| Computer Science
Computer science (academically, CS, CSC or compsci) encompasses
a variety of topics that relates to computation, like abstract analysis
of algorithms, formal grammars, and subjects such as programming
languages, program design, software and computer hardware. A computer
is one that computes, where com- (with, together) joins putare (Latin
root, to reckon, to think, or section as in to compare pieces),
so by definition, computer science (Latin: scientia, knowledge)
is the accumulated knowledge through scientific methodology by computation
or by the use of the computer.
Computer scientists study what programs can and cannot do (see
computability), how programs can efficiently perform specific tasks
(see algorithms and complexity), how programs should store and retrieve
specific kinds of information (see data structures and databases),
how programs might behave intelligently (see artificial intelligence),
and how programs and people should communicate with each other (see
human-computer interaction and user interfaces).
The following definition of computer science (aka computing) is
given in the ACM report Computing As a Discipline:
The discipline of computing is the systematic study of algorithmic
processes that describe and transform information: their theory,
analysis, design, efficiency, implementation, and application. The
fundamental question underlying all the computing is 'What can be
(efficiently) automated?'
Most research in computer science has focused on von Neumann computers
or Turing machines (computation models that perform one small, deterministic
step at a time). These models resemble, at a basic level, most real
computers in use today. Computer scientists also study other models
of computation, which includes parallel machines and theoretical
models such as probabilistic, oracle, and quantum computers.
Edsger Dijkstra said:
| "Computer science is no
more about computers than astronomy is about telescopes."
|
The renowned physicist Richard Feynman said:
| "Computer science is not
as old as physics; it lags by a couple of hundred years. However,
this does not mean that there is significantly less on the
computer scientist's plate than on the physicist's: younger
it may be, but it has had a far more intense upbringing! "
Computer science has roots in electrical engineering, mathematics,
and linguistics. In the last third of the 20th century computer
science emerged as a distinct discipline and developed its
own methods and terminology. Originally, CS was taught as
part of mathematics or engineering departments, for instance
at the University of Cambridge in England and at the Gdansk
University of Technology in Poland, respectively. Cambridge
claims to have the world's oldest taught qualification in
computing. The first computer science department in the United
States was founded at Purdue University in 1962, while the
first college entirely devoted to computer science was founded
at Northeastern University in 1980. Most universities today
have specific departments devoted to computer science, while
some conjoin it with engineering, with applied mathematics,
or other disciplines. |
Related fields
Computer science is closely related to a number of fields. These
fields overlap considerably, though important differences exist:
- Computer engineering is the analysis, design, and construction
of computer hardware.
- Computer graphics is the field of visual computing, where one
uses computers both to generate visual images synthetically and
to integrate or alter visual and spatial information sampled from
the real world.
- Computer programming is the act of writing program code.
- Information science or Informatics is the study of data and
information, which includes how to create, interpret, analyze,
store, retrieve, transfer, and manage it. Information science
started as the scientific foundation for communication and databases.
It also concerns about the ways people generate, use and find
information.
- Information security is the analysis and implementation of information
system security, like cryptography.
- Information systems (IS) is the application of computing to
support the operations of an organization: operating, installing,
and maintaining the computers, software, and data.
- Lexicography focus on the study of lexicographic reference works
and include the study of electronic and Internet-based dictionaries.
- Linguistics is the study of languages; it converges with computer
science in such areas as programming language design and natural
language processing.
- Logic is a formal system of reasoning, and studies principles
that lay at the basis of computing machines, whether it be the
hardware (digital logic) or software (verification, AI etc.) levels.
- Management information systems (MIS) is a subfield of information
systems, that emphasizes financial and personnel management.
- Mathematics shares many techniques and topics with computer
science, but is more general. Theoretical computer science is
the mathematics of computing.
- Software engineering emphasizes analysis, design, construction,
and testing of useful software. Software engineering includes
development methodologies (such as the waterfall model and extreme
programming) and project management.
- Information Technology
- Computing
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