Nature of Computer Science

ES 26
Introduction to Computer Programming
 Computer Science
● What's the fuzz?
"Computer science is as much about computers as astronomy is about telescopes."
- Edsger Dijkstra

➢ More than just programming

➢ More than just creating computer games
➢ More than just hacking
➢ Not about literally fighting viruses by
typing incredibly fast!
➢ Not about learning MS Word(TM)!
 Computer Science

● So what's the sad/happy truth?

Computer Science is the systematic study of algorithmic processes
that describe and transform information: their theory, analysis, design,
efficiency, implementation, and application.

● It incorporates the paradigms of

➢ Theory (Mathematics, analysis)
➢ Abstraction
➢ Engineering (Design)
 Computer Engineering

● Computer engineering (CEN) is the design and

prototyping of computing devices and systems.
● concentrates its effort on the ways in which
computing ideas are mapped into working physical
systems.
 Computer Scientist slash Painter
● The inspiration.
Problems!According to the Computer Sciences Accreditation Board
(CSAB) the ff. fields are considered to be crucial to the discipline:

➢ Theory of Computation – Can we compute this? Can we compute

this better?
➢ Algorithms and Data Structures – How do we solve problems?
How do we represent data?
➢ Programming Methodology and Languages – How do we
represent solutions?
➢ Computer Elements and Architecture – How do we implement
representations?
 Other Notable Fields
● software engineering
● artificial intelligence
● computer networking and communication
● database systems
● parallel computation
● distributed computation
● computer-human interaction
● computer graphics
● operating systems
● numerical and symbolic computation
 Computer Scientist slash Painter

● The idea.
An algorithm is a finite sequence of steps that solves a problem.

● The brush and canvas.

A computer is an electronic machine that can process information
according to a set of instructions (an algorithm).
Harvard Architecture vs von Neumann Architecture
 Computer Scientist slash Painter

● The paint.
A programming language e.g. C, Pascal, Java.

● The drawing.
A program is a sequence of instructions for a computer. An
algorithm's implementation.
 Binary Tree SMS Alert

● Wow! Class list!

● Wow! Alert!
● i = parent, 2i = left child, 2i+1 = right child
● Sulit!