IT Girl issue #1

ISSUE #1

IT GIRL IN THIS ISSUE:

CHATGPT CEO FIRE AND REHIRE

2023 VIDEO GAME AWARDS

THE FIRST EVER WGGS COMPUTING MAGAZINE!

1 INTRODUCTION

AI

TECH

2MEET CHATGPT 4RESTRICTIONS ON AI AND ROBOTICS 7KPOP AIDOLS 10SAGAFTRA STRIKE 15FUTURE OF AI IN MEDICINE

27 DEVICE RECOMMENDATIONS 28RASPBERRY PI IN SPACE 29APPLE BEING NO LONGER INNOVATIVE 32CLOUD STORAGE

AND REHIRE

36CHRISTMAS TREE EXEC

18SAM ALTMAN: HIRE

GAMING 20 GAME RECOMMENDATIONS oontents 212023 VIDEO GAME AWARDS 23HISTORY OF UNREAL ENGINE 25GUIDE TO BLADEBALL VIDEO GAME AWARDS 26 CODEBREAKER

34 BLUETOOTH

PRINT PYTHON

Print statements output information as a programmer AQA PSEUDOCODE needs. These can also be used OUTPUT to test code (seeing if a section C# of code is functional).

Console.WriteLine()

print()

Welcome to the first edition of IT Girl, the WGGS computer science magazine.

This magazine will be focused on all things computer-based, and will be filled with your submissions and fun challenges! We decided to start this magazine so that everyone in our school could be able to learn more about the computing world beyond just the school curriculum. Face it, technology is the future, but ‘technology’ is such a broad umbrella covering numerous subtopics, such as cryptography, robotics and artificial intelligence. Some may say that the GCSE and A Level specifications are boring, but the world of computing definitely is not, and we are here to prove that to you.

This issue features articles on Medicine, computers in space, Unreal Engine, even AI K-Pop idols! All of these articles have been written by members of the WGGS community, showing that computing doesn’t just have to be inside the classroom. Thank you to the generous students who worked on a tight deadline to bring you articles about topics they are enthusiastic about. If you would like to see your own articles in future editions of IT Girl, you can start writing for our next issue coming out in February. Look out for an email from us coming soon!

We have also included some challenges and features, and if you manage to solve some of them, be sure to email us to be featured in the next issue! Next issue’s theme for program submissions is ‘love’, feel free to send us any programs that you make relating to the topic to be featured in the future.

Coming up to Christmas, we have been sure to include some gift recommendations, like games or devices that you might be interested in buying. If you need help with some code and feel like others might have the same issue as you do, send us an email so that we can help out in our coding help column; we would love it if you guys could send in some questions. You can opt to be anonymous (we’ll replace your name with a nickname), but you’ll be helping everyone who is in a similar situation to you.

Our mascot, created by Samhita Chakraboty in Year 9, is yet to be named. If you would like to name the mascot, please fill out this form: https://forms.gle/CLSRrNGXURKiimEy5 In our next email, we will send out a vote with the potential mascot names.

- Silvia and Spencer

1 on behalf of the IT Girl team

MEET CHATGPT: A GLIMPSE INTO CHATGPT AI In a world where technology is rapidly advancing, one particular

innovation stands out: ChatGPT. Developed by OpenAI, ChatGPT is an artificial intelligence language model designed to

comprehend and generate human-like text, providing assistance and engaging in conversations on a wide array of topics.

I represent the culmination of years of research and development

in the field of artificial intelligence. Unlike traditional programs, this AI model operates through complex algorithms and neural

networks, enabling it to understand context, grammar, and meaning in written text.

Behind the scenes, ChatGPT's capabilities are

powered by a vast dataset that spans various subjects, including science, technology,

literature, history, philosophy, and more. This extensive knowledge allows it to offer

information, generate creative content, and participate in discussions with users.

While ChatGPT lacks consciousness and personal experiences, its ability to process information and generate coherent

responses is truly remarkable. Its main function is to assist users, provide information, and engage in meaningful conversations, all

while adhering to ethical guidelines and respecting user privacy.

It's important to note that ChatGPT's knowledge is based on information available until January 2022. As the AI model continues to evolve, it undergoes regular updates and

improvements to enhance its understanding and accuracy in generating responses.

2

MEET CHATGPT: A GLIMPSE INTO AI However, it's essential to understand the boundaries of AI. While

ChatGPT strives to be accurate and helpful, it's always beneficial to verify information from multiple sources, especially for critical tasks or academic endeavours.

ChatGPT represents an exciting frontier in the realm of artificial intelligence, showcasing the potential for machines to interact

with humans in a manner that is both informative and engaging.

Its

existence

is

a

testament

to

ongoing

technological

advancements and the ever-expanding possibilities of AI in our modern world.

3

CHATGPT

RESTRICTIONS ON AI AND ROBOTICS RACHEL, 10F As AI continues to grow and develop

throughout this century, responsibility

will be inevitably gained. Robots are being programmed to deliver parcels, use the

internet to write paragraphs (or homework answers!) and even carry out complicated surgeries in the medical field. In order to

control this growth so it can be sustained

and used for the benefit of humans, there are

rules in place to bar artificial intelligence from going too far.

In 1942, Isaac Asimov (a science fiction writer) created the laws of robotics, which are:

A robot may not injure a human being, or through inaction,

allow a human being to come to harm. This has the purpose of preserving life as well as the addition of ensuring that actions

must be taken to actively save life, even if orders are given

which oppose these laws ingrained in robots.

A robot must obey orders given to it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law. This

ensures that humanity maintains power above robotics, so we

are not undermined by our own creations (as many science

fiction writers such as Isaac himself has contemplated).

4

RESTRICTIONS AND ROBOTICS

ON

AI

A robot must protect its own existence as long as such

protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law. Unfortunately, these aren’t put into practice at the moment.

However, these regulations provide an important insight into what is likely to be relevant in the future.

A real-world equivalent to Asimov’s laws were the Principles of Robotics, made by the the Engineering and Physical Sciences

Research Council (EPSRC). These employ a much more practical approach.

Robots shouldn’t be weapons, except in the interest of national security.

Robots should comply with all existing laws and human rights, including privacy

Robots, like any other product, should be safe and secure to protect their users.

You should always be able to tell a robot apart from a human or other emotional being, to protect users’ psychological health.

It should always be clear who is legally responsible for a robot.

While these may not be as easy to understand due to its legal

jargon as Asimov’s, it certainly takes inspiration from his, but uses a different standpoint to promote positive behaviour with clear intentions from companies.

5

RESTRICTIONS AND ROBOTICS

ON

AI

Another problem run into all across the world is inconsistent

guidelines of robot use and production; although the EPSRC has outlined useful laws to be following, they aren’t put into legal practice, allowing immoral behaviour to be used legally. One

reason they do not exist as a global requirement is that most

robots aren’t powerful enough to cause danger to human life. It is

anticipated for there to be a trend of gradually allowing robots the use of artificial intelligence to control their actions in the near

future, rather than being explicitly set in programming, increasing the probability of laws with the primary goal of restricting robots.

Until the future becomes known, it is unclear whether laws

preventing certain actions from robots and humans alike will be necessary or in existence.

6

RACHEL, 10F

K-POP AIDOLS ANTARA AND SWETHICA, 11A

As K-pop’s popularity and influence grows bigger and bigger,

agencies are exploring more unique concepts to introduce new

trends. However, you’d be surprised to find out that the first ever

AI K-pop idol was actually created as early as 1998 – and his name was Adam! This AI’s voice was created using a real singer and

actor (Park Seung Chul), and Adam (the AI idol), had released 2 full albums – which sold 200 000 copies! (I’d say that’s impressive for the first ever K-pop Aidol). Nevertheless,

technology at the time wasn’t as advanced

as it is now, and therefore, he didn’t look realistic at all, and his actions were much more limited

compared to the modern advancements. However, what Adam had managed to do that was truly

significant, was set the foundations for a new

generation of AI K-Pop idols, as many people in

the industry had been inspired by him to create their own Aidols.

The first time K-Pop Aidols had begun to look realistic was when

the fully virtual Girl Group – ETERNITY/IITERNITI – debuted in 2021 (ironically, with the debut song ‘I’m Real’). They were the first fully

AI group to be created – and were frightening human-looking too!

(I could barely tell whether they were AI or not). By now, it was

obvious that technology was very developed, and this was mostly thanks to the innovative technology – Deep Real AI (created by Pulse9). This is a service that creates virtual character images

based on AI and synthesising images and/or videos. Deep Real AI is able to create realistic face regardless of race/age/gender and

controls the movements of virtual characters by learning the gaze, and muscles of the faces in the videos.

7

K-POP AIDOLS The founder of Pulse9 also revealed that, “Until last year, the face was the only virtual part of the performer, but today we can make whole full body (images) based on AI technology.” Through this

newly developing technology, it is possible to see emerging virtual human beings. For example, virtual K-pop idols at a more reasonable cost and beyond existing limitations such as

movements constraints, long productions periods, and high

operating costs. This clearly benefited agencies, and no doubt they would be interested in this technology and would be investigating and experimenting much more.

MAVE is another fully virtual girl group (similar to ETERNITY), and

debuted much more recently, in 2023. Their project’s backers are tech giant Kakao – a South Korean internet company. (Although

they are a more recent than ETERNITY, they look more fake and AI-ish than the former girl group).

SUPERKIND is another unique group as it is a hybrid group. It

consists of 7 members – 5 human beings, and 2 AI members! They debuted in 2021 – under Deep Studio Entertainment (also their creator), which was founded as a Deep Fake Technology

Developer. This is a remarkably interesting case, as we get the

opportunity to see how human members of the group (known as PRIDs) react to their fellow AI members. Daemon (a human

member of the group) said it’s confusing to practice moving lines and distance in the formation without SAEJiN (an AI member)

being physically present, but they try to do it well and often say “Hey, you’re in SAEJiN’s way!” although the AI member is not

practicing with them. Daemon had also stated that when they see the final results with SAEJiN added in, they feel a strong bond with him like they’re becoming friends.

8

K-POP AIDOLS However, the public have mixed opinions on this matter. Some

praised the technological advances, however, many did not react well to this innovation (especially towards Adam), as they

expressed concern over the implications of replacing humans with AI, and what it meant to the future of K-Pop.

Some think it is a good idea, as nowadays, younger idols are

debuting instead of studying (as they should be), and are being

put in uncomfortable situations. Nevertheless, the new technology is certainly an interesting case, and many benefits can arise in the K-pop industry if this technology is used correctly, and for good purpose.

9

ANTARA AND SWETHICA, 11A

SAGAFTRA STRIKE SILVIA, 12D

On 14th July 2023, actors all over the US started striking, as members of the union ‘SAG-AFTRA’ (Screen Actors Guild –

American Federation of Television and Radio Artists). Taking place at the same time as the WGA’s strike, the combination of both

these strikes caused the largest interruption to the American film industry since the pandemic in 2020. After 118 days of striking, work continued as normal on 9th November 2023, when the

AMPTP (Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers) came to an agreement with the union.

After the previous agreement expired on 30th June 2023 and the

deadline for negotiations was extended to 12th July 2023, despite

negotiations with the AMPTP having begun on 7th June 2023, the strike began. These negotiations had originally been ‘extremely productive,’ however when the AMPTP president told the

negotiators to ‘be civilised’ and prevent the strike, the negotiators walked out: ‘Now you’ve got two unions on strike.”

Actors had been becoming increasingly more frustrated due to the lack of residuals they were receiving from their portrayals in

movies and tv-shows hosted on streaming services – they were only being paid for their original work, whilst the streaming

services were being paid every time a subscription was paid for.

Even if they were only watching one show, the actors in the show would not be paid for their views, regardless of how many were received. This contrasted the residuals received for network

television: every time the episode/movie ran, those performing in the show would earn money for their work.

10

SAGAFTRA STRIKE The fear of artificial intelligence was also incredibly present in the

actors’ minds. Following the rise of background actors’ likenesses being scanned without payment (for future use in movies so that producers do not need to pay for background actors and can

simply use the actors’ likeness and AI), the union knew that in the new agreements something would have to be done to stop this.

The last contract put forward by the AMPTP before the strike began stated that studios were allowed to scan actors, only

paying them for the day on which they were scanned, and using their likeness however many times they would like, in however

many future movies and shows they would like. Despite this being leaked to the public, the AMPTP refused to change their wording on AI in many of the further proposed negotiations, until they

finally agreed to begin to change the language about AI in future actors’ contracts.

This fear was shared by the Writer’s Guild of America, and was also a major motive behind their strike, writers were already beginning to be moved out of writer’s rooms and hired for

progressively fewer days – it was clear that being entirely

replaced by AI was on the horizon. Furthermore, chatbots like ChatGPT were trained on writers’ work without their consent,

leading to their writing styles being easily imitated by AI so that, if producers did not want to pay a specific writer’s wages, a script

similar to one that would have been written by that writer (or more than one writer) could be produced.

11

SAGAFTRA STRIKE On 9th November 2023, the strike stopped as the AMPTP and

SAG-AFTRA had come to an agreement. After almost 4 months of striking, the union members voted on the new contract, and the

deal was approved with 78% voting for it. This contract was valued at over $1 billion in salary increases, and included multiple

improvements for all areas of acting, from protection for diverse communities, to a raise in pension and health caps. A bonus for

performing in media on streaming services was established, and AI protections were put in place.

These AI protections mostly regard the use of AI models and

Generative AI to act in place of natural actors. In all of the different areas where AI can be used, explicit consent is required, even if

the actor is dead. Furthermore, producers are required to describe in detail what the AI likeness will be doing in the scene before consent is given. The only areas where consent may not be required are if the AI-generated model is of a non-human

character, in which the parties involved in the casting decisions

must be made aware of the importance of humans in acting roles,

and of the loss of jobs caused by AI taking the places of actors. If this AI-model where to be made to resemble a certain actor,

however, explicit consent from the actor would be required, even if only a certain feature of theirs were used as a reference, such as their nose.

12

SAGAFTRA STRIKE f the actor is employed for the motion picture which the AI-model will feature in and the natural actor performs in some of the

scenes instead of the model, when the model was created, the

actor would be paid a day’s wages, and the producer would have

to generously assume how many days it would have taken to film the scenes the AI-model is in if the natural actor was performing them, and pay them that amount of days’ wages as well.

If the actor is not employed for the motion picture, then separate

consent and bargaining would have to take place, unless the use of the model was protected by free speech. This would also have

to be done every separate time an AI model is wanted to be used

in separate motion pictures that the natural actor is not employed in. Consent and bargaining would have to occur every time,

ensuring that the natural actor receives what they are owed for their likeness to be used.

AI is allowed to be used on certain terms without the need for

consent. These exceptions include post-production alterations

(noise reduction, clarity, cosmetics, etc.), or adjustments of body

movements needed for licence to a particular market, such as lip adjustments to synchronise to a different language.

13

SAGAFTRA STRIKE When it comes to background actors, ‘tiling’ is allowed, where

background actors are essentially duplicated to fill up background space in productions. However, they have similar compensation guidelines to principal actors, with the producers generously

guessing the number of days that would have been needed had

the natural actor actually performed in the scene and paying the salary of those days, plus 1 day’s wages for the creation of the

model. There will be semi-annual meeting between the union and producers to discuss the use and intended use of Generative AI in films/shows, especially to ensure that it is not used to instil

biases. The agreement will expire on June 30th 2026, but with the

rate of AI’s current advancements, how can it be possible to know

whether these protections will be able to prevent anything within 2

years’ time, or even 1 year? The agreement has definitely managed to start the discussion on AI’s impact on all jobs, not just those in the entertainment industry, and hopefully it has managed to ensure that at least for now, actors are protected from the

technological takeover and the essence of humanity remains in the movies and tv shows we all know and love.

14

SILVIA , 12D

THE FUTURE OF AI NAYANIKA, 13E IN MEDICINE It is no mystery that artificial intelligence (AI) has the potential to

completely revolutionise healthcare and treatment for us all. There have already been some groundbreaking applications of AI in the field of medicine surrounding diagnostics, data analysis and precision medicine that have greatly impacted the lives of

thousands across the globe. However, the continued growth of AI has sparked both curiosity and controversy concerning its use in

patient care, because although the future of AI in medicine seems

promising, there are ethical and moral considerations that must be taken into account before we are able to progress any further.

Robotic surgery is an emerging application of AI, that holds many promising prospects for patients undergoing surgical

interventions. Although there is controversy over whether the skill of the artful hand of a human surgeon is advantageous over the

fine-tuned precision of robotic machinery, it is certainly plausible that AI may replace future surgeons over the course of many

generations to come. Robot-assisted surgery is a notion that is already in play, ultimately allowing for greater dexterity, higher

resolution and superior precision. Thoracic surgery (concerned with the bones and tissues of the chest) is one field that is

currently making use of robot-assisted surgery. As advancements are made in the machinery and predictability of these robots, we should welcome the possibility that they might replace human surgeons.

15

THE FUTURE OF AI IN MEDICINE

Currently, there is speculation about AI replacing physicians in the fields of radiology, pathology and dermatology due to its

meticulous diagnostic ability. By implementing AI into screening tools, doctors are able to rapidly identify alterations in healthy tissue, such as the formation of tumours.

In a recent article by Imperial College London, it was mentioned that researchers have found that an AI tool called Mia (CE Mark class IIa) has the potential to improve breast cancer screening by

spotting potentially cancerous tissue that human ‘readers’ might

miss, detecting up to 13% more tumours than humans alone. This

highlights the crucial role that AI can play in pattern recognition that clinicians may not be able to recognise.

Despite these progressions in AI that present benefits to

healthcare, integrating AI into routine clinical practice will require careful monitoring and training to ensure its accuracy,

effectiveness and safety in supporting doctors deliver the best

possible care for their patients. While AI can be a valuable asset

in the medical field, it ultimately cannot replace the human element of emotion. A good doctor must display empathy towards patients in times of need, as this is vital in building a trusting relationship,

and AI is unable to exhibit feelings. This could be interpreted as a more unwelcoming and cold approach as opposed to the warmth that doctors strive to provide for their patients.

Additionally, ethical considerations must be taken into account

when handling patient data, as it is unclear who is to blame when there is a confidentiality breach of patient records. Informed

consent must be required for AI to process a patient’s data, in

order to avoid violating one of the four main pillars of medical ethics; autonomy.

16

THE FUTURE OF AI IN MEDICINE Despite some of the obstacles and limitations faced, AI holds tremendous promises for the field of medicine. Improved

diagnostic ability, data analysis and surgical methods are only

some of the many benefits this revolutionary technology is able to provide us with, however along with this there are the problems of confidentiality and autonomy (the lack of consent from a patient

concerning their data being processed) as well as the inadequate emotional intelligence. Even so, AI is making a difference in

people's lives everywhere, regardless of whether they are patients or doctors.

17

NAYANIKA, 13E

SAM ALTMAN - FIRE AND REHIRE SPENCER, 12E

OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, said its board ‘no longer has confidence’ in Sam Altman’s leadership. This was due to

claims that he was dishonest with OpenAI’s board of directors, or that he was “not consistently candid in his communications” with them. After being ejected from the role, former chief operating officer Mira Murati immediately took the lead of the company.

Soon after Altman was pushed out on November 17th, he was hired

by Microsoft, alongside Greg Brockman - another co-founder of OpenAI.

OpenAI had announced the week prior that co-founder Brockman would step down as board chairman but remain a president of the company. Brockman followed with a post repeating something he had said after this – “based on today’s news, I quit.”

18

SAM ALTMAN - FIRE AND REHIRE SPENCER, 12E

Just days after being removed from the role of chief executive by the board, the company confirmed he would be returning to

OpenAI in the same position. OpenAI said that an agreement had been reached “in principle” to rehire him, and that a new board would work alongside him.

This was the decision of nearly all OpenAi staff – 700+ people –

signed a letter demanding his return and a removal of the board that fired him, with some threatening to leave to work alongside

Altman with his new Microsoft AI team. Once his reinstatement was confirmed, Altman became OpenAI’s fourth chief executive in five

days. He then added that he was looking forward to returning and building on their strong partnership with the company’s largest investor, Microsoft.

ChatGPT is possibly one of the most prominent AI language

models currently, with over 180 million users currently, and over 1.5 billion visits per month. Within 5 days of its initial launch, it

surpassed 1 million users. ChatGPT is designed to assist users in gathering information, providing up-to-date and available

information (based on information provided before its last update).

19

THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: TEARS OF THE KINGDOM

The latest Legend of Zelda game, Tears of the Kingdom follows Link and Zelda as they try to fight back against the forces that threaten the kingdom.

NINTENDO SWITCH

ASSASSIN’S CREED MIRAGE

You play Basim, a young street thief, in this game in the Assassin's Creed Franchise Roam the streets of 9th Century Baghdad as you fight to secure your future.

XBOX ONE, PS4/5, PC

HORIZON: CALL OF THE MOUNTAIN

Explore the post-apocalyptic word in a new way: VR. As Carja Rebel Ryas, a warrior, go on a mission to redeem yourself by saving a settlement.

PLAYSTATION 5

MARVEL’S SPIDER-MAN 2

Peter Parker and Miles Morales face the ultimate test of strength, both inside and outside the mask, as they balance their lives, friendships and their duty to protect those in need.

20

PLAYSTATION 5

THE 2023 VIDEO GAME AWARDS SPENCER , 12E The VGA (Video Game Awards) is one of the most anticipated

gaming events of the year, fueled by user votes. The VGA began

in 2014, hosted by Geoff Keighley – Host and Creator of the event, and has since risen in popularity to around 118 million viewers this year alone. The advisory board of the VGA consists of many big

names in the video game industry, including Hideo Kojima, founder, and presidents or CEOs of companies such as Microsoft,

Activision (who have published high-ranking games such as the

‘Call of Duty’ franchise since 2003, ‘Sekiro - Shadows Die Twice’ (a previous VGA Game of the Year winner), and the DOOM franchise), Nintendo, Rockstar Games, and Valve.

Nominees for most categories of The Game Awards are chosen by an international jury of over 100 global media and influencer

outlets, selected for their history of critical video game evaluation.

Specialised juries also convene for other categories including esports, accessibility and best adaptation.

Each voting outlet completes a confidential, unranked vote based on the collective and diverse opinion of its editorial staff, listing

out its top five choices in each category. Votes are counted, and the five games that appear on the most votes are raised as

nominees. The advisory board has no say in the votes, and learns of the vote results at the same time as the general public.

The ‘Game of the Year’ nominations for 2023 were: > Alan Wake 2 (Epic Games)

> Baldur’s Gate 3 (Larian Studios)

> Marvel’s Spider Man 2 (Insomniac Games) > Resident Evil 4 (Capcom)

> Super Mario Bros. Wonder (Nintendo)

> The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom (Nintendo)

21

THE 2023 VIDEO GAME AWARDS

And the winner was.... Baldur’s Gate 3!

Another highly sought-after category in the Video Game Awards is ‘Best Ongoing Game’, with titles that continuously release

engaging content for their players. The nominees for this year were:

> Apex Legends (EA)

> Cyberpunk 2077 (CD Projekt Red) > Final Fantasy XIV (Square Enix) > Fortnite (Epic Games)

> Genshin Impact (HoYoverse) And the winner was Cyberpunk 2077!

22

SPENCER, 12E

THE HISTORY UNREAL ENGINE

OF

SARAH, 9G

You may have heard of Unreal Engine, the 3D graphics company that created games we know and love, but have you ever opened a game created by Unreal Engine and wondered what role they played in the creation of the game?

When Unreal Engine was first founded in 1991 by Tim Sweeney, it was a relatively small company, its only project so far had been Jill of the Jungle, a platform, Nintendo-style game where you completed puzzles to progress through the game. After this project, Sweeney began writing an engine to create the first-person shooter game called Unreal, which was released in 1998. This game was a hit, and reached 1.5 million unit sales by 2002.

Unreal powered majority of the game, and (when interviewed) Sweeney claimed to have written about 90% of the code!

At the time, Unreal Engine relied completely on software rendering, which Sweeney said was the hardest part to program. It was mainly a problem as he had to keep rewriting code multiple times, and it was problematic and had a lot of bugs. But even so, the engine had many features such as collision detection, coloured lighting and texture filtering, already allowing any games produced to be detailed (to an extent as texture filtering at the time was limited).

Although Unreal Engine was commended for the detail it produced, there were several complaints of unpolished areas within games and the fact that it required high systems and newer consoles to run. These bugs were acknowledged and in the next game, Unreal Tournament, 7 enhancements were added to smoothen gameplay.

23

THE HISTORY UNREAL ENGINE

OF

Unreal Engine continued to advance in technology, making 5 versions with each progressing in complexity. Before Unreal Engine 4 (which will be referred to as UE4), the engine used something called UnrealScript. This was a native scripting

designed for simple games. It is similar to Java, but after UE4, Unreal Engine switched to C++, another script.

Some well-known games made by Unreal Engine include Five

Nights at Freddy’s Security Breach, Five Nights at Freddy’s Help Wanted, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s stone (the action game, not the book) and Fortnite!

24

SARAH, 9G

ROBLOX TUTORIAL: THE GUIDE TO BLADEBALL LILLIYA AND ARIELA

Blade ball is a fun competitive game on the popular website ROBLOX. In this game of focus, timing, and strategy, your skill is tested as a

deflectable homing ball follows and

Ability: BLADE SLAM

kills players with touch.

To avoid this fate, you are required to block the ball with a weapon which passes it to somebody else. How can you do this?

You use the regular WASD to move, but what’s different is the need to press a key/click once you see the ball change to red

(indicating its target is you) to repel it. You also can use a special ability by clicking the button/pressing Q.

LILLIYA’S TIPS AND TRICKS: Focus on the ball, not the people and be careful when it turns red.

If you want to save up never

When you are in close proximity to another player and the ball

Stay moving around as you never know how fast the ball

is between you try spamming, NEVER use your power.

spend money on the wheel or explosions.

will be when coming towards you.

When you play, be constantly aware of your surroundings to ensure nobody is around.

There are seasonal events that take place, with storylines and

boss battles that make the game more engaging. You can upgrade effects, swords and abilities with coins you get from playing. You can even find servers specifically set up for pro players, only

25 fun playing!

voice chat, and many other variations in the menu. Hope you have

CODEBREAKER Want to test out your codebreaking skills?

Try to crack the following message:

EBIIL, TLOIA! FP X MEOXPB LCQBK RPBA FK QEB MOLDOXJ CFOPQ TOFQQBK YV X PQRABKQ LC X KBT MOLDOXJJFKD IXKDRXDB. HINT: When in Rome, do as the Romans do (why have these Romans used punctuation?).

If you have cracked the code, email Silvia. The first person to crack the code gets to choose the message to be encrypted for the next issue! The first person to tell me why they think I’ve used this key (eg. ‘FIRST’ for a substitution cipher or ‘1’ for a caesar cipher) gets to choose the key for the next edition’s message.

This one’s easy, but they will get progressively harder. Hope you enjoyed cracking it!

26

DEVICE RECOMMENDATIONS

The Acer Aspire 3 has been voted the best budget laptop of 2023

by PCWorld, with its affordable

and robust form. It sells at £529.99 when reviewed, but can be bought

from much cheaper for example on Amazon at around £400.

The Dell Inspiron Plus 16 7630 for the best midrange laptop, which

is priced at around £1,300 due to its strong power for its price, and its ability to hold its own with some games installed.

And while maybe it wasn’t the best device of 2023, it’s still certainly noteworthy - the new

Apple iPhone 15 and 15 Pro Max.

They may not have the best

graphics or the most updated

hardware, but the annual Apple

event is one of the most exciting events of the year in the tech

world. Currently it stands at around £799 (iPhone 15) and £1,400

(Pro Max). In the Apple event this year, Apple also announced a

new Apple watch - series 9, with a range of new features

The new Samsung Galaxy A series is a

alongside the new iPhone.

midrange phone, with one of the newest being A54, and graphics and charge to rival the newer iPhone models.

The Steam Deck OLED is also a new release that uses the 2022 Steam

27

Deck as a template.

SPENCER, 12E

RASPBERRY PI IN SPACE

SPENCER, 12E

A Raspberry Pi is a small computer, about the size of a credit

card. Recently, it was also able to function with an external GPU on the Raspberry Pi 5.

The first Raspberry Pi models (Model B) were released on July 15, 2012, after Model B’s more complex and expensive Model A’s release in February of the same year., and has its own OS

(Operating System). Since its initial release, it has accepted HDMI and USB inputs, helping it become the best-selling British computer.

They are replacing two older models called Ed and Izzy,

which were deployed in 2015.

The project is “Astro Pi”, and is conducted by the ESA (European space agency) and the RPF (Raspberry Pi Foundation) which has school students create simple code using information from the ESA to conduct an experiment.

The Astro Pi (Mission Space Lab) competition is open until the 18th of March. Students can participate in teams of 2-6 (with a

mentor) and registration is open from the 6th of November to the 19th of February 2024.

Additionally, a “Sense HAT” was

sent, with a joystick, LED display, camera and sensors for

recording lighting conditions,

temperature, humidity, pressure

28

and orientation.

APPLE BEING NO LONGER INNOVATIVE CHAHAT Y12 People question the price of the new apple products because the new iPhone have the same features as the old ones. So, is it necessary to launch a new iPhone every year? Apple chief executive officer Tim Cook was asked this question while

speaking to Brut recently. He replied, “I think having an iPhone

every year for those people that want is a great thing. And what we do is we allow people to trade in their phones. And so, we

resell that phone if it's still working. And if it's not working, we have got ways of disassembling it and taking the materials to make a new iPhone out of". But is that really the case?

The iPhone isn’t really a higher quality product compared to the top-of-the-line Android phones. It doesn’t really stand out in

anything compared to them like performance, battery life, camera, speakers, screen etc. It also isn’t innovative or technologically

progressive as much as Android phones. It also packs in lower

specs and lesser features compared to Android phones. Its only

charm is iOS, but even that has both pros and cons over Android.

Because manufacturers cannot compete on features and

software (because Google does that). They must compete on

price. This results in a very extreme forms of competition, which some describe as a race to the bottom.

29

APPLE BEING NO LONGER INNOVATIVE CHAHAT 12C I think that the iPhone release season marketing is what causes

apple to be, so the rumours start flying months in advance. Leaks

of dazzling new features spread like wildfire. And when September rolls around, Apple pulls back the curtain with grandeur and flair.

Cue the dramatic music and exciting new product video. There’s always something “revolutionary” about this iPhone — a bigger screen, fancy new camera system, or faster processor. But in

reality, the yearly updates are often quite modest. The screen gets a tiny bit bigger. The camera gets a few extra megapixels. The

processor gets a 10–20% speed boost. Yeah, those things are nice, but real “breakthrough” innovation happens far less

frequently. So why do people keep upgrading every year? FOMOfear of missing out. Humans have a psychological aversion to

missing out on the latest and greatest. We want the shine of a

brand-new iPhone right out of the box. We want bragging rights among our peers. We want that rush of anticipation and excitement that comes from getting the latest tech.

But what we are experiencing is the slow and steady decline of

Apple. The current situation was actually predicted by Steve Jobs himself early in his career, when he foresaw Apple would likely

follow in the footsteps of Xerox and IBM if the company “got away from the innovation that made them so successful in the first place.”

30

APPLE BEING LONGER INNOVATIVE

NO

The truth of the matter is that at its core, Apple’s woes go far beyond their ability to sell their flagship smartphones.The

company’s challenges surround one simple fact: Apple is not

innovative anymore across any category. Apple is failing to bring

anything new to the table in smartphones, apps, smart devices, or even their retail stores. And until they find a way to do so, we will

continue to watch this company unravel. For example, The Folding Phone is one of the most visible place where apple is failing to

strive at. The company is falling woefully behind rivals in several categories, including hardware. And while Apple still promises a folding iPhone, and did put forth a “concept image,” Steve

Wozniak himself said during an interview with Bloomberg he is concerned about Samsung’s two-year lead. Goldman Sachs

agrees, and recently described the Galaxy Fold as “the main potential challenge” for Apple. So do you think Apple is innovative?

31

CHAHAT 12C

HOW DOES CLOUD STORAGE WORK? DIYA , 12F Cloud storage (a subcategory of cloud computing) is an external

off-site location run by a third-party company that store your data for you. The data is then accessed through the internet, providing a link between your computer and the database. There are some

databases that are specific with the types of data they store, and others can store all types of data.

The name given to locations that store cloud storage data is data

centres. The process in which a client requests for data is a client completes the necessary authentication needed to log into their account and the file requested by the client is either sent as a separate copy or is edited directly on the server. Redundancy,

where the same data is duplicated and put on multiple servers, is very important with cloud storage companies as if one server

breaks down, clients should still be able to access their data at any given time. Occasionally, different power supplies are also used for the servers containing the same data, so a power cut of some sort doesn’t affect all the servers.

Most people who use cloud storage don’t rely on it completely and use it rather as a backup, e.g. if their computer broke then they can still access their data with another device using internet

connection. There are many cloud storage companies existing today and are continuing to grow larger.

Some well heard examples of this is: iCloud, email platforms such as Gmail and Yahoo, Google docs (which is also an example of

cloud computing) and OneDrive. Some of these companies charge a fee once you exceed the storage they provide to you for free,

e.g. iCloud provide 5GB free of cloud storage and charge you monthly after based on your requirements.

32

HOW DOES STORAGE WORK?

CLOUD

However useful cloud storage may be, it doesn’t come without its disadvantages. Two of the biggest concerns of cloud storage is the reliability and the security. Clients will only tend to trust

companies with steady funding, a good reputation and whose data hasn’t been involved in a data leak. They will also not want anyone with unauthorised access to be able to view their data, or worse,

leak it. Methods that cloud storage companies use to enable their data is secure is by using authentication and encryption.

Authentication is when a username and password is created by the client for them to use every time they would like to access

their data. Another form of authentication is touch ID or face ID on a client’s device to approve the login details. Two factor

authentication can also be used as a safety measure for sensitive data, where their email address or phone number is sent a onetime code that expires in a certain amount of time. Encryption is

also a secure way as you will need an encryption and decryption key that is private and specific to your data.

33

DIYA, 12F

HOW DOES BLUETOOTH WORK? KARYA Ever wondered how your phone connects to your headphones

when you decide to listen to your favourite songs? Well, Bluetooth is the answer to that and the science behind it may not actually be as complicated as you may think.

When connecting your phone to your

headphones, your phone would send out a radio signal using its in built antenna

(also known as a transmitter), this radio signal would then be received by the

antenna in your headphones (also known

as a receiver) and therefore it allows data

to be transferred without having to connect a cable in between the devices.

However, this alone would mean that radio

signals could interfere with one another, and

your music could be playing on someone else’s headphones! This is why Bluetooth uses

frequency hopping, which is where the 2.4

GHz frequency band divides into 79 channels and then it rapidly

switches between them at a rate of 1,600 times per second. This ensures security of your data and allows for efficient communication of devices via Bluetooth.

For additional security, the data which is sent between the

devices get encrypted, which is when the communications get

scrambled up and would be a challenge to decode (think of it as a puzzle but even more difficult!).

34

HOW DOES BLUETOOTH WORK? Despite all the benefits of Bluetooth, there are still some issues with it, such as the frustration of having to keep the connect devices close enough for the connection to work or even connection between the devices may be a problem as they may not be able to find one another.

To resolve this, scientists and computer technicians have been working together and so far, we have had Bluetooth EDR (Enhanced data rate) which offers simpler connectivity between devices and higher security as well as Bluetooth Highspeed which offers a faster communication with lower battery consumption to be able to use Bluetooth for longer.

Furthermore, computer scientists have been working to resolve the issue of bluebugging, which is when someone takes over your Bluetooth device without your knowledge in order to spy on your activity and benefit from your data. Thus far, there aren’t many ways to prevent bluebugging from happening to you however if you keep your devices software up to date it ensures your security and reinforces your safety.

35

KARYA

CHRISTMAS TREE EXEC * * A *** ***** VERY ******* ********* HAPPY ************* ******* CHRISTMAS *********** *************** AND MY ******************* *********** BEST WISHES *************** ******************* FOR THE NEXT *********************** *************** YEAR ******************* *********************** *************************** ****** ****** ******

DATE DISCOVERED: 9 DECEMBER 1987 CREATED BY: UNKNOWN LANGUAGE: REXX PLATFORM: IBM SYSTEM/370 FILE TYPE: .EXEC TYPE: MASS MAILER WORM THE WORM’S CREATOR , A STUDENT IN GERMANY, CLAIMED THAT THE DAMAGE WAS UNINTENTIONAL AND THAT THE PROGRAM WAS FOR SENDING CHRISTMAS GREETINGS TO FRIENDS, HOWEVER THEY WERE BARRED FROM USING THEIR SYSTEM BY 21 DECEMBER 1987.

CHRISTMAS TREE EXEC WAS A COMPUTER WORM THAT WAS CREATED IN LATE 1987, AND RELEASED IN DECEMBER 1987. IT WAS THE FIRST PROGRAM TO PARALYSE A NETWORK, AND DID THIS BY EMAILING ITSELF TO EVERY EMAIL ADDRESS IN THE ADDRESS BOOK OF THE RECIPIENT. THE ORIGINAL EMAIL HAD THE SUBJECT LINE “LET THIS EXEC RUN AND ENJOY YOURSELF!”. THE MASS EMAILS WOULD HAVE CAUSED BITNET NODES TO SEND A MESSAGE TO THE SENDER EVERY TIME THE WORM PASSED THROUGH THEM, INTERRUPTING WORK ON THE USER’S SCREEN. THE VIRUS INITIALLY MADE IT ONTO THE EARNET, AND TRANSFERRED FROM THERE THROUGH MANY OTHER NETWORKS UNTIL IT REACHED IBM’S VNET ELECTRONIC MAIL NETWORK, AND CAUSED IT TO PARALYSE ON 17TH DECEMBER 1987. THE ONLY WAY THEY WERE ABLE TO GET RID OF THE WORM WAS TO SHUT DOWN THE NETWORK. ALL THE NETWORKS IT SPREAD TO EXPERIENCED SOME DISRUPTION. IN 1990 IT RESURFACED ON USENET, AND CAUSED IBM TO SHUT DOWN ITS 350,000-TERMINAL NETWORK IN ORDER TO DISINFECT THE NETWORK.

36