Computer merit badge, answer clarification

[mdl70]

Hi. I'm helping one my wife's coworker instruct some scouts for the Computers merit badge and one of the requirements has both of us scratching our heads. The requirement is:

Show how the following may be stored in computer memory: text, numbers, pictures, and sound.

What exactly are they looking for? Everything is written as ones and zeroes in a computer's memory. Do they want to go into ASCII, pixels, sound waves, etc? If anyone has any kind of reference sheet for this answer, it would be greatly appreciated.

And no, I do not have a copy of the merit badge book. When I was in Scouts we bought them at JC Penny. They don't seem to carry them any more (at least not in this area).

Thanks again...

[JazerNorth]

It might be referring to the section of memory. Just a thought.

[wagionvigil]

Back to my usual response. Have you as a counselor read the Merit Badge Book? It is also important to have anyone taking a Merit Badge read the Book also. That is why BSA prints them. To give them a working knowledge of the subject .

[evmori]

Think file types.

[mdl70]

No I haven't. As I stated in my original post, I am having a hard time locating one. When I was in Scouts I'd buy them at JC Penny. They don't carry them any more (at least in this area). I looked on the BSA website and can't find any kind of on-line store. Amazon seems to have a good number of merit badge books, but not the one for Computers.

Google searches all point to the worksheet we've been using to plan out the course and I actually found one site that lists specifically pages 17-19 for the answer. I just need to know what's on those pages so I don't give them the wrong information.

Thanks for the responses...

[mdl70]

Think file types.

File types? Really? That's what they are going for in that section? Hrm. The worksheet seems to imply they want a more in-depth answer than simply file types.

Thanks...

[wagionvigil]

Your Local Scout service Center would have them. ALso you may order them through National Supply That number is on line somewhere.

[Rick Tyler]

Your Local Scout service Center would have them. ALso you may order them through National Supply That number is on line somewhere.

And if you don't live close to your Council's Scout Shop, give them a call. Our council's shop will pull your order and ship it to you the same day for a really reasonable fee. I just pay with my debit card over the phone. It's a lot better than a 50-mile round trip to pick up a neckerchief and two merit badge books...

[mdl70]

Thanks for the replies. Dealing with the Council for merit badge books is a new one for me. Admittedly I haven't had to purchase a merit badge book since 1988, so I guess things have changed since I was in a troop.

Thanks again...

[Scouting179]

Show how the following may be stored in computer memory: text, numbers, pictures, and sound.

First off, the Computers MB requirements are way out of date, as is the design of the patch. Anyway...

text and numbers are stored in ASCII format, then there are BLOBs, and various file types. If I remember, I'll look in my Computers MB book tonight for more info for you since you're having trouble finding one.

But yes, you're right, it all ends up as ones and zeros at the most basic level.

[DadScout]

Without giving away the answer, it's on pgs17-19 of the book, and is more complicated than file types. The base answer is bits and bytes, that's how everything is stored and is the simple answer for numbers. For the rest: text, pics, & sound the answer is complicated (specifically pics & sound). They're looking for how the computer takes the picture and converts it to the the bit & bytes. What does it do to a sound wave when converting to bits & bytes. Specifically what's the elements of a picture or sound that's being saved.

Unfortunatly, just because someone is good with computers does not mean then can counsel for the MB without the book. The book is 12 yrs old. The languages noted are pascal, basic, fortran, ect. C++ is mentioned as new, nothing on Java. The modem shown is a hayes and mentions increased speeds of 9600. So someone new might be caught off guard. Good in this case to sign off as required in the book and advise on where computers are at now.

[evmori]

DadScout,
Excellent points all around. I am a merit badge counselor for Computers & did know the answer. But knowing the file types is just as important.

I feel the badge should be discontinued until it is updated. I think including languages such as FORTRAN and COBAL should be included if for no other reason than historical.

[JazerNorth]

I feel the badge should be discontinued until it is updated. I think including languages such as FORTRAN and COBAL should be included if for no other reason than historical.

COBOL and Fortran historical? Not even. I use it every day in my work place. In fact, COBOL is about the only language available on a mainframe. Fortran has it's place as well. Does anyone remember Assembler? This language is still used in coding chipsets. Who out there uses Microsoft Access? Did you know that they use Fortran and Assembler languages in Access?

I wouldn't be so quick to dismiss languages that are older. They are just as good, or better than the new languages.

JazerNorth

[mommatoodle]

The System Techs in the company I used to work for (18 years) use assembler and those who coded used cobol and fortran on the mainframe..it used to be said that it would die (the mainframe) I don't think it ever will...Java, C++, Visual Basic..they are for a different platform..both are important...

[evmori]

Yeah COBAL & FORTRAN are still used, but how many people are learning them? I code in SAS. Not real a real popular language, either.

[Scouting179]

They REALLY need to update this mb book and its requirements. Anyone know when it's slated to be done?

[cescout]

I think it is more looking for file types, and you know as an example pictures .jpeg, .gif, .tif, etc. I would say pixels. But this is how I taught it, and if some else had a better answer I would be glad to hear about it for my future classes that I am going to teach on the Computers MB.

[cescout]

I think it is more looking for file types, and you know as an example pictures .jpeg, .gif, .tif, etc. I would say pixels. But this is how I taught it, and if some else had a better answer I would be glad to hear about it for my future classes that I am going to teach on the Computers MB.

[cescout]

I think it is more looking for file types, and you know as an example pictures .jpeg, .gif, .tif, etc. I would say pixels. But this is how I taught it, and if some else had a better answer I would be glad to hear about it for my future classes that I am going to teach on the Computers MB.

[cescout]

I think it is more looking for file types, and you know as an example pictures .jpeg, .gif, .tif, etc. I would say pixels. But this is how I taught it, and if some else had a better answer I would be glad to hear about it for my future classes that I am going to teach on the Computers MB.