Imagine a world where you could design anything and bring it to life.
Now imagine yourself doing that using a computer.
For many devices that we use today, someone innovated them.
Your car, your laptop, your TV, and even your phone that you're using right now was someone's brainchild, and a computer materialized it.
Your favorite app, your child's favorite mobile game - someone conceived it.
The metaverse, robots, Zoom - somebody designed that from start to finish.
Imagine the possibilities. You could forge anything with the right imagination, and at the end of the seven minutes of reading this, you'll possess all that power - you'll choose how to use it.
Welcome to Computer Science 101.
Definition
Computer Science (CS) is the study of computers and computing systems. It touches on computer technology and its aspects of software and hardware design, development, and applications. Additionally, Computer Science is more software than hardware because it is more agile, adaptable, and affordable, making it all the more profitable too.
The Origins
Computer science stems from the 19th century when Western scientists invented mechanical calculators to automate calculations. The course itself, though, emerged during World War II when scientists invented computers to crack war codes. Cambridge University holds the first ever established computer science degree program (1953), while the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) CS department is the oldest in the world (est. 1964.)
Some famous computer pioneers, past and present, include:
Grace Hopper (1906-1992) - produced the first text-to-code compiler.
John McCarthy (1927-2011) - coined the term "artificial intelligence."
Tim Berners-Lee (1955- ) - invented the internet, or the World Wide Web (www.)
Linus Torvalds (1969- ) - devised the Linux operating system.
So what does Computer Science entail?
Because computer science studies computing systems, there's no telling how vast this field can go. Rather, here are some prevalent areas within CS that dive deeper:
Algorithms and Data Structures. An algorithm is a way a computer executes tasks, and data structures are the mechanisms for storing data in a computer's memory. "Data Structures and Algorithms" is a popular CS course and one of its more essential units.
Programming Languages. A programming language, AKA a coding language, is a tool that compiles code. Programming languages have many features at a user's discretion, so the more languages one knows, the better! Some common languages include Java, Python, C++, and C#.
Software Engineering (SWE.) Software Engineering is the designing, developing, testing, and maintaining of software systems. Most aspiring computer science majors settle here intending to become software engineers. According to the National Science Board report of 2016, 70% of US computer science graduates end up as software engineers straight out of college.
Software Architecture. Software architecture is the high-level structuring of a software system alongside its components, modules, and systems data. It also considers the relationship between its facets relative to the entire software system.
Artificial Intelligence (AI.) AI is the development of intelligent and automated systems alongside machine learning, language processing, and other techniques to computerize human intelligence. AI aims to simplify life by automating monotonous real-world actions to give humans the freedom of time, effort, and choice.
Operating Systems (OS.) These are the software that controls how hardware works. For example, PCs run on Windows, Androids run on Android, and iPhones on iOS; Windows, Android, and iOS are operating systems.
Human-Computer Interaction (HCI.) This is the design of interactive computing systems such as user interfaces (UIs) and user-centered processes.
Computer Networks. This studies the communication protocols and technologies that connect computers and devices in a network such as the internet.
Why is Computer Science so popular today?
Technological advancement: Considering how rapidly technology is evolving today, there is a colossal demand for computer scientists to fill computing roles that utilize software systems today.
Digital transformation: Businesses want to streamline operations and digitize their processes, so they'll hire computer science experts to initiate the necessary structures for that.
Wide-ranging impact: Computer science is multi-dimensional - it applies to many fields in numerous ways, such as creating online courses in education, designing telehealth portals in healthcare, and analyzing heatmaps in agriculture. Since it's interdisciplinary, you can steer CS to impact the fields you dream of conquering - a specimen of how CS solves real-world problems.
Career versatility: Computer science allows one to pivot into different roles like software development, data analysis, and program management - many options.
Entrepreneurship potential: A computer science background goes a long way in a booming tech field with countless startups emerging daily. Computer scientists can start by exploiting their CS expertise at a startup and iterate their tactics until eventually starting their own thing. That, or they can also work at any company, gather the necessary resources (ideally capital and connections), then venture into entrepreneurship. Either way, computer science plus business is a deadly combo in today's market.
Passion for innovation: In CS, there's always space to innovate, a chance to model something new, and a moment to make meaning out of nothing. Just as rapidly as tech is evolving, so do the innovations that come with it, making CS a dynamic field of study.
Job opportunities: For all the reasons (and many more) mentioned above.
Computer Science-related Majors
Computer Engineering (CE) - Computer Engineering combines computer science and electrical engineering to establish computer systems. Some CEnonyms include Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) and Computer Science (or Systems) and Engineering (CSE.)
Information Technology (IT) - Famously CS's cousin, IT focuses on computer-based information systems, their design, development, and management.
Software Engineering (SWE) - This is the engineering of software systems alongside their development, testing, and maintenance.
Data Science - One uses data-driven techniques to extract, analyze, and compute data from large sets, i.e., "the computer science of data."
Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning (AI/ML) - AI studies computer systems that imitate both human intelligence and specific tasks. Concurrently, Machine Learning fixates on the algorithms that learn from processed feedback to predict specific outcomes - think, "the machine is LITERALLY learning."
Mathematics - Discrete Math involves definitions, theorems, and proofs, which apply multi-dimensionally in abstract ("pull-out-of-thin-air") subjects, computer science included. An essential subject is Linear Algebra which plays with linear equations, matrices, and vector spaces. In computer science, Linear Algebra develops the concepts of image processing, cryptography, machine learning, and more.
Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) - HCI is the study of the computing systems integrations in people's lives to help them (people) efficiently interact with computers - think, "computer science with emotion."
Cybersecurity - the study of protecting computer systems from external attacks, alias cyber-attacks.
Game Development - developing and designing games.
Robotics - all things robots.
How to get started in Computer Science
Develop foundational knowledge. Start from the basics and learn all you can about computers: hardware, software, operating systems, etc.
Learn a programming language. Knowing any programming language is a crucial entry into computer science because the languages are relatable. An ideal start would be Python, then Java, then C++; if interested in web development, HTML, CSS, then JavaScript.
Build projects. Craft something using your coding expertise: a portfolio of projects, databases, or an app. With an app especially, you can make passive income by building one and either selling or patenting it.
Join online communities. Working on your own won't cut it, so you'll have to collaborate to learn better. Online communities such as Discord, Quora, and Reddit help in learning and sharing CS content.
Get a mentor. Mentors are crucial to success, especially in a field as complex as computer science. You can find mentors in your desired pathway at professional events or on social media (i.e., LinkedIn), connect, and learn from them.
Take online courses. When you have the chance, online classes can expedite your CS experience - bonus points if it has certification. Spots like Udemy, CodingDojo, and W3Schools can enhance your computer science understanding and earn your coding credential for credibility.
Participate in hackathons or coding contests. Nothing teaches you better than the challenge ahead of you. Hackathons and contests can mentally prepare you to harness your coding prowess and give it your all. These competitions have elite coders, but who knows - you could be the winner!
Get hands-on experience. Usually, after a quarter or two of schooling, you'll want to apply your skillset in the real world (Isn't that why you went to school?) A CS internship can leverage your programming mindset into an existing company, and if done right, you'll inevitably earn yourself a full-time offer.
Attend conferences or workshops. There is never a shortage of opportunities to connect with peer professionals and learn their insights. STEM diversity conferences such as Grace Hopper, AfroTech, and the NSBE conventions have seminars that provide prolific CS tips.
Read books and articles. READ! READ! READ! You can never go wrong with reading informative books that dive deeper into coding essentials.
Contribute to open-source projects: Sites like GitHub or StackExchange house already-built projects under continuous assessment. Here, you can contribute your knowledge alongside other CSers building something on the internet.
Explore new technologies: Computer science is all tech, and tech is ever-evolving. Staying updated on the latest technology can inspire one to learn its possibilities and ignite one to create or improve on an existing version. Some blogs that cover the latest tech include TechCrunch, Wired, CNET, and The Verge.
Collaborate with others. Again, you can't make it on your own. Collaborate on your projects, open-source software, and applications, and note how you incrementally learn along the way.
Get certified. Certification is a plus in establishing your prospects, and LinkedIn, Coursera, and edX (just but a few) can start you off right away.
Carerra's Take
Computer Science is an interesting subject to learn, coming from first-hand experience from my Associates degree in it. I eventually opted for Math for my Bachelors when Java got too complex for me then, though I'm currently considering a CS comeback. However, I think Math is harder than CS - debatable - so that's inviting me to retake CS; I'll consider when my next CS move will be.
At the bare minimum, basic programming knowledge is good enough to categorize you in the 0.5% of the world that knows how to code. It's a resourceful skill to have, and 30% each of Java and Python is a good start.
Summary
In just over half a century, CS has evolved from cracking war codes to creating the next level AI, from mechanical calculations to billion-dollar applications, and from the first PC to the conceptual metaverse. With its diverse specializations, computer science applies to multiple fields today, unveiling infinite possibilities and never-ending demand. Anyone can pursue computer science, and with the right mindset, you just might create the next big thing.
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~T.K.K
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