WHAT IS COMPUTER SCIENCE?
According to Wikepedia, Computer science involves the study of computation, automation, and information.Computer science spans theoretical disciplines (such as algorithms, theory of computation, and information theory) to practical disciplines (including the design and implementation of hardware and software).Computer science is generally considered an area of academic research and distinct from computer programming.
Algorithms and data structures are central to computer science The theory of computation concerns abstract models of computation and general classes of problems that can be solved using them. The fields of cryptography and computer security involve studying the means for secure communication and for preventing security vulnerabilities. Computer graphics and computational geometry address the generation of images. Programming language theory considers approaches to the description of computational processes, and database theory concerns the management of repositories of data. Human–computer interaction investigates the interfaces through which humans and computers interact, and software engineering focuses on the design and principles behind developing software. Areas such as operating systems, networks and embedded systems investigate the principles and design behind complex systems. Computer architecture describes the construction of computer components and computer-operated equipment. Artificial intelligence and machine learning aim to synthesize goal-orientated processes such as problem-solving, decision-making, environmental adaptation, planning and learning found in humans and animals. Within artificial intelligence, computer vision aims to understand and process image and video data, while natural-language processing aims to understand and process textual and linguistic data.
The fundamental concern of computer science is determining what can and cannot be automated.
The father of computer science is ALAN TURING
BRIEF HISTORY ABOUT ALAN
TURING
ACCORDING TO WIKIPEDIA
Alan Mathison Turing OBE FRS 23 June 1912 – 7 June 1954) was an English mathematician, computer scientist, logician, cryptanalyst, philosopher, and theoretical biologist.Turing was highly influential in the development of theoretical computer science, providing a formalisation of the concepts of algorithm and computation with the Turing machine, which can be considered a model of a general-purpose computer.Turing is widely considered to be the father of theoretical computer science and artificial intelligence.
WHY WE NEED COMPUTER SCIENCE'
According to DePaul Universisity
1. We are in a digital age
The growth of computer power has brought miraculous breakthroughs in hardware and software, which have in turn changed global behavior and culture. Computer science is responsible for smartphones, tablets, the internet and networked communications, even social media. We live in a society that consumes content – whether that be news, information, entertainment, or communication – through screens. We are truly living in a digital age, driven by computer science.
2. Make the world a better place
As a result of the digital age, businesses are increasingly relying on software programs to deliver, acquire, and transmit data across a multitude of platforms. This trend impacts all industries, from healthcare and banking to transportation and accounting. Even household objects that have been around for decades such as refrigerators, door locks, and microwave ovens, are now becoming smart, connecting to personal assistants and Wi-Fi networks. Computer science has helped improve living conditions and avert disasters, for example by predicting earthquakes or tsunamis. With your computer science degree, you can help to make the world, faster, better, and far more connected.
3. High earnings
The world of IT will continue to grow and provide more jobs in all sectors. Computer science is a challenging subject, which makes a degree highly respected around the world. Computer science experts are sought after in all industries and sectors, and graduates can enter the world of work on a good salary with many opportunities for career progression and higher earnings. For example, according to a Payscale report, the average salary for a Software Development Director
is 143,000 USD, and a Security Consultant earns 85,600 USD on average, per year.
4. Variety of specializations
As computer science is used in so many areas of life and business, there are plenty of choices available to qualified professionals. When you graduate with your computer science degree, and even while on your degree program, you’ll be faced with a variety of specializations and roles, such as:
- Software developer
- Computer systems analyst
- IT manager
- Computer network architect
- Mobile application designer or developer
- Research and development (R&D) scientist
- Computer scientist
- Computer science researcher
- Artificial intelligence and machine learning engineer
5. Global opportunities
One of the key benefits of studying computer science is the global opportunities that your degree can offer. Computer science graduates are in high demand all over the world. Whether you plan to launch your career in your home country and then travel, or look for international roles straight after graduation, you will find plenty of job opportunities. Additionally, many computer science roles can be carried out remotely, meaning that you could work with colleagues and companies all around the world while still living in the country of your choice.
6. Transferrable skills
A computer science degree will equip you with a wide variety of skills, many of which are transferable to other lines of work and study. Studying computer science will help you to develop problem-solving, critical thinking and complex analytical skills. Skills such as these are especially useful for specialists working with complex algorithms and big data to create instructions and understand design patterns. However, they are interchangeable and transferable to many professions, both inside and outside of IT.
7. Ongoing technological developments
While the world continues to advance its IT infrastructure across all major economic industries, new languages, frameworks, and development environments are being produced at unforeseen speeds. For instance, Big Data is a disruptor for many, as large organizations consume massive pools of arranged information to better serve customers and understand consumer behavior. Other examples include automated payment systems to improve and streamline financial transactions, and fitness centers assisting with tracking health and heart rates. Virtual reality technology alone is now far more than an entertainment device; from real estate firms now using head-mounted displays to allow potential homeowners to walk through a living space before purchasing, to fashion retailers providing digital avatars and environments to try on clothes. This ongoing development brings with it massive scope for progression and learning opportunities. A computer science degree will teach you about how far things have come and also the direction that the world is now heading in.
8. Use your creativity
Unlike mathematics, in which there is only one answer to a problem, computer science allows infinite solutions to the same problem; the goal is to find and take advantage of the most efficient solution. Computer applications can be written and developed in many ways to suit any kind of purpose or user experience. Therefore, it provides a great window of creative opportunity for a professional. Once you have gained the knowledge and skills from your computer science degree, you can use your creative mind as well as your scientific mind in your day-to-day work.
ADVANTAGES OF COMPUTER SCIENCE
According to Ramuseen University
“Why is computer science important?”
It might seem like a simple question, but there’s a lot that goes into answering it. You might start by focusing on the benefits it could bring you personally. You might talk about how computer science-related jobs are appealing in their versatility, earning potential and demand. You might hear about all of the things we use on a daily basis today that were only created because of computer science.
But what you don’t often hear about as often is the altruistic side of computer science and the work professionals in this field do to make the world a better place.
If you’re looking to leverage your love of technology to make a difference, then rest assured. Computer science is an incredible career choice for someone who wants to change the world.
“Societies will die if they don't continue to innovate,” says Werner Krebs, CEO of Acculation. Krebs says technologies are neither good nor evil on their own, but, in the right hands, can become powerful benefits to society. “We need bright and ethical people to understand our best and most powerful technologies to ensure they are used for good.”
If you want some concrete examples of just how much computer science benefits society, you came to the right place. We enlisted tech professionals to share with us how their daily work helps people and plays a vital role in their communities.
Computer science benefits society by…
1. Directly meeting needs
“Since my first day in computer science, I've been trying to have a positive impact on society,” says Thibault Rihet, software engineer at Trialog. Rihet explains that computer scientists can easily get into direct applications that address societal issues like poverty, unemployment, climate change and more.
Rihet explains that France is utilizing startups by assigning teams to create solutions when a public agent identifies a problem. Then the solutions go live nationally. This approach allows computer scientists and other technology professionals to jump in and meet needs as they arise in their communities.
Sites like DataKind, Taproot and Code Alliance can be excellent resources for computer scientists who want to put their skills to work for global issues, according to Rihet. These platforms allow a wide array of tech professionals to create, support and execute projects that change lives.
There are also indirect benefits from the tools computer scientists build, Rihet points out. Consider charities that are now able to streamline their donations, or crowdfunded campaigns that can gather a following and financial backing.
2. Empowering people who are often overlooked
“An amazing benefit of software is that it can be freely distributed to everyone, thanks to open-source contributors,” Rihet says. “This fact truly empowers people.” When tools to build revenue and solve business problems are available to everyone—it can level the playing field.
For example, finding clients can be an expensive endeavor. If you are a service provider coming to your business without a ton of extra cash, it can be hard to stay afloat. Samantha Hugo, CEO of Hugomatica, says computer science can make a huge difference here.
“For example, beauticians often do not determine their own work hours or find their own clients because they don't know how.” Seeing this need, Hugo’s company created an app that allows beauticians to recruit their own clients and set their own schedules. “As a women-owned company, we try to find apps that are needed and that will help people in areas that have been overlooked by most coders.”
3. Paving the way for a more equitable world
Computer science can really help level the playing field in terms of inexpensive solutions. But Hugo also points out that it can be an equalizer in other ways. Though technology as an industry has an under representation of women and racial minorities, Hugo sees computer science as a tool for societal rebalance when it comes to gender identity, background, ethnicity and beyond. Code is code—and if you’ve created something genuinely useful, your background isn’t going to hold you back.
“The App Store has the same requirements for all developers,” she points out. Hugo says it is a positive step for society that computers are blind to everything but the code.
4. Accelerating healthcare progress
Healthcare tends to be a pretty high priority when you consider how to improve people’s lives.
One of the most exciting facets of computer science is its power to improve and accelerate every other field. “Data science and artificial intelligence (AI) as subsets of computer science allow people and organizations to accelerate and ‘prepackage thought.’ In this way, computer science and artificial intelligence can make any other discipline many, many times better.”
Genomics and personalized medicine are an excellent example of how computer science-driven technologies are accelerating healthcare progress. The genome sequencing process that powers this frontier of medicine used to cost tens of millions of dollars to complete, but machine-learning techniques and improved computing power have dropped costs substantially.
5. Furthering education
Can you imagine modern education without computer software or the internet? Whether you’re taking a class online, researching for a paper or sharing work via the cloud, computer science pros have helped make this possible.
E-learning platforms and applications give students new tools to problem-solve and study, which has changed the academic world. The ability to take classes online is also a huge benefit for the world—as it creates access to education for students whose locations, abilities or finances were a barrier.
6. Expanding communication
“The biggest contribution computer science has made is in the field of communication,” says Manonit Nand, teacher and system administrator at the Mayoor School. “Computer Science has made the whole world a very small place—available at your fingertips now.”
Nand mentions social media, video calling and chatting apps—even the applications that allow you to share documents and photos with someone else long-distance. These capacities have completely revolutionized the workforce.
7. Predicting and avoiding catastrophes
Computer science is scaling—and scaling very fast for that matter, according to Nand. Applying computer science to prediction can have a huge impact on the world. “We are predicting human behavior; we are predicting climates, seasons, ocean currents, etc.” Nand says.
With these tools, we can predict everything from an incoming tsunami to the outbreak pattern of a pathogen. In that way, some of the most life-saving work that happens in our world relies on computer scientists. Computer science is even in action when predicting the trajectory of dangerous comets near our planet.
8. Positively impacting every area of society
Though it’s not always hands-on, almost every aspect of society—from family-owned businesses needing digital protection to homeless shelters needing a way to streamline their volunteer base—relies on the innovations spurred by computer science professionals.
“Computer science is a noble profession without which today’s world would come to a complete halt,” Nand says. When it comes to finding a career that allows you to positively benefit the world around you, look no further than computer science!
DISADVANTAGES OF COMPUTER SCIENCE
- Too much sitting
If you are sitting for a long time and becoming a mouse potato to use a computer, it can lead to health problems. Also, users have to turn their back in terms of the curve when they use a computer, which also causes them to distract their body posture. As scientists have researched that standing for a long time is not healthy, so replacing a traditional desk for a standing desk is not a perfect solution. But the standing desk may be better as compared to sitting. To overcome these problems, you can take breaks where you move stretch, around, and exercise. - Carpal tunnel and eye strain
A person who spends too much time on the computer can face a problem like carpal tunnel syndrome as a computer requires a lot of repetitive movement.
As you are required to move your body parts to operate the computer, for example, typing and moving hand to the mouse are repetitive actions that can cause injuries. Understanding computer ergonomics, keeping the proper posture, and taking breaks can all help delay or prevent these injuries. - Short attention span and too much multitasking
Today's almost all people have become hooked on instant gratification with computers, computer devices, and the Internet. It has become a reason to use a computer every day. As you surf the Internet on the computer or computer devices and ask any question, it gives you immediate answers to your questions that become habituated to getting quick dopamine fix. You can get frustrated easily when you are not getting an answer in a timely manner, or something does not work speedily.
Also, it is not uncommon to work on more than one task at the same time with a reduced attention span. Because it has been studying that multitasking is not more productive can be caused bad for your brain and more mistakes in the work. - Potential of loss of privacy
As the computer can store a large amount of data and if you store your personal data, or information on the computer, it can be at risk of getting into the hands of others. Once your personal information has been stolen by any malicious person, they can use the information to access your online accounts or use identity theft to open other accounts, such as a new debit or credit card under your name. - Can limit learning and create a dependency
If you use a computer that has an Internet connection, it can be a perfect place to get information about any topic. Getting knowledge about anything makes you dependent on the computer and other electronic devices. For example, to find spelling errors, an auto-correct or spell checker is a perfect tool that offers the benefit of finding mistakes and make the correct spelling of a word. However, if you always depend on the spell checker or auto-correct tools and never learn the proper spelling of a word, you are more likely to make spelling errors.
Also, there are many other helpful tools available, such as GPS, grammar checkers, and calculators. However, you may be helpless when they are not working if you are overly dependent on these tools. - Time sink and lots of distractions
Although a computer can be a great creation to increase your productivity, it can also be harmful in terms of wasting too much time. For example, you are learning about any particular topic and see any other interesting link, such as playing games. Then, you click on the link and spend more time playing games. After two hours, you realize you have wasted your time and not achieved your original goal. Furthermore, you can get distracted while trying to work with the popularity of social networks and notifications - Can reduce jobs
Computers can also become the reason to replace the need for many jobs as they are more capable and smarter. For example, if a human can do any work within one hour, the computer can do that work in very few times. Thus, computers are reducing the requirement for many jobs that are also becoming inappropriate for the future. - Increases waste and impacts the environment
Computers and other electronics are increasing rapidly and replacing old devices. People get thrown all the old devices that have a substantial impact on the environment. - You could become anti-social or depressed
It is very easy for users to become anti-social with the computer as it has the ability to perform almost all work speedily. For example, if you are playing any game like World of Warcraft or other, they can consume too much time to end up. Also, there are many people who mostly depend on online shopping; they rarely go out to shop with others and that you become easily introvert.
Social networks can also be the reason to become your anti-social. There are many social networking applications like Facebook, Instagram, and more that offer you the option to make more than thousands of friends. You will spend a lot of time with your social network friends, but you may rarely communicate with your real-life friends. It has been studying; the social networking sites can be depressing as people tend to compare their lives with others on social networking sites and people believing that other people's lives are so much better than theirs.
Trolls, abuse, stalking, and exploitation
A person who spends more time on the Internet can face abusive or trolls' people. Over the years, another issue cyberbullying is also increasing speedily. Unfortunately, it is much easier to encounter these types of people with the anonymous nature of the Internet. With more and more people sharing information on the Internet, you can be tracked on the Internet by hackers or unauthorized persons in terms of stealing your personal information. There are also some online services available that can be used by hackers to find information about people. - Heavy Reliance in the Workforce
Sometimes the computer can be devastating due to power loss or system crash for many businesses as they heavily rely on the computer. They can lose valuable files permanently that can have an effect for a long time. I just want to say that computer science alot of advantages but does have disadvantages , i just want to clear people doubt
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