Computer Science Myths

Myth - Computer Science is the study of computers.

Much of the early and fundamental theoretical work in Computer Science took place during the period 1920-1940, long before the development of the first computer system.

"Computer science is no more about computers than astronomy is about telescopes, biology is about microscopes, or chemistry is about beakers and test tubes. Science is not about tools. It is about how we use them, and what we find out when we do."
(M. R. Fellows and I. Parberry, "Getting Children Excited About Computer Science," Computing Research News 5, no. 1 (January 1993).)

Myth - Computer Science is the study of how to write computer programs.

Programming is important to the field of Computer Science, but primarily as a tool by which researchers can study new ideas and build and test new solutions. Programming is a means of communication within the discipline.

Myth - Computer Science is the study of the uses and applications of computers and software.

Using a software package is no more a part of computer science than driver’s education is a part of automotive engineering. A wide range of people use computer software, but computer scientists are responsible for specifying, designing, building, and testing software packages, as well as the computer systems on which they run.

Computer Science - A Definition

Computer Science is the study of algorithms, including

• their formal and mathematical properties
  • Algorithms are studied to determine whether they are correct and efficient. Mathematical and formal models of algorithms form a basis for analyzing algorithms.
• their hardware realizations
  • Computer systems (hardware) are designed and built in order to carry out the steps in an algorithm.  The Intel Pentium is an example of processing hardware. Numerous computer adjuncts are also part of a computer system.
• their linguistic realizations
  • In order to execute algorithms on hardware, they are translated into programming languages.  Java, COBOL, and Visual BASIC are examples of programming languages that are used by humans. Other language representations include machine language and assembly language.
• their applications
  • Computer Scientists design software packages to solve common, important problems. There are thousands of applications available ranging from Microsoft Excel to aircraft navigation systems.

Last modified: Wed Nov 3 11:39:18 EST 2004