Actor-lab is a parallel, object-orientated control language designed to introduce the ideas of control technology and robotics. Actor-lab was designed to make the teaching of control technology possible in classroom settings where, after a general introduction by the teacher, year 5-7 children work by themselves in small groups with only peer support. The language and the interface were designed to represent the notion of input-process-output that is central to basic robotics and control technology. It's operation can be explained using the intuitively accessible metaphor of a cast of actors able to send messages to each other. The programmers role becomes one of playwright, writing scripts for the actors. This software was developed using Macro Media Director. |