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2.1.1. Thinking Abstractly-2

The document discusses different types of abstraction in computer science including representational abstraction, abstraction by generalization, data abstraction, and procedural abstraction. It explains that abstraction removes unnecessary details and focuses on key features to simplify problems. Abstraction allows non-experts to use complex systems by hiding irrelevant information. It also enables more efficient software design by focusing on core elements. Programming languages use different levels of abstraction, with low-level languages interacting directly with hardware while high-level languages make programming easier. The document also provides examples of abstract models including object-oriented programming and networking models.

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63 views

2.1.1. Thinking Abstractly-2

The document discusses different types of abstraction in computer science including representational abstraction, abstraction by generalization, data abstraction, and procedural abstraction. It explains that abstraction removes unnecessary details and focuses on key features to simplify problems. Abstraction allows non-experts to use complex systems by hiding irrelevant information. It also enables more efficient software design by focusing on core elements. Programming languages use different levels of abstraction, with low-level languages interacting directly with hardware while high-level languages make programming easier. The document also provides examples of abstract models including object-oriented programming and networking models.

Uploaded by

F J
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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OCR Computer Science A Level

2.1.1 Thinking Abstractly


Intermediate Notes

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Specification:

2.1.1 a)
● The nature of abstraction

2.1.1 b)
● The need for abstraction

2.1.1 c)
● The difference between abstraction and reality

2.1.1 d)
● Devise an abstract model for a variety of situations

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The nature of abstraction

Abstraction is one of the most important principles in computer science. It is the act of
removing excessive details​ to arrive at a representation of a problem that consists of only
the​ key features​. Abstraction often involves analysing ​what is relevant​ to a given scenario
and simplifying a problem based on this information. This is ​representational abstraction​.

Another form of abstraction involves​ grouping together similarities​ within a problem to


identify what kind of problem​ it is. This is called ​abstraction by generalisation​ and allows
certain problems to be​ categorised as being of a particular
type​. Thus a ​common solution​ can be used to solve these
problems

Data abstraction​ is a type of abstraction in which ​details


about how data is being stored are hidden​. Therefore
programmers can use ​abstract data structures​ such as
stacks and queues ​without knowing how they work.

Users can also perform functions such as pushing and


popping items to and from a stack ​without being aware of
how this functionality is implemented​. This is procedural
abstraction. It is also used in decomposition as it models
what a subroutine does without considering how. Once a
procedure has been coded, it can be reused as a
black-box.

Very large, complex problems make use of​ multiple levels of abstraction​, where each level
performs a different role. The highest levels of abstraction are ​closest to the user​ and are
usually responsible for​ providing a user interface​ while the lowest levels interact with
machine components.

The need for abstraction

At its core, abstraction allows ​non-experts to make use of a range of systems or models​ by
hiding information​ that is ​too complex or irrelevant​ to the system’s purpose. Abstraction
enables for ​more efficient software design ​as programmers can focus on core elements
rather than unnecessary details. This ​reduces the time spent on the project​ and​ prevents
the program from getting unnecessarily large​.

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Programming languages can be separated out into a spectrum of high and low-level
languages. Low-level languages such as assembly code and machine code ​directly
interact with computer systems​ but are more ​difficult to write​. Programming using machine
code requires understanding ​binary. ​Assembly code requires programmers to know the
mnemonics associated with the instruction set​ specific to each processor. High-level
languages provide an abstraction for the machine code that is in fact executed when a
program is run. This makes developing programs easier, as ​syntax in high-level languages
parallels natural language​ and is​ considerably easier to
learn​ and use. This has also made coding ​accessible to
non-specialists​.

The​ TCP/IP model​ is an abstraction for how networks


function, separated into​ four layers of abstraction:
application, transport, internet and link​.

Each layer deals with a ​different part of the


communication process​, and separating these stages out
makes them simpler to understand. Each layer does not
need to know how other layers work. Outgoing
communication is visualised as going down these layers,
while incoming information can be imagined as going up
these layers.

The difference between abstraction and reality

Abstraction is a ​simplified representation of reality​. Entities are represented as ​structures


such as tables and databases and real-world values can be stored as ​variables​.

Objects in object-oriented programming​ are also an


abstraction for real-world entities​. Abstraction in OOP
considers the ​functionality, interface and properties of
entities​. Attributes are an abstraction for the characteristics
of an object while methods are an abstraction for the
actions a real-world object is able to perform.

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Devise an abstract model for a variety of situations

When devising an abstract model given a scenario, you must consider:

- What is the problem that needs to be solved by the model?

Can the problem be solved computationally? What are the key features of
the problem?

- How will the model be used?

What sort of format does the model need to be displayed in? Consider
factors such as convenience, affordability and ease of access​.

- Who will the model be used by?

How many people will be using the model? What level of expertise do they
have in the subject/ discipline associated with the problem?

- Which parts of the problem are relevant based on the target audience and model’s
purpose?

Remove sections that are not relevant to the problem that needs solving.
Remove details that will confuse the audience.

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