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AI Explorers 3-5 / Week 02 / Wednesday
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Week 02 · Sensors and Perception

Wednesday

Explorer Lab: Mystery sock
// How computers sense the world
⏱ about 15 min

Wednesday: Explorer Lab: Mystery Sock

Raven drops five things into a long sock. "No peeking," she tells Rocket.

Rocket reaches in. "It is round and smooth," he says. "I bet it is a ball!"

"What do you notice with your fingers?" Raven asks.

Nova hovers nearby. "Your fingers are sensors today," she hints. "Collect the signals first. Then find the meaning."

Your investigation

You will be a perception machine. Your fingers are the sensors.

You will feel each mystery object, write the signals, then make a guess.

  • A long sock or a paper bag
  • 5 safe objects chosen by a grown-up, like a spoon, a block or a crayon
  • A pencil and paper
  • A grown-up helper
Safety first
A grown-up chooses the objects. Nothing sharp, hot or breakable.
Nothing goes in your mouth.
Reach in gently and slowly.
  1. The grown-up puts 5 objects in the sock without you seeing.
  2. Reach in and touch one object. Do not look.
  3. Write the signals: shape, size, hard or soft, smooth or bumpy.
  4. Make a guess about what it is. Write it down.
  5. Pull it out and check. Write yes or no.
  6. Do the same for all 5 objects.
ObjectSignals I feltMy guessRight? (yes or no)
1
2
3
4
5
MAKE A PREDICTION
  • Read the question.
  • Tap your answer.
Before you start, predict. Which signal will help you most?

Read your results

Count your right guesses.

Look at the wrong guesses. Which signals fooled you?

Your fingers sent signals. Your brain found meaning. That is perception!

You guessed 5 objects. 4 were right. How many were wrong?
In the lab, what were your sensors? Type one word.
What we learnedTrue or false?
Feeling round and smooth is a signal.?
Saying "it is a spoon" is finding meaning.?
More signals can help you make a better guess.?
Perception is always right.?
WHY THIS EXERCISESignals plus meaning make perception, and it can still be wrong.
How many objects did you guess right? Type a number.
WHY THIS EXERCISEAny score is a good score. Every result teaches you something.
THINK ABOUT YOUR TEST
  • Read the question.
  • Tap your answer.
You felt only one side of an object. Would more touching help?
A spoon and a fork felt alike at first. What could help tell them apart?

Amazing lab work! Tomorrow we see how sensors and programs team up.

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