Programmers code algebra applications

SAN FRANCISCO — Aspiring student programmers worked against the clock as they participated in a five-hour coding event known as “Hackathon” hosted by Intel at the Moscone Center on Sept. 12.

Sixteen computer science students showcased their programming skills as they created game applications during the event at the Intel Developer Forum (IDF), a convention where technologists gather to discuss the latest Intel products.

“The Hackathon, in a short period of time, is where students learn HTML and JavaScript to code a game. The game is to teach algebra to younger students,” student Saki Wang said.

The first Hackathon was held at Contra Costa College in June, where most students spent 32 hours learning HTML and JavaScript  for the first time, planning what kind of game to create and ensuring the game properly teaches algebra.

“We came together, made teams and figured out what games we wanted to make,” student Aura Murphy said.

Students continued working on their applications at the IDF from the first Hackathon, attempting to finish them and make them usable on touch-screen notebooks.

Some, however, struggled to have a finished product as the groups encountered coding difficulties for the applications.

Student Francia Garcia said her group was working on its game the night prior to the event, aiming to focus on how to provide touch-sensor coding into their system.

 Her group, however, had to re-program its application during the Hackathon, Garcia said.

Wang said she and teammates Jeffrey Petersen and Jose Ventura had to make a new game because their previous non-interactive application did not need touch-sensor coding.

“It was working earlier, but it’s not working now,” Wang said during a report at the end of the event.

Because the students were trying to program touch-sensor coding they needed equipment that would allow them to test if the game is touch-screen compatible. Fortunately, students were given the opportunity to use Intel’s Ultrabook, which has a touch screen.

“Our students are creating applications on the latest technology that hasn’t come out yet to the market,” computer sciences professor Tom Murphy said. “(Attendees) would love to have access on this Ultrabook, but they don’t.  And yet, we do.”

Because of his involvement with Intel, Murphy was able to get his students featured at the IDF convention.

“The Hackathon augments the classroom and students are being set up to succeed,” Murphy said. “They have a framework of what professionals are doing, instead of learning from the classroom, and  seeing what (individuals) are doing in the field they’re aiming for.”

Intel student developer manager Paul Steinberg, who works with Murphy in building curriculum for computer science classes, helps in providing CCC with the resources they need.

“(Being at the IDF) is great for connecting  students at CCC with the world.  They’re engineers of the future,” Steinberg said.