Collaborative Research: BPC-DP: A Cultural Shift in Computer Science: Introducing Computation through E-Textiles

马萨诸塞州理工学院与位于博尔德的科罗拉多大学合作，提出了一个通过电子纺织品引入计算的项目。在美国，计算机科学是一门绝大多数男性的学科。造成这种性别失衡的许多关键因素是文化因素;也就是说，围绕计算机科学成长起来的文化具有多种属性，对男性的吸引力大于女性。作为回应，这个项目旨在设计一个替代的文化途径进入主题-一个途径，并不打算改变，甚至含蓄地批评现有的CS文化，而是试图提供一个非常不同的文化，通过新的人口（特别是女性）可以成为着迷于计算。具体而言，该项目将开发和传播通过织物和电子纺织品（或电子纺织品）使人们参与计算的工具。这项工作将建立在正在进行的努力，创造方便，强大的工具和材料，使用户能够设计和建立自己的可编程互动时尚。用户在这种另类的计算机科学文化中从事的项目类型内容丰富，但令人耳目一新：它们是有形的，丰富多彩的，戏剧性的，丰富的交互性和美丽的。该项目建议通过两个互补的工作途径鼓励这种新文化的发展：为LilyPad Arduino（由PI开发的工具包，使人们能够构建电子纺织品）开发可视化编程环境，以及为教育工作者开发，传播和评估“E-textiles in-a-Box”工具包。这套资料将通过全国妇女和信息技术中心开发的大型网络传播，其有效性将由全国妇女和信息技术中心的社会科学小组进行评估。这些努力是吸引电子纺织品广泛受众的关键下一步，并通过这种参与-计算中的新的和多样化的受众。

The Massachusetts Institute of Technology, in collaboration with the University of Colorado at Boulder, proposes a project to introduce computation through e-textiles. Computer science in the United States is an overwhelmingly male discipline. Many of the the crucial factors in this gender imbalance are cultural; that is, the culture that has grown up around computer science has a variety of attributes that appeal more to males than females. In response, this project seeks to design an alternative cultural pathway into the subject -- a pathway that does not purport to change or even implicitly criticize the existing CS culture, but rather seeks to provide a very different culture through which new populations (and especially females) can become fascinated with computing. Specifically, this project will develop and disseminate tools for engaging people in computing through the medium of fabrics and electronic textiles (or e-textiles). The work will build upon ongoing efforts to create accessible, powerful tools and materials that allow users to design and build their own programmable interactive fashion. The types of projects that users undertake within this alternative culture of computer science are rich in content, but refreshingly nontraditional: they are tangible, colorful, dramatic, richly interactive, and beautiful. This project proposes to encourage the growth of this new culture via two complementary avenues of work: the development of a visual programming environment for the LilyPad Arduino (a toolkit developed by the PIs that enables people to build e-textiles) and the development, dissemination, and evaluation of an "E-textiles in-a-Box" kit for educators. This kit will be disseminated through the large network developed by the National Center for Women and Information Technology (NCWIT) and its effectiveness will be assessed by NCWIT's social science team. These efforts are crucial next steps in engaging a broad audience in e-textiles and -- via this engagement -- a new and diverse audience in computing.