FlexSim

So I'm doing a presentation on FlexSim, and I thought I'd share. FlexSim is a simulation software that creates 3d models in a real 3d environment that allows anyone to input a system, ranging from manufacturing to hospital admissions. The user can that figure out where backups or other problems occur, or they could test a new set up without ever having to change the actual system. In manufacturing this can save a lot of time and money when trying to figure out why your widgets aren't being sent through the assembly line fast enough or what would happen if you switched step 5 and 7 around.

What I think is really cool is that you can import your own 3d creations from other programs into FlexSim and put them into the simulation as functioning objects

Alice 2.0 – Free! From Carnegie Mellon

What is Alice? Alice is a free programming environment developed by Carnegie Mellon with Randy Pausch (remember, The Last Lecture?http://http//www.youtube.com/watch?v=ji5_MqicxSo ) as one of the lead developers. It is a free, educational learning tool for teachers to get their students interested and excited about programming. It teaches beginner programmers, computer programming in a 3d environment complete with objects, represented by 3D characters, methods, functions, variables, and parameters and can display code in a java like syntax. Alice starts with a world that you can choose such as world that has snow and ice. You can then choose an object form a gallery of objects and there are many galleries to choose from such as Japan, Egypt, a beach, a skateboard park, a city, and an amusement park among others. You simply drag an object into a world, such as dragging a skater into an ice rink world. Then, just by right clicking, you can assign different methods to that object, such as skate one step forward, backward, twirl, etc. Commands always animate so you can quickly see what your method has produced. Since commands in programming are sequential, you can choose the skaters next step like turning 1 revolution. I know a school where they teach this method of programming and the kids are really excited about programming and the response has been tremendous. There are books that can be purchased to accompany this program and there is also a community support group for your programming or technical questions. In addition to Alice for high school students, Carnegie Mellon also produced a Storytelling Alice program for middle school students. It’s free and great for any newcomer to programming. It’s fascinating, check it out! http://www.alice.org/