0.4 Phy1010: javascript  (Page 2/12)

Listings

• Listing 1 . A minimal JavaScript script.
• Listing 2 . An example function named getHalf.
• Listing 3 . A selection script example.
• Listing 4 . A sample script that uses variables.
• Listing 5 . A simple while loop.

Supplemental material

I recommend that you also study the other lessons in my extensive collection of online programming tutorials. You will find a consolidated index at www.DickBaldwin.com .

General background information

I explained in the earlier module titled Introduction to Accessible Physics Concepts why you will need an introductory understanding of JavaScript programming ( (External Link) and (External Link) ) to understand the modules in this collection. I won't repeat that explanation here. Instead, I will simply launchinto the material to help you gain that understanding.

Discussion

The goal of this module is to provide an introductory JavaScript programming tutorial that isaccessible to blind students with no programming experience.

Why I chose JavaScript

I chose JavaScript for use in these modules for several reasons.

Free

First, JavaScript is free. The capability to program in JavaScript is available to anyone who has a modern browser installed on their computer. Therefore, cost is not an excuse for not learning to program with JavaScript.

If you are reading this module using a modern browser, you have the ability to program using JavaScript immediately. You don't have to go out and buy anything, so that isn't an excuse for putting it off until tomorrow.

If you don't have a modern browser, you can download a free copy of the Firefox browser at (External Link) .

Fun

Also, programming with JavaScript can be fun. There are a lot of reallyinteresting things that you can do with JavaScript such as playing sound files (see (External Link) ).

OOP

JavaScript encompasses modern programming concepts. For example, JavaScript is based on the concept of objects. Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) is here to stay. (For an extensive discussion of OOP, see the early lessons in my online programming tutorials at (External Link) .)

A free audible, tactile scientific calculator

Most importantly, I chose JavaScript because you will be able to use it, along with a screen reader and a Braille display to create your own scientificcalculator. You can use JavaScript to create solutions to many of the exercises in the modules in this collection of physics concepts.

Facilities required

To use JavaScript for its intended purpose in the modules in this collection, you will need the following:

• Access to the Internet, a screen reader, and a Braille display.
• A modern browser such as Firefox 3.6 (see (External Link) ).
• A plain text editor such as Windows notepad, or my favorite, Arachnophilia, which can be downloaded for free at (External Link) .

A minimal JavaScript script

Listing 1 shows a minimal JavaScript script.