New Mexico Computer Science For All

Abstraction in Life and Computer Science

Maureen Psaila-Dombrowski

What is Abstraction?

•Abstraction Ignoring some details or parts so that you

can focus on what is important to you at that time.

As your interests change the amount of abstraction you need can change too.

•Levels of Abstraction These are the levels or layers in your

abstraction. The layer in your abstraction includes things

that can be grouped together in the same way.

Some Types of Abstraction

•Physical Abstraction▫Levels - physical parts of an object.

•Modeling Abstraction▫Levels - what you want to include in a

model.

•Control Abstraction▫Levels - how something is controlled

•Data Abstraction▫Levels - some characteristic of the data and

how you want to use it.

What?•No Way! I never do that….. Yes you do…

you are doing it right now!

•Everyone uses abstraction – otherwise ….

•Your brain automatically filters or abstracts▫Sights▫Sounds

•Your mind automatically changes levels of abstraction

▫Driving, walking▫Looking for a friend in a crowd

Applying Abstraction in Everyday Life

•Abstraction Simplification to what’s important.

Focus on the important part Ignore the other parts until later, if at all

•Powerful! Don’t waste time and energy Make’s things manageable, doable Then use decomposition to figure out the

steps

Applying Abstraction in Everyday Life: Go to a Amusement Park

Abstraction: Go to a Amusement Park

Applying Abstraction: CAR

Applying Abstraction: CARDriver

AutomotiveEngineer

MechanicCar Parts Designer

Materials Engineer

MechanicalEngineer Physicist

Applying Abstraction: Modeling Driving a Car

Applying Abstraction: Modeling Driving a Car

CAR

Accelerator Brake

Applying Abstraction: Modeling Driving a Car

CAR

Accelerator Brake Wipers

Indicato

r

Mirr

ors

Gas

Guage

One Last Abstraction:

After learning about what is inside a computer,You realize that a computer can be

abstracted as follows

Computer Programmer

System Designer

Average Person

One Last Abstraction:

HardwareEngineer

Computer Programmer

Operating System Designer

One Last Abstraction:YOU

Before this Class

Average Person

Computer Programmer

Operating System Designer

One Last Abstraction:YOU

Before this Class

YOUAfter this

Class

Average Person

Summary•Abstraction - simplification, focus only on

the important parts•Levels of Abstraction - each level includes

things that can be grouped together.•You already use abstraction all the time•You can apply abstraction to different

things and for different reasons▫Objects▫Models