Computers often record and transfer information using a series of ones (1) and zeros (0). This is called a "binary system." In the images that students created, a computer would often record each box or PICTURE ELEMENT (pixel) as being a zero for white and a one for black.  

Ask students to create a "mystery word" or "mystery picture" on graph paper and "tell" fellow student how to recreate exactly the same WITHOUT showing students the picture. Call white squares zero and black squares one. Suggest to students that they start in the upper left hand corner of the paper and read numbers (one and zeros) all of the way across the page to the end of the line, then, go back to the left side and read the second row.

Students should pay attention to, and create if possible, ways to speed up the process of telling someone how to create the picture. Speeding up this process is called FILE COMPRESSION.

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Lesson designed by the YPOP Team

For questions about this lesson, please contact Tim Slater