Computer Science is such a wide subject area and industry, but to my mind there are some fundamental areas that enable a good definition of computer science. In this post I will cover off some of the main definitions of this amazing discipline that I love so much, and the definitions that others have come up with, that make it even more amazing, definitions that bring more creativity into what can be perceived as a rather dry and nerdy subject, that can frighten away whole groups of communities who would really benefit, and actually do benefit from the technology that comes from it.
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Our First Definition is from the University of Maryland. Tell me what you think of this one :
Computer Science is the study of computers and computational systems. Unlike electrical and computer engineers, computer scientists deal mostly with software and software systems; this includes their theory, design, development, and application.
Principal areas of study within Computer Science include artificial intelligence, computer systems and networks, security, database systems, human computer interaction, vision and graphics, numerical analysis, programming languages, software engineering, bioinformatics and theory of computing. [University of Maryland]
So computer science is the science behind what computers can do. the principal areas of computer science are all disciplines that come as a result of applying computational theories in one way or another, and of course each discipline has an employment or business opportunity associated with it. So for the graduate, there are always opportunities to prosper with computer science!
2. Our second definition comes from the University of York :
As a subject, Computer Science requires logical thinking, creativity and problem solving. Since computer systems are now so large and complex, they are inevitably developed by large teams, so working well with others is also crucial. To read more Click here..
So if you are good at working in a team, and good at what you do, able to make a contribution to the overall project, then you can do very well. Computer science allows for people working together to solve a problem. If you think about some of the well known operating systems, these software systems require millions of lines of code to function correctly, and for such a large undertaking, you are going to need help. So commercial operating systems will employ numbers of software engineers to build a specified module or section of the system. It has to be this way, or software would take forever to complete!
3. Our third definition comes from Tech Prep from Facebook.
This video has a number of ideas about what computer science is because it can be many things to different people. Have a look at this video to see what some people in the industry feel is a definition for computer science. It’s quite interesting viewing……
So to recap…..
“Computer Science is the art of teaching a computer what to do”
“The whole study of how a computer thinks is computer Science”
“Its code, its a language”
Computer Science is programming. A programming language is used to talk to the computer”
“Computer Science just makes your day easier to get through!”
“Computer Science is for all communities.”
the Techprep site is really worth a look as its from Facebook, and they are wanting to promote the love of coding among all young people, and their parents, so they can understand what computer science is. to read more from TechPrep click here and you can see the video at Youtube
4. Our fourth Definition is one from the trusty Wikipedia!
I do like this definition as it encompasses so many aspects of the subject, and gives people who are interested in this career some indication of what role they can play in it.
Computer science is the study of the theory, experimentation, and engineering that form the basis for the design and use of computers. It is the scientific and practical approach to computation and its applications and the systematic study of the feasibility, structure, expression, and mechanization of the methodical procedures (or algorithms) that underlie the acquisition, representation, processing, storage, communication of, and access to information.
An alternate, more succinct definition of computer science is the study of automating algorithmic processes that scale.
A computer scientist specializes in the theory of computation and the design of computational systems. To read More from Wikipedia, click here….
5. Our last definition is from Michigan Tech University.
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. To Read more from Michigan Tech University…..
An Finally, here is a bonus video that explains that Computer Science is the Science of computation. Sounds fair!
The video goes on to explain a little about the science of computation, mentioning Babbage, Turing, and other key figures in the evolution of Computational science. This I think forms a fitting end to our Definitions of Computer Science Blog Post
What is Computer Science?
You’ll be able to see the video on Youtube Here….
