Computer science may be thought of as a collection of five distinct but connected disciplines: computer engineering, computer science, information systems, information technology, and software engineering.
The computer discipline is the basic name granted to this group of disciplines.
These five disciplines are similar in that they all study computers, but they are distinct in that each has its own research viewpoint and curricular concentration. ACM and AIS have worked together since 1991 to develop and update the taxonomy of these five interrelated disciplines, as well as the guidelines that educational institutions around the world use in their undergraduate, graduate and research programs.
Goals and Better Vision of Computer Science
The primary goal and vision of Computer Science is:
The main and most important goal of Computer Science is to nurture and develop problem-solving skills, which makes a person think logically, computationally and creatively to solve problems.
Another very essential goal is to become proficient in programming, as that will help in understanding and mastering the fundamental constructs and styles of programming.
The main and primary reason why we humans are making advancements is because we are advancing in the field of computer science.
Computer Science has made our human efforts less and have made our lives more comfortable and efficient.
Pioneers of Computer Science
Tim Berners-Lee
Lee invented the World Wide Web in 1989. He was also the one to propose HTML (HyperText Markup Language) and was the first to create a website and web page. Last but not the least, he is also the founder of W3C (World Web Consortium).
Leonard Kleinrock
He created the idea of ARPANET, which then eventually led to the birth of the internet as we know it today.
Charles Babbage
He is well known as the father of computers. He was the first to design a mechanical computer, called the difference Engine. Similarly, he also developed his Analytical Engine.
Steve Jobs
Co-founder of Apple. He was the major reason the Apple line of products were a huge success under his advent.
Konrad Zuse
Developed the first programmable (modern) computer. Wrote the first algorithmic programming language called ‘Plankalkül’ in 1946. One of the first people to create a commercial computer and computer company.
Steve Wozniak
Steve Wozniak created the Apple I in 1976, which was the first Apple computer. He was also the co-founder and CEO of Apple.
These were some of the few that are well known, all these people were major pioneers in their time and have contributed significantly in the field of Computer Science. Without them, we would not have the knowledge or advancement that we have today in Computer Science.
Fields of Computer Science
Algorithms and Complexity
An algorithm is a method for resolving a well-defined computer problem. Algorithms are used in every aspect of computer science, including artificial intelligence, databases, graphics, networking, operating systems, and security. When it comes to algorithm development, it’s more than just programming. It involves familiarity with the many approaches to solving a computational issue, as well as the hardware, networking, programming language, and performance constraints that each approach entails. It also demands an understanding of what it means for an algorithm to be “correct,” in the sense that it thoroughly and effectively solves the problem.
Architecture and organization
The design of computers, data storage devices, and networking components that store and run programs, convey data, and drive interactions between computers, across networks, and with people is referred to as computer architecture. Parallelism and other memory organization schemes are used by computer architects to create high-performance computing systems. Because they both focus on hardware design, computer architecture necessitates strong collaboration between computer scientists and computer engineers.
A computer is made up of a control unit, an arithmetic logic unit (ALU), a memory unit, and input/output (I/O) controllers at its most basic level. It involves arithmetic like addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and logic operations such as OR and are all performed by the ALU.
Computational Science
Computer simulation, scientific visualization, mathematical modeling, algorithms, data structures, networking, database design, symbolic computation, and high-performance computing are all used in computational science to assist many fields achieve their aims. Biology, chemistry, fluid dynamics, finance, sociology, and forensics are these subjects. Because of the huge increase in the volume of data supplied by scientific equipment, computational science has advanced quickly. The “big data” problem has been coined to describe this phenomenon.
Graphics and visual computing
The field of computer science that deals with the presentation and manipulation of images on a screen is known as graphics and visual computing. In this subject, rendering, modeling, animation, and visualization are all interrelated computational operations. Graphics techniques employ concepts like linear algebra, numerical integration, computational geometry, special-purpose hardware, file formats, and graphical user interfaces to achieve these complex tasks (GUIs).
Human-computer interaction
Human-computer interaction (HCI) is focused with the building of interfaces that promote successful user-computer interaction. HCI occurs at the intersection of software and hardware. User interface design should be done early in the design process since it has an impact on the software’s life cycle. HCI research brings to the conclusion the number of disciplines, including psychology, sociology, anthropology, and engineering, because user interfaces must support a diversity of user styles and capabilities.
Computer Science as of today
As of today, Computer Science has grown a lot and in its long journey up till now, it has covered a lot of Ground. From Artificial Intelligence (AI) to Big Data, from cloud computing to Cybersecurity; from Internet of Things to Quantum Computing. The field of computer science has grown a lot and has a lot of scope as we move forward with the current growth.
Conclusion
With the passage of time and evolution of high-tech innovations, Computer science has become a subject of greater importance. Computer science applies the principle of mathematics, logic to a plethora of functions, including algorithm formulations, etc.