Computer Science Overview
Computer Science is the study of how to formulate problems for solution by
Computer. Computer Scientists are mostly concerned with algorithms and
software rather than computer hardware design, which tends to be classified in
the field of Computer Engineering. (Of course there is a fair amount of overlap
between the two disciplines.) Even with this restriction Computer Science is an
extremely broad and rapidly evolving discipline. Computers have become
increasingly important in all aspects of society and new applications of
Computer Science have arisen to reflect this importance. A web search on the
term "computational" will reveal that almost every academic discipline
can be prefixed by that magic word.
From Biology, Economics and Linguistics through Medicine, Engineering and Physics the
cutting edge is increasingly defined as the edge that borders on Computer
Science.
Computer Science was born roughly 60 years ago largely out of the intensive
code breaking efforts of World War II. The first true computers were giant vacuum
tube monsters with names like ENIAC and EDSAC. These machines owe their existence in large part to
Alan Turing and John von Neumann who developed the idea of storing
instructions on a computer along with the data: the hallmark of a modern
programmable computer. Since that time computer components have gotten faster,
smaller and cheaper by many orders of magnitude and computers themselves have evolved into complex
multilayered entities. As might be expected the field of Computer Science has
also evolved and now comprises many sub disciplines ranging from
the practical to the highly theoretical. Among these you will often find the
following:
- Compiler Design
- Operating Systems
- Numerical Analysis
- Artificial Intelligence
- Hardware and Computer Architecture
- Networks
- Theory of Computation
- Algorithm Analysis and Complexity Theory
- Database Design
- Computer Security
- Computer Graphics
- Robotics and Computer Vision
New applications of Computer Science have spawned a host of hybrid
disciplines that broaden the reach of Computer Science as well as the career
paths open to students of Computer Science. Some of the "hot" new
disciplines:
- Computational Biology and Bioinformatics
- Medical Imaging
- Computational Linguistics and Speech Recognition
- Computational Economics
- Nanotechnology
- Computational Medicine and Neuroscience.
Needless to say Computer Science also
has a more practical side that appeals to those who like to solve
problems in the world of the present. Some of the current applications
of Computer Science include:
- Computer Aided Design
- Computer Aided Instruction and Education
- Web Services and Web Programming
- Real Time and Embedded Systems
- Wireless Device Programming
- Animation and Graphics
- Modelling of Dynamic Systems
- Robotics and Computer Aided Manufacturing
- Operations Research and Optimization
- Databases and Information Systems
- Weather Forcasting
- Expert Systems (Oil Exploration, Medical Diagnostics)
A full presentation of these topics is beyond the scope of this overview but a wealth of
information can be found on the web should you take an interest in any one of
them. Or contact instructor Jon Traugott for
further information.
