Is Click’d accurate computer science or science fiction?🤔
- Summary of Book
- Why Click’d is more like science fiction
- How Click’d relates to real computer science
- My opinion on Click’d
Summary of Book
Click’d is a book by Tamara Ireland Stone about a girl who creates a new online game. The name of the game is Click’d. She made it at her CodeGirls summer camp and hopes it will win the Games for Good competition. Her game helps people make new friends by pairing users with similar enjoyments, and then sends them on a mission to find each other. But how much of it is science fiction vs. real computer science?
Why Click’d is more like science fiction
To some, Click’d might seem more like science fiction because sometimes it mainly focuses on the social aspects such as when Allie’s friends complain that they want to be closer on her leaderboard, or how she is in competition with her nemesis–Nathan, in winning the Games For Good competition. But just because the book is focused on the social aspects, it does not mean the game is science fiction. One clear reason why the book may be considered science fiction is since it is unlikely a middle school girl can design an app which the whole school likes to play. In addition, how is she able to make the phones “bloop,” whenever they come in close contact, and make the phones flash when they touch each other. The author is more focused on Allie’s middle school life, and pursuing her dreams than the real computer science behind her video game.
How Click’d relates to real computer science
Click’d relates to real computer science because the game which Allie created is kind of like some of the ones already existing, such as personality quizzes. I think this app is like the friendship version of Tinder because they pair up people with similar interests and send them on a journey to find each other. Later in the book, there arises a problem in her game with exposing sensitive information given by people using the app. There are many real-life issues with exposing people’s personal information online. Allie learns that you should be careful with not only the amount of data you ask users, but also how to secure it from people who would use it in bad ways, and what to do with this information.
My opinion on Click’d
In my opinion, Click’d is a good combination of Allie’s interest in computers and her middle school life. In fact, these two things kind of coincide. When there are issues with her friends, or other students, there also tends to be issues with her game. For example, when she accidentally exposes personal information, her friends are really mad at her, and she needs to find a way to fix the app with her enemy, Nathan. I think it was interesting how this book has a female protagonist in middle school-Allie, who pursues her dreams of creating a game that binds people together, and learns so many things both about friends and the online world.
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