Minds On

Computer controlled?

At home and at school we use energy for things that turn on and off.

Action

Ontario connection

We are going to learn more about ways that people use energy in communities around Ontario.

This learning activity highlights people, places, or innovations that relate directly to the province of Ontario. Enjoy the exploration!

In our world today, computers are used in many different ways. One way that people use computers is to control how much energy they use.

We can use computer programming to control our energy use in many ways. When computers control everyday tasks for us, this is called automation.

Press ‘What is Energy?’ to access a definition of energy.

Energy is being able to move or change something.

Press ‘What is Automation?’ to access a definition of automation.

Automation means that a program is used to independently or automatically control something.

Student Success

Think!

With a partner if possible, think about the following items in a school. Could they be controlled with switches? Could they come on automatically? Is there anything you think that could be controlled with voices? What about movement?

  • main entrance door
  • heating
  • classroom light
  • water fountain

The Rogers Centre, (then known as the Skydome) in Toronto opened in 1989 with a moveable roof that can be closed to keep the spectators comfortable in changing weather. The roof closes when it is cold or rainy. Computer programs control the movement of the roof, but a person decides when it is time to use the program to close it or open it.

Check out the following video of the Rogers Centre roof closing.

Smart schools and smart homes

When people ask someone lots of questions to learn more about them, it is called an interview.

Create 1-2 interview questions that you could ask an adult at home or school. Your interview questions should help you investigate what parts of the school or home are controlled by automation.

You could ask these questions:

  • What are items that use energy here?
  • How are these items controlled?

Use the following checklists and record your interview questions using a method of your choice.

Interview Checklist

A good interview question…
A good interviewer…

If possible, ask your questions and record the answers using a method of your choice.

Ready, set, automate!

Programming can help control the energy we use at home or school, and we can program depending on the time of day or season.

In some buildings we use computers to program the time of day the lights go on and off, or sensors to be able to tell when people are in the room so that lights go off when you leave.

Check out the following video of workers installing an automated device.

Now that you’ve learned about automation and designed questions to interview someone to know what is automated, you get to make some decisions on how to automate!

  • What would you need to know to set the light timers?

Press ‘Answer’ to access one possible answer.

You need to know what time the sun comes up, and what time it goes down.

Match the action to the image.

Explore the following charts that show the amount of sun in the summer and winter.

What is different in the summer and winter in these charts?

How might this change how much energy people use?

Images of suns showing the amount of sun we get at different times of the day in the summer. There are 2 suns at 9 A M, 4 suns at 12 P M, 3 suns at 5 P M, and 2 suns at 9 P M.

Images of suns showing the amount of sun we get at different times of the day in the winter. There is half a sun at 9 A M, 2 suns at 12 P M, 1 sun at 5 P M, and half a sun at 9 P M.

What times of day should the lights be off in the summer? What about the winter?

Sensors

At schools and shopping centres, there are sometimes water fountains, doors, hand driers, sinks, or toilets with a sensor. The sensor uses either your body heat or light to tell the computer to turn on or off the water or the hand drier. This technology helps to lower the amount of water or energy used.

Are there ways you control how energy is used to warm or cool a room with just a voice? With an app? By using up and down buttons?

There are other ways we can help to save energy. Some things a person could try are:

  • adjusting light timers as the seasons change
  • turning the temperature down one degree in the winter
  • turning the temperature up one degree in the summer
  • using a switch to turn off a light even if a timer will turn it off later

Consolidation

Setting it just right

Using sensors, timers and programs allows us to automate different parts of buildings and devices.

Now that you’ve investigated your home or school for examples, you can think about ways to change these programs to save more energy.

Using any method of your choice, create a drawing of 1-2 ways you can save energy in the winter.

Think about it!

How might people make changes to their energy in different seasons? Why?

Why is it important to save energy?

Record your answers in a method of your choice.

Reflection

How do you feel about what you have learned in this activity? Which of the next four sentences best matches how you are feeling about your learning? Press the button that is beside this sentence.

I feel…

Now, record your ideas about your feelings using a voice recorder, speech-to-text, or writing tool.