U1Ch1L2b: Developing A Protocol Purpose: Students will learn how to develop a Protocol in order to solve a problem. Intro: Handout Yesterday you made a Device and developed a Process to communicate your own binary message. In order to interpret the message we needed to know which signal meant A and which meant B. What we were really doing was beginning to develop a communication Protocol. Today you’re going to develop a protocol to solve a problem. Flashlight Binary Signal! Instructions: “Imagine that you and your friend have made a binary signaling protocol using a flashlight. The light on is letter “A”, off is letter “B.”   One student is the transmitter and sends a message with a flashlight. One student is the receiver and decodes the binary message.

Challenge #1 - Transmitting simple Binary Code.
“Imagine that you and your friend have made a binary signaling protocol using a flashlight. The light on is letter “A”, off is letter “B.”  

• Protocol: The Transmitter shall pulse the flash light on and off at ~1 second intervals 4 times.
• The Transmitter and Receiver should take a moment to practice with both the Device & Protocol.
• The Instructor will provide the Transmitting Student with the a code.
• Your partner sends you this code. What is being signaled here? Write down what you think the message says.”
  Students can check to see if it matches the code that was provided to the Transmitter.
• Should the protocol be rewritten?

Challenge #2 - Transmitting more complex Binary Code.
“Uh oh! Your friend realizes she actually made a mistake encoding the message from before and decides to re-send the message. Decode this new version of the message and write it down.”

• The instructor will provide the students with a new code.
• Students should once again transmit and receive.
• Did it work?
• Should the protocol be rewritten?