School Project One

 Java and Object-Oriented Programming: A Newbie-to-Newbie Guide Learning Java for the first time can feel a little intimidating, especially if you are coming from another programming language or are still new to programming in general. I am approaching this from a “newbie-to-newbie” perspective, so my goal is not to sound like an expert. My goal is to explain the basic idea in a way that would have helped me when I first started. The first thing to understand is that Java is an object-oriented programming language. Object-oriented programming, often called OOP, is a way of designing programs around objects. An object can represent something from the real world, such as a car, employee, customer, dog, phone, or bank account. In Java, these objects are usually created from classes. A class is like a blueprint, and an object is something created from that blueprint. For example, if “Dog” were a class, then Olivia and Puffin could be two different dog objects. They may share common tra...

Connecting AI in Education and Healthcare to IT Fundamentals Figure 1. AI in the healthcare space. Introduction Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming both education and healthcare, extending the fundamental concepts of information technology into tools that improve access, efficiency, and personalization. Building on the foundations of this course, AI depends on the same core IT principles—hardware, software, programming, databases, networks, and security—but applies them at scale in environments that serve students, patients, and entire organizations. This post explores how AI in education and healthcare connects directly to IT fundamentals while highlighting the need for responsible, collaborative implementation. History of Computers and IT Foundations The history of computing shows how far technology has advanced from mechanical calculation to adaptive systems. Early computers solved narrow mathematical problems, but modern AI applies similar logic at greater spe...

Why It Matters and How to Defend Against Threats Introduction Information and system security now undergirds nearly every aspect of personal life and organizational operations. As data volumes grow and systems interconnect, attackers exploit both technical flaws and human behavior, producing real financial, legal, and safety risks. This post explains why security is essential for individuals and organizations, focusing on two prevalent attacks: ransomware and phishing/smishing . The thesis: threat actors consistently leverage both technology and people; effective defense must combine technical controls, resilient processes, and user training grounded in best practices. Why Information and System Security Matters Organizations depend on digital assets to deliver services, protect customers, and sustain trust. The Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report (DBIR) finds that the human element —errors, social engineering, and misuse—appears in most breaches. Ransomware ...

Computers in Healthcare (Speech-Language Pathology): Why Literacy Matters Now—and What the Next Decade Brings Introduction Computers are central to modern Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) practice. Clinicians document sessions in Electronic Health Records (EHRs) , manage goals and progress notes, and coordinate with IEP or care teams across school, outpatient, and acute settings. Telepractice platforms enable therapy for rural or home-bound clients with secure video, screen-sharing, and digital whiteboards for articulation drills, language activities, and AAC coaching. Assessment workflows increasingly rely on digital tools for standardized testing, language sampling, and data visualization, while therapy uses tablets and laptops to deliver interactive tasks, track accuracy, and export reports. SLP-Specific Technologies Figure 1. A speech-generating AAC tablet used in daily communication. AAC/SGDs: Speech-generating devices and AAC apps depend on vocab sets, sy...

Traveling Through a Network Part 1: Ping Results Using the ping command gave me a first view of connectivity and latency. I tested three domains: Google.com: 5 packets sent, 5 received. Range of responses: 4.887 ms. BBC.co.uk: 5 packets sent, 5 received. Range of responses: 11.061 ms. ANU.edu.au: 5 packets sent, 0 received. No valid latency data (100% packet loss).   Figure 1-3 Ping command results for three domains. Part 2: Traceroute Results The traceroute command showed how packets moved across routers to reach each site: Google.com: 20 hops, latency 2–23 ms, final RTT ~21 ms. Destination reached successfully. BBC.co.uk: 5 hops responded, then all others timed out. Likely blocked by firewall or CDN settings. ANU.edu.au: 20 hops. Local/ISP hops (1–5) ranged 4–22 ms. A Trans-Pacific jump (hops 11–13) spiked to 50–187 ms. Final hops in Australia stabilized around 200–307 ms. Destination reached.   Figures 1-5 Traceroute ...

Documenting a Day Introduction In today’s digital world, productivity applications such as word processors, spreadsheets, presentation software, and databases are essential for managing, analyzing, and communicating information. Each type of application serves a distinct purpose while overlapping in some functionality. By completing the Documenting a Day project, I gained a clearer understanding of the role each application plays and the strengths and weaknesses they bring to different tasks. Word Processors Microsoft Word and similar applications are designed for creating, editing, and formatting text-based documents. They are ideal for tasks that require narrative detail, such as journals, essays, reports, or letters. Key strengths include: Versatility in formatting (fonts, headings, alignment). Clarity and structure for text-heavy reflections. However, they are less effective when handling large data sets or advanced calculations. For this project, Word provid...

YouTube App Critique Introduction YouTube is one of the most widely used applications worldwide, serving as both an entertainment platform and an educational resource. Its primary purpose is to provide users with fast access to visual and audio content through search, recommendations, and subscriptions. In this post, I will evaluate YouTube’s usability, design, and functionality while incorporating instructor and peer feedback to move beyond simple praise toward a more critical usability critique. I will also suggest targeted recommendations for improvement. Usability At its core, YouTube’s usability comes from its intuitive interface. Users can quickly search, play, and resume content without the need for tutorials or manuals. Key usability strengths include: Search memory and history: YouTube remembers past searches and watch history, allowing users to resume where they left off or revisit favorites. Error correction: When search queries are mistyped, YouTube off...