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Text Compression

Text Compression
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Text Compression

Many computer users are familiar with compressed formats such as zip, gzip, or gif images. These are based on a method called Ziv-Lempel coding, which turns out to be an interesting exercise in finding patterns in text.

Children's rhymes and stories are good examples for text compression, because they often involve repeated words and sequences.

  • Text Compression
Curriculum Links
Great Principles of Computer Science 
  • Communication
  • Recollection
ACM K12 Curriculum 
  • Level I (Grades 3–5) Topic 11: develop a simple understanding of an algorithm
New Zealand Curriculum 
  • Technology Level 1:Technological systems
  • Understand that technological systems have inputs, controlled transformations, and outputs.
  • Technology Level 3: Technological systems
  • Understand that technological systems are represented by symbolic language tools and understand the role played by the “black box” in technological systems.
Extension 

  • Computing Science Inside Workshop has an activity Zipping it Up which is a nice extension activity to this topic. This workshop questions why it has taken so long to introduce 3G mobile phones, identifying lack of bandwidth as a key issue. It explores the area of data compression and decompression - essential in any application where the bandwidth is low or storage is limited - and gets pupils working with the kinds of algorithms that underlie the Zip utility found on a PC.
    Note: You will need to apply and register in order to recieve the Workshop Pack for this activity.

Other Resources