM
.- , '. ?.. . ..'
-. . .- ''-.oo,oo.-''
____ ( \
__, _ _ / _/
(/\___/ \_/_/ \/ __/
-)
3
What are ASCIImations?
ASCIImation an animation (movie) in which each
frame is ASCII art
4
Why ASCIImations?

• relatively simple application but involves
• GUI-building
• representation choices
• data structures
• timer events
• can be used in a variety of courses
• CS0 create HTML framework for editing/animating
• CS1/CS2 create stand-alone app (including GUI,
  files, )
• Web Programming utilize PHP to upload, store,
  download
• visual taps into student creativity (even
  non-CS types)

5
CS0 assignment

• CS0 at Creighton
• intro to computers, Internet/Web, scientific
  apps
• HTML JavaScript
• animation code is provided, students build the
  page
• text areas buttons
• each student must create an animation

Interesting side question how big can a movie
be? What, if anything, limits size?
6
CS1/CS2 assignment

• in Java course, students build a stand-alone app
• store access animations as files
• threads Timer
• can add lots of GUI bells whistles
• discuss tradeoffs with Web-based version

Interesting side question application vs. applet
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Web Programming assignment

• to utilize files over the Web, need server-side
  programming
• good project for an upper-level course
• can integrate client-side JavaScript with PHP to
• upload animation from a form and store in a file
• generate a viewer page with options for each file
  button for downloading
• PHP makes this EASY

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Just for fun!

• great opportunity for outreach
• we are currently running a campus wide contest
• prizes donated by Apple
• good PR for our department and for our
  Interactive Web Development Minor

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Summary
//////// /////////// __ ////
o // /_ /// ////// ////
////

• ASCIImations
• they're simple
• they're creative
• they're fun
• they're flexible
• check out the Web for lots of ASCII art sites
  tools
• in particular, visit the Star Wars ASCIImation
  site
• http//www.asciimation.co.nz/