Computing innovations impact our lives in ways that require considerable study and reflection for us to fully understand them

Computer Application

Computing innovations impact our lives in ways that require considerable study and reflection for us to
fully understand them. In this Performance Task, you will explore a computing innovation of your
choice. Your close examination of this computing innovation will deepen your understanding of
computer science principles.
Please note that you are expected to complete the task independently. You are required to submit:
● A Computational Artifact
● Written Responses to given prompts
General Requirements
This performance task requires you to select and investigate a computational innovation that:
● Has or has had the potential to have significant beneficial and harmful effects on society,
economy, or culture.
● Consumes, produces, and/or transforms data.
● Raises at least one data storage concern, data privacy concern, or data security concern.
You are also required to:
● Investigate your computing innovation using a variety of sources (e.g. print, online, expert
interviews).
● Cite at least three sources that helped you create your computational artifact and/or formulate
your written responses.
○ At least two of the sources must be available online or in print; your third source may
be either online, in print, or a personal interview with an expert on the computing
innovation.
○ At least two of the sources must have been created after May, 2015.
Effective Fall 2015 through Spring 2017-College Board Page 2 of 3
● Produce a computational artifact that illustrates, represents or explains the computing
innovation’s intended purpose, its function, or its effect. Many tools to create artifacts were
demonstrated in your recitation.
● Provide written responses to questions about your computational artifact and computing
innovation.
Submission Requirements
1. Computational Artifact
Your computational artifact must provide an illustration, representation, or explanation of the
computing innovation’s intended purpose, its function or its effect. The computational artifact must
not simply repeat the information supplied in the written responses and should be primarily non textual.

Submit a video, audio, or PDF file. Use computing tools and techniques to create one original
computational artifact (a visualization, graphic, video, or audio recording). Acceptable multimedia file
types include .mp3, .mp4, .wmv, .avi, .mov, .wav, .aif, or .pdf format. PDFs must not exceed 3 pages
in length. Video or audio files must not exceed 1 minute in length and must not exceed 30MB in size.
2. Written Responses
Submit one PDF document in which you respond directly to each prompt. Clearly label your responses
2a – 2e in order. Your responses must provide evidence of the extensive knowledge you have
developed about your chosen computing innovation and its impact(s). Write your responses so they
would be understandable to someone who is not familiar with the computing innovation. Include
citations, as applicable, within your written responses. Your response to all prompts combined should
not exceed 700 words.
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2a. Provide the following information on your computing innovation and computational artifact.
● Name the computing innovation that is represented by your computational artifact.
● Describe the computing innovation’s intended purpose and function.
● Describe how your computational artifact illustrates, represents or explains the computing
innovation’s intended purpose, its function or its effect.
(Approximately 100 words)
2b. Describe your development process, explicitly identifying the computing tools and techniques you
used to create your artifact. Your description must be detailed enough so that a person unfamiliar with
those tools and techniques will understand your process. (Approximately 100 words)
2c. Explain at least one beneficial effect and at least one harmful effect the computing innovation has
had, or has the potential to have, on society, economy, or culture. (Approximately 250 words)
Effective Fall 2015 through Spring 2017-College Board Page 3 of 3
2d. Using specific details, describe:
● The data your innovation uses.
● How the innovation consumes (as input), produces (as output), and/or transforms data.
● At least one data storage concern, data privacy concern, or data security concern directly
related to the computing innovation.
(Approximately 250 words)
2e. Provide a list of at least three online or print sources used to create your computational artifact
and/or support your responses to the prompts provided in this performance task.
● At least two of the sources must have been created after the end of the previous academic
year.
● For each online source, include the permanent URL. Identify the author, title, source, the date
you retrieved the source, and, if possible, the date the reference was written or posted.
● For each print source, include the author, title of excerpt/article and magazine or book, page
number(s), publisher, and date of publication.
● If you include an interview source, include the name of the person you interviewed, the date
on which the interview occurred, and the person’s position in the field.
● Include citations for the sources you used, and number each source accordingly.
● Each source must be relevant, credible, and easily accessed.