Computer science
is a discipline that spans theory and practice. It requires thinking both in
abstract terms and in concrete terms. The practical side of computing can be
seen everywhere. Nowadays, practically everyone is a computer user, and many
people are even computer programmers. Getting computers to do what you want
them to do requires intensive hands-on experience. But computer science can be
seen on a higher level, as a science of problem solving. Computer scientists
must be adept at modeling and analyzing problems. They must also be able to
design solutions and verify that they are correct. Problem solving requires
precision, creativity, and careful reasoning.
Computer science
also has strong connections to other disciplines. Many problems in science,
engineering, health care, business, and other areas can be solved effectively
with computers, but finding a solution requires both computer science expertise
and knowledge of the particular application domain. Thus, computer scientists
often become proficient in other subjects.
Finally, computer science has a wide range of specialties.
These include computer architecture, software systems, graphics, artificial
intelligence, computational science, and software engineering. Drawing from a
common core of computer science knowledge, each specialty area focuses on
particular challenges.
Computer Science
is practiced by mathematicians, scientists and engineers. Mathematics, the
origins of Computer Science, provides reason and logic. Science provides the
methodology for learning and refinement. Engineering provides the techniques
for building hardware and software.
The City College of New
York- Computer Science deals with information; its efficient representation
and transformation, its communication and security; its storage, retrieval,
analysis and display.
Another definition
from http://www.csab.org/comp_sci_profession.html
Computer Science:
The Profession
Computer science is a discipline that involves the understanding and design of
computers and computational processes. In its most general form it is concerned
with the understanding of information transfer and transformation. Particular
interest is placed on making processes efficient and endowing them with some
form of intelligence. The discipline ranges from theoretical studies of
algorithms to practical problems of implementation in terms of computational
hardware and software.
A central focus is on processes for handling and
manipulating information. Thus, the discipline spans both advancing the
fundamental understanding of algorithms and information processes in general as
well as the practical design of efficient reliable software and hardware to
meet given specifications. Computer science is a young discipline that is
evolving rapidly from its beginnings in the 1940's. As such it includes
theoretical studies, experimental methods, and engineering design all in one
discipline. This differs radically from most physical sciences that separate
the understanding and advancement of the science from the applications of the
science in fields of engineering design and implementation. In computer science
there is an inherent intermingling of the theoretical concepts of computability
and algorithmic efficiency with the modern practical advancements in
electronics that continue to stimulate advances in the discipline. It is this
close interaction of the theoretical and design aspects of the field that binds
them together into a single discipline.
Because of the rapid evolution it is difficult to provide a
complete list of computer science areas. Yet it is clear that some of the
crucial areas are theory, algorithms and data structures, programming
methodology and languages, and computer elements and architecture. Other areas
include software engineering, artificial intelligence, computer networking and
communication, database systems, parallel computation, distributed computation,
computer-human interaction, computer graphics, operating systems, and numerical
and symbolic computation.
A professional computer scientist must have a firm foundation
in the crucial areas of the field and will most likely have an in-depth
knowledge in one or more of the other areas of the discipline, depending upon
the person's particular area of practice. Thus, a well educated computer
scientist should be able to apply the fundamental concepts and techniques of
computation, algorithms, and computer design to a specific design problem. The
work includes detailing of specifications, analysis of the problem, and
provides a design that functions as desired, has satisfactory performance, is
reliable and maintainable, and meets desired cost criteria. Clearly, the
computer scientist must not only have sufficient training in the computer
science areas to be able to accomplish such tasks, but must also have a firm
understanding in areas of mathematics and science, as well as a broad education
in liberal studies to provide a basis for understanding the societal
implications of the work being performed.
From Mississippi
State University
Computer Science
is the study of principles, applications, and technologies of computing and
computers. It involves the study of data and data structures and the algorithms
to process these structures; of principles of computer architecture-both
hardware and software; of problem-solving and design methodologies; of
computer-related topics such as numerical analysis, operations research, and
artificial intelligence; and of language design, structure, and translation
technique. Computer Science provides a foundation of knowledge for students
with career objectives in a wide range of computing and computer-related
professions.
From
http://www2.cs.unb.ca/ Problem solving.
The study of efficient and effective software development
techniques.
Team work and communication skills.
An interest in applying technology to problems in a wide
variety of disciplines.
From the University
of Missouri - Rolla http://www.cs.umr.edu/csdept/career/what_is_cs.html
Computer Science
is concerned with information in much the same sense that physics is concerned
with energy; it is devoted to the representation, storage, manipulation and
presentation of information.
Computer Science
is concerned with "the study of symbol-manipulating machines, with
communication between man and machine and with the application of these
machines".
Major areas of
Computer Science include:
1. Operating Systems--concerned with the development and
structure of complex programs which facilitate man-machine communications.
2. Computational Science--the analysis of numerical methods
for solving mathematical problems with a computer.
3. Programming Languages--the study of the design and
properties of languages by which humans communicate with computers.
4. Architecture--the study and use of mathematical logic to
design electronic circuits.
5. Intelligent Systems--concerned with means by which
computers may perform tasks which might be characterized as
"intelligent" if performed by humans.
6. Automata Theory--an abstract study of computers and their
capabilities.
7. Information Storage and Retrieval--the study of methods
for storing a vast amount of data in a computer and methods for searching and
retrieving this data.
8. Software Engineering--the study of tools and techniques
for software design, development, testing and maintenance.
The City College of New York- Computer Science deals with information; its efficient representation and transformation, its communication and security; its storage, retrieval, analysis and display.
From Mississippi State University
Major areas of Computer Science include:
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