Computer science biography

Study of computation

For other uses, see Computer science (disambiguation).

Computer science is the study of computation, information, and automation. Computer science spans theoretical disciplines (such as algorithms, theory of computation, and information theory) to applied disciplines (including the design and implementation of hardware and software).

Algorithms and data structures are central to computer science. The theory of computation concerns abstract models of computation and general classes of problems that can be solved using them. The fields of cryptography and computer security involve studying the means for secure communication and preventing security vulnerabilities. Computer graphics and computational geometry address the generation of images. Programming language theory considers different ways to describe computational processes, and database theory concerns the management of repositories of data. Human–computer interaction investigates the interfaces through which humans and computers interact, and software engineering focuses on the design and principles behind developing software. Areas such as operating systems, networks and embedded systems investigate the principles and design behind complex systems. Computer architecture describes the construction of computer components and computer-operated equipment. Artificial intelligence and machine learning aim to synthesize goal-orientated processes such as problem-solving, decision-making, environmental adaptation, planning and learning found in humans and animals. Within artificial intelligence, computer vision aims to understand and process image and video data, while natural language processing aims to understand and process textual and linguistic data.

The fundamental concern of computer science is determining what can and cannot be automated.^[3&

Since I published my second book, that memoir on a scenic route into computer science, several people have asked me “why?” and “what makes yours stand out from the crowd?”. The answer to the latter is easy: there is no crowd. (The brief answer to &#;why&#; is mentioned in the Introduction chapter). Let me elaborate a little.

In the early stage of writing the book, I dutifully did do my market research to answer the typical starter questions like: What books in your genre or on your topic are already out there? How crowded is the field? Will your prospective book be just another one on that pile? Will it stand out as different? And if so, is that an interesting difference to at least some readership segment so that it will have potential to be sold beyond a close circle of friends and family? So, I searched and searched and searched, in late and again twice in , and even now when writing this post. Memoirs by female computer scientists, by male computer scientists, whatever gender computer scientist in academia. Autobiographies as well then. I stretched the search criteria further, into the not-in-their-own-words biographies of computer science professors.

If you take your time searching for those books, you should be able to find the following four books and booklets of the memoir or autobiography variety, by computer science professors, on computing, computing milieux, or computer science:

That&#;s all. Four retired (and some meanwhile deceased) computer science professors telling their tale, three of which cover only the early days of computing.

There are a few very recent memoirs by professors that were in print or announced to go in print soon, on attendant topics, notably:

What there are lots of, are books about, and occasionally by, &#;celebrity&#; people in IT and computing who made it in industry these days, such as Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, Elon Musk, Satya Nadella, and Sheryl Sandberg, and famous people in computing h

The history of computer science began long before the modern discipline of computer science, usually appearing in forms like mathematics or physics. Developments in previous centuries alluded to the discipline that we now know as computer science. This progression, from mechanical inventions and mathematical theories towards modern computer concepts and machines, led to the development of a major academic field, massive technological advancement across the Western world, and the basis of a massive worldwide trade and culture.

Prehistory

The earliest known tool for use in computation was the abacus, developed in the period between and BCE in Sumer. The Sumerians' abacus consisted of a table of successive columns which delimited the successive orders of magnitude of their sexagesimal number system. Its original style of usage was by lines drawn in sand with pebbles. Abaci of a more modern design are still used as calculation tools today, such as the Chinese abacus.

In the 5th century BC in ancient India, the grammarianPāṇini formulated the grammar of Sanskrit in rules known as the Ashtadhyayi which was highly systematized and technical. Panini used metarules, transformations and recursions.

The Antikythera mechanism is believed to be an early mechanical analog computer. It was designed to calculate astronomical positions. It was discovered in in the Antikythera wreck off the Greek island of Antikythera, between Kythera and Crete, and has been dated to circa BC.

Mechanical analog computer devices appeared again a thousand years later in the medieval Islamic world. They were developed by Muslim astronomers, such as the mechanical geared astrolabe by Abū Rayhān al-Bīrūnī, and the torquetum by Jabir ibn Aflah. According to Simon Singh, Muslim mathematicians also made important advanc

Alan_Turing[1], born on June 23, , in Maida Vale, London, was a remarkable English mathematician, logician, and computer scientist whose contributions to the field of computer science are immeasurable. His innovative work laid the foundation for modern computing and significantly impacted the world in several ways.

Turing's importance in computer science stems from his groundbreaking theoretical concepts and practical applications:

• Turing_machine[2]: In , Turing introduced the concept of the Turing Machine, a theoretical device that could simulate any algorithmic process. It is considered the foundation of modern computer science and the basis for understanding what can and cannot be computed. Turing Machines are central to the theory of computation.
• Codebreaking and Cryptanalysis: During World War II, Turing played a pivotal role in the Allied effort to break the German Enigma code. His work at Bletchley Park, along with his invention of the "Turing Bombe" machine, greatly influenced the outcome of the war. His contributions to cryptography set the stage for the development of modern computer security.
• Artificial Intelligence: Turing's paper, "Computing Machinery and Intelligence[3]," introduced the concept of the Turing Test, which assesses a machine's ability to exhibit intelligent behavior indistinguishable from that of a human. This laid the groundwork for the field of artificial intelligence.
• Turing_Award: The Association for Computing Machinery (ACM) recognizes Turing's immense contributions to the field by awarding the prestigious Turing Award annually for significant achievements in computer science.

Alan Turing's life was marked by groundbreaking discoveries, but it was also marred by adversity. He faced persecution for his homosexuality in a time when it was illegal in the United Kingdom. This led to his tragic death by suicide in

Despite these personal challenges, Alan Turing's legacy endures. His work in comput