Programming Week: HSE Business Incubator conducted a master class on creating chat bots for schoolchildren and students of Moscow

On October 21, 2017, a master class was held in Moscow in the year to create chat bots as part of the European Field of Programming and the MEET and CODE initiative. The participants in the master class learned the basics of Python programming language and, together with experts, created their own bots in the Telegram messenger. Chat bots will help students in the implementation of their own commercial and non-profit projects.

The host of the master class was Matvey Bebenin , a graduate of the Higher School of Economics, a programmer with extensive experience in optimizing financial business processes using programming in large technological companies. Currently, Matvey is working in startups by the wiring unit , authoros and Pay-Z , where it develops devices and server solutions.

“Programming gives a good competitive advantage in many professional areas and the ability to cope becomes a kind of analogue of the English language, which a young professional should own at least at a basic level,” says Ivan Levin, a 2nd year student at Moscow State University. Lomonosov.

“We came to the master class with a friend because we are in the 11th grade and plan to enter the university for programmers. I was very happy when we managed to create our own bot and launch it. I would also like to note that after the master class we had a long conversation with Matvey and Genghis, and we were able to learn more about HSE and Moscow State University. Lomonosov, where they studied, ”says Alexander Bethnov, high school student of school No. 2036.

Chat bots of participants in the master class:

1. A chat boot that selects educational material and finds the necessary information on the Internet. The bot interface is simple: when pressing the Start button, the bot asks what you need: training materials or information. After choosing the desired function, the bot finds a list of training materials on request or a Wikipedia page.
2. A bot for the search for cafes and restaurants, which selects the nearest public catering places on the rating and reviews of visitors by geolocation.
3. A bot that selects films at the request of the user. When pressing the Start button, the bot suggests choosing the desired genre and selects the top 10 films according to the IMDB rating.
4. Bot for the search for computer equipment. The bot asks leading questions about the technical characteristics of the computer and issues a list of stores where you can purchase them.

For reference

Telegram boots -a program that automatically, on command or a given schedule, performs different actions, automating routine operations. The work of the chatbot will imitate a dialogue with the user.

Python is a common programming language. It is used in many projects and in various qualities: as the main programming language or to create expansion and integration of applications. Python is used in many large companies: Dropbox, Google (for example, some parts of YouTube and YouTube API are written on Python), Facebook, Instagram.

The organizers of the meeting: Business incubator of the Higher School of Economics, together with the public organization “Projects for the future: scientific and educational technologies” with the support of the resource center of the NGO Committee of Public Relations of the city of Moscow.

• HSE business incubator is a structural unit of the Higher School of Economics, the first university incubator in Russia. Since 2006, it has been engaged in the generation and development of startups, and promotes the formation of innovative state infrastructure. Over 10 years, more than 600 companies have become graduates of the incubator. It is included in the top 20 university incubators, according to UBI Global .
• Non -profit organization “Projects for the future: scientific and educational technologies” —the operator of educational programs and projects of entrepreneurial and innovative orientation.