Computer Science Explained

The study of computers and computational systems is known broadly as Computer Science. It is the study of Processes that interact with Data, and can be represented as Programs. The initial Analog phase of this Science has given way to the Binary Digital phase. Algorithms are used in this Science to manipulate, transform, communicate and store digital information. It is the design and analysis of Algorithms for problem solving using masses of structured Data, and study the performance of hardware and software. Software is the heart of Computer Science, and this Computer Science deals mostly with the design, theory, development and application of Software, while Computer Engineers deal with the Hardware. Computer Scientists study the feasibility and mechanization of certain procedures, which are called Algorithms, and which consists of the collection and acquisition, processing, storage and communication of Data. What is Computer Science, is the subject of this analytical review.

Computer Science vs IT

It may be useful here to compare Computer Science with IT (Information Technology) in order to study our subject in bas relief. Computer Science is not Information Technology, and Computer Scientists are not IT Engineers. While the domain is related, it is not similar. Computer Science is about the analytical use of Mathematics, in order to create programs that enable systems to run more efficiently, and closer to the avowed objectives of investigative science, and includes design, development, as well as aspects of programming and operation. A solid foundation in Abstract Mathematics, Logic, and Critical Thinking is absolutely essential to be a Computer Scientist. IT is closer to Engineering than Science, and generally includes installing, maintaining and improving computer systems, operating networks, and Databases.

Looking Deeper At CS

Problem solving is the main objective of Computer Science, and Coding is one of its main tools. Programming is the name usually given to Coding. Computer Programming is a practical approach, and is the process of designing, writing, testing, debugging and maintaining the Source Code of computer programs. This too is a part of Computer Science, but this is now a vast and varied Science, the fore-runner of Data Science. Computer Science now embraces a mathematical and scientific approach to the storage, retrieval, classification, restructuring, manipulation, processing, computation, transmission, and application of data.

Origins and Evolution

The Computer was said to have been born in 1833, when the still young Charles Babbage invented the first “Analytical Engine”. Data and programs were Input via punched cards, which was already in use controlling mechanical looms such as the Jacquard Looms. A printer, a curve plotter and a bell was used to Output results. Punch cards would come for this too later. Given that the Machine was at least a century ahead of its time, and had to be painstakingly built by hand. But Babbage had also finalized the Functional Theory of Computers by the time he left the stage. In 1888, it was his son, Henry Babbage, who built the machine’s computing usit, and then gave a highly successful demonstration of its use in computing tables in 1906. Nalog Computers came in quick succession, but they were not programmable. Sir William Thomson built the first modern Analog Computer in 1872. Then the Differential Analyzer came in 1927, and this type of computer reached its zenith. After the first model Z2 was created by German Engineer Konrad Zuse in 1939, he followed up with his Z3, the world’s first working electro-mechanical , programmable, fully automatic Digital Computer. Overnight, the picture changed drastically. Pioneering advances such as the Floating Point Numbers replacing the hard-to-implement Decimal Number Sytem, saw the introduction of a brand new field of Science : Computer Science. The question from then on, would not be — What is Computer Science? — but how far is Computer Science advancing.

Some of the finest advances in Computer Sciences are as follows:

  • Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality
  • Artificial Intelligence and Robotics
  • Bioinformatics
  • Cybersecurity
  • Computer Assisted Education
  • Dynamic Host Configuration protocol
  • Integrated Services Digital Networking
  • Object-oriented Technology
  • Berkely Software Design
  • Cognitive Architecture
  • Real World Visual Applications
  • Computational Complexity Theory
  • Computer Aided Architecture & Design
  • Blockchain Theory
  • Cognitive Cloud Computing

Computer Science Greats

In this digital world, it would be ungrateful of us were we to forget the pioneers who made it possible. This therefore is a list of just some of prominent/famous computer scientists.

Some of the most Prominent/Famous Computer Scientists are:

Hedy Lamarr: She was dubbed ‘The World’s Most Beautiful Woman’ by no less than Louis B. Mayer, Founder of MGM (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios). She was not only a famous Hollywood Star and European Actress, but is also now recognized as the Inventor of the Bluetooth, used in Smart Phone universally. She and her scientific partner, Composer George Antheil, have both been posthumously inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame, in 2014. Born in Vienna, Hedwig Eva Maria Kiesler, on November 9th 1914, she died on January 19th 2000 in Florida, USA. She is now recognized as the incredible mind behind Secure Wi-Fi, GPS and Bluetooth.

Tim Berners-Lee: World Wide Web was invented, in 1989, by Sir Timothy John Berners-Lee (Qualifications – OM, KBE, FRS, FREng, FRSA, FBCS), who is also known as Tim BL. He is Director of the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), which is the Web Standards Organization, founded in 1994. His specifications of Web Client and Server, URIs, HTTP and HTML are in use to this day, though refined. He is also President and Founder of the Open Data Institute in London. On April 4th 2017, he won the ACM A.M. Turing Prize, which is also called the Noble Prize for Computing.

Mark Zuckerberg: He is the Founder, CEO and Controlling Share Holder of Facebook Inc. Born on May 14th 1984; he is married to a brilliant Pediatrician and Philanthropist Priscilla Chan. He and his wife are the Co-Founders of the CZI (Chan Zuckerberg Initiative), founded on December 1st 2015 (on the occasion of the birth of their daughter Maxima) and which aims to ‘advance human potential and promote equality’.

Guido Van Rassum: Born on January 31st 1956, in Haarlem, Netherlands, this Dutch Programmer is famous as the Creator of the Python Programming Language. He received the Award for the Advancement of Free Software in 2001. Python operates as three things, a language, a standard library and an execution engine, whereas JavaScript is just a language.

Carl Sassenrath: He is the Founder and CTO of REBOL Technologies, in 1996, and has proceeded to create a new distributed computing architecture for the Internet. He is best known for his original design and implementation of the Amiga Multitasking Operating System. Retiring to a ranch in Northern California, he then proceeded to found Pantaray Inc., American Multimedia, and Videostream. These companies have provided pioneering solutions like CDTV (the world’s first CD-ROM Set Top Box), and Internet Set Top Boxes and Content authoring Systems.

Larry Page: He is the co-Founder of Google, which started life as the greatest Search Engine ever, with Sergey Brin, and one of richest men on the Planet, at a net personal worth of US$66.3 Billion. Though he has now relinquished his post of CEO of holding company Alphabet Inc. to his acolyte Sundar Pichai. Lawrence Edward Page was born on March 26, 1973, in Lansing, Michigan, USA, and is known, with partner Brin, as one of the finest computer minds in the world, as well as one of the top Entrepreneurs existing. Both Sergei and Page remain as controlling shareholders of Google.

Elon Musk: This is a man in the legendary mold of the original Serbian Inventor and Electrical Genius Nikola Tesla. The world renowned company in Tesla’s name, he now owns and runs, has led to the invention of the Tesla, the best Electrical car in the world. He is also Founder, CEO and Chief Engineering Designer of a privately owned Space Project (SpaceX). His accomplishments are like a fairytale. He was born on June 28, 1971 in South Africa, and is citizen of USA, Canada and South Africa. Elon Musk is everything: he is an engineer, industrial designer, pioneering computer scientist, and politician. He has an IQ of 155. And he has an estimated net personal worth of US$31.8 Billion. He is a pioneering developer of computer languages and AI, being the initial Co-Chairman of OpenAI.

Barbara Liskov: Born on November 7th 1939, as Barbara Jane Huberman, she is an American Computer Scientist who leads the cutting-edge research in Distributed Computing, Programming languages and Systems and Programming Methodology. The most important projects include the CLU Implementation and Design, the first programming language that supports Data Abstraction.

Bill Gates: Co-founder of Microsoft Corporation, this man is legend. Richest man in the world (personal estimated worth US$96.3 Billion), Philanthropist, his development of the Windows platform is nothing less than genius.

Brendan Eich: Born July 4th 1961, he is known for his Creator of JavaScript Programming language, as well as the Co-founder of the Mozilla Project.…