Computer science

hide

Computer science (or computing science) is the study of the theoretical foundations of information and computation, and of practical techniques for their implementation and application in computer systems. It is frequently described as the systematic study of algorithmic processes that describe and transform information. According to Peter J. Denning, the fundamental question underlying computer science is, "What can be (efficiently) automated?" Computer science has many sub-fields; some, such as computer graphics, emphasize the computation of specific results, while others, such as computational complexity theory, study the properties of computational problems. Still others focus on the challenges in implementing computations. For example, programming language theory studies approaches to describing computations, while computer programming applies specific programming languages to solve specific computational problems, and human-computer interaction focuses on the challenges in making computers and computations useful, usable, and universally accessible to people.

The general public sometimes confuses computer science with vocational areas that deal with computers (such as information technology), or think that it relates to their own experience of computers, which typically involves activities such as gaming, web-browsing, and word-processing. However, the focus of computer science is more on understanding the properties of the programs used to implement software such as games and web-browsers, and using that understanding to create new programs or improve existing ones.

For more information about Computer science, read the full article at Wikipedia.
This text uses material from Wikipedia and is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.

News tagged with computer science

results timeline

Of girls and geeks: Environment may be why women don't like computer science

Other Sciences / Social Sciences

Dec 14, 2009 | 3.6 / 5 (20) | 27

(PhysOrg.com) -- In real estate, it's location, location, location. And when it comes to why girls and women shy away from careers in computer science, a key reason is environment, environment, environment.

Financial instruments could be spiked with unfindable risks

Other Sciences / Economics

Dec 21, 2009 | 4.6 / 5 (15) | 33

(PhysOrg.com) -- In a result that may have implications for financial regulation, researchers from computer science and economics have revealed potentially impenetrable problems with the pricing of financial ...

Glasgow's joking computer

Technology / Computer Sciences

Dec 11, 2009 | 4.5 / 5 (11) | 2

(PhysOrg.com) -- The Glasgow Science Centre in Scotland is exhibiting a computer that makes up jokes using its database of simple language rules and a large vocabulary.

iPhones are musical instruments in new course and ensemble (w/ Video)

Technology / Hi Tech

Dec 01, 2009 | 3.4 / 5 (10) | 0

(PhysOrg.com) -- iPhones are being used as musical instruments in a new course at the University of Michigan.

Hardware-accelerated global illumination by image space photon mapping

Technology / Computer Sciences

Dec 22, 2009 | 4.4 / 5 (7) | 0

Research presented in a paper by Morgan McGuire, assistant professor of computer science at Williams College, and co-author Dr. David Luebke of NVIDIA, introduces a new algorithm to improve computer graphics for video games.

Building real security with virtual worlds

Technology / Computer Sciences

Nov 26, 2009 | 4.2 / 5 (6) | 1

(PhysOrg.com) -- Advances in computerized modeling and prediction of group behavior, together with improvements in video game graphics, are making possible virtual worlds in which defense analysts can explore ...

Cyber hacking could be a thing of the past

Technology / Computer Sciences

Dec 07, 2009 | 5 / 5 (5) | 2

(PhysOrg.com) -- High-profile websites are constantly under threat from hackers attempting to paralyse their websites but new research could make such attacks computationally impossible. This research will ...

'Fighting' IED attacks with SCARE technology

Technology / Computer Sciences

Dec 10, 2009 | 4.7 / 5 (3) | 4

(PhysOrg.com) -- University of Maryland researchers have developed and successfully tested new computer software and computational techniques to analyze patterns of improvised explosive device (IED) attacks ...

'One keypad per child' lets schoolchildren share screen to learn math (w/ Video)

Electronics / Consumer & Gadgets

Dec 10, 2009 | 2 / 5 (3) | 3

The slogan is "one laptop per child." But it will be a long time before that is true everywhere in the world. Meanwhile, a new device aims to make a situation that is common in poor areas - one computer shared ...

Californians -- and their cell phones -- will help computer scientists monitor air pollution

Technology / Computer Sciences

Dec 04, 2009 | 1 / 5 (2) | 0

You want to go for a run, but you don't want to run in polluted air that might aggravate your asthma. University of California, San Diego computer scientists are creating a network of environmental sensors ...