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What The Heck Is Computer Science All About?
By admin | June 23, 2008
Computer science is term that you hear sometimes, but in all likelihood have no real idea what it is all about. Sounds a bit “nerdy” doesn’t it! Lets take a look at what computer science is and what computer scientists, also known as computer engineers, actually do.
A computer is a machine whose behaviour is controlled by a program. A program is a set of instructions prepared by a human, known as a programmer. Programs are more commonly known as software, to distinguish them from the hardware of the machine itself.
Computer Science involves the study of both the hardware and the software side of computers, with a strong emphasis on software. Computer hardware is made from electronic components, so a detailed knowledge of hardware must inevitably involve the study of electronics, which is usually taught as electrical engineering.
In the field of Computer Science the primary objective is to write good software, but also to touch on aspects of computer hardware that are important to a programmer.
Programming a computer is a bit like telling someone how to perform a task, such as making a cup of coffee. The task can be broken down into small steps, and a person can be told to perform each of those steps until the whole task is complete.
Computer programming involves analysing a problem, figuring out a way of solving it, and then preparing a program that specifies the steps to follow in order to solve the problem.
When you talk to another person, you use English, or another natural language. Unfortunately, computers cannot understand English, so special programming languages have been developed for this purpose. Competent programmers need to learn several different programming languages to solve different problems.
Learning the different programming languages takes time, just as learning any other foreign language does. Fortunately, the first language is the hardest. Once you see how computer languages work, the remainder tend to be much easier to learn.
Although Computer Science is a relatively young field, dating from about the 1940s, many important discoveries have been made about how to think about problem solving and the writing of computer software is evolved at an ever increasing rate.
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