Final answer:
Alice programming is compared to long-distance communication between students, illustrating the concept of object-oriented programming where messages are sent to objects to perform actions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question relates to Alice programming, which involves sending messages to objects within a program. This process is akin to how people communicate over long distances. Similar to how students in different countries might choose to send messages to each other due to the high cost of travel, in Alice programming, objects receive messages that instruct them to perform certain actions. This concept is related to how computer programming and engineering skills are applied to projects, such as the search for extraterrestrial life, where analyzing radio messages plays a crucial role.