The Important Role of Computer Science in Everyday Life
Though computers have only achieved a wide proliferation in the last few decades, the field of computer science dates back over a century. Beyond the creation of programs, computer scientists develop and implement mathematical solutions to real-life problems. The solutions they create can be found in all areas of life, from the home to businesses to the fabric of the Internet.
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Home Appliances
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Though you may not be aware of it, most every electronic device you interact with has a digital computer at its heart. This includes modern televisions, electric stoves, cellphones, and even coffee makers and blenders. These computers are known as "embedded processors," which perform a limited set of optimized functions. As devices grow more sophisticated, their programmers must do so as well. Some embedded processors even support high-level computer languages such as Java, for complex programs and customization options.
Entertainment and Internet
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Computer algorithms form the backbone of the modern Internet experience. They determine search engine results, and create Web pages from a customizable form. Algorithms prevent spam from reaching your inbox and other algorithms attempt to evade the spam filters. Even Web pages, once simply a specially formatted document, now customize the user experience. From Netflix and Amazon recommendations to Facebook friend suggestions, programs are having a stronger hand in determining how we think and act online.
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Commerce and Finance
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Computers and computer science also contribute to the business world. One of the strongest contributions of computer science to society is through the subfield of mathmatical modeling. Mathmatical modeling simulates the conditions in the real world, and computer models speed up the simulation process a hundred fold. Financial trading and economic projections increasingly rely on computer algorithms and models. Computers also are becoming sophisticated enough to replace humans in some areas of work. Computerized grocery checkout systems and surveillance systems take the burden off human operators.
Mathematics and Problem-Solving
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The field of Computer Science is more than programming -- it integrates mathematics and logic to solve everyday problems. Many famous issues in computer science, such as the Traveling Salesman Problem, can be understood even by those unfamiliar with CS. The Traveling Salesman Problem is simple: find the optimal route to take between a given set of individual locations. However, there are several ways to do it, some faster than others, and an efficient generalized solution has yet to be found despite 50 years of searching. It is an exercise in mathematics and computer science to develop efficient mathematical solutions to the problem.
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