tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3722233.post109516304243374066..comments2024-03-28T18:17:00.135-05:00Comments on Computational Complexity: Is the AP Test to Blame for Shifting CS Enrollments?Lance Fortnowhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06752030912874378610noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3722233.post-1095338969863577662004-09-16T07:49:00.000-05:002004-09-16T07:49:00.000-05:00When a technology becomes common, people take it f...When a technology becomes common, people take it for granted and forget the origin gradually. When surfing the internet, enjoying being online, how many people will actually think about those people who worked hard to build this whole thing. The same is how much time do people really think with their heart about how much our ancestor's contributed to our beautiful life. If the theory community did something to the benefit of people, should we not just let it go or should we keep on telling people how great we are?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3722233.post-1095313089885069052004-09-16T00:38:00.000-05:002004-09-16T00:38:00.000-05:00I don't see what the problem is with the emphasis ...I don't see what the problem is with the emphasis on programming. The vast majority of people who get CS degrees go on to be programmers, and the bulk of CS theory is a complete waste of time for those people. If anything it would make sense for colleges to move most of their students from CS degrees to some kind of programming degree, but most institutions don't offer any kind of degree like that.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3722233.post-1095218931230241672004-09-14T22:28:00.000-05:002004-09-14T22:28:00.000-05:00OK gang, what do you think of this:
"Computer Sci...OK gang, what do you think of this:<br /><br />"Computer Science: The field of study of the construction, analysis and limits of different models of computation."<br /><br />That seems to cover theory, languages, algorithms, compilers, software engineering, networking, and I guess AI fits in there too.Macneil Shonlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16382866616548432101noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3722233.post-1095205612646579272004-09-14T18:46:00.001-05:002004-09-14T18:46:00.001-05:00Hi,
I had a similar conversasion with a taxi drive...Hi,<br />I had a similar conversasion with a taxi driver. he asked: What do you mean a phd? if i bring you a computer can you fix it? <br />my answer was (it took me few seconds ...): how can you drive a car without knowing how to fix it?<br /><br />aAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3722233.post-1095205572440104292004-09-14T18:46:00.000-05:002004-09-14T18:46:00.000-05:00It's a dismal view indeed for computer science edu...It's a dismal view indeed for computer science education, if one goes by the google ads (on the sidebar) brought up for this topic...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3722233.post-1095200011703602302004-09-14T17:13:00.000-05:002004-09-14T17:13:00.000-05:00In my program, we are expected to take (core requi...In my program, we are expected to take (core requirements) the following classes:<br />1 intro class to programming<br />1 in object-oriented concepts<br />1 in discrete math<br />1 in algorithms and data structures<br />1 in software engineering<br />1 in operating systems<br />1 in assembly<br />and 1 senior design project class<br /><br />Computer science itself is only partly about computers. you need both theory and engineering for it to work. The IT industry sees the engineering part of CS, so that's why it's the first thing we see when we think about a degree in computer science. MS isn't selling an operating system (or concepts of ir), it is selling its own product, which is palpable and has been made thanks to the efforts of thousands of coders.<br /><br />-d-Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3722233.post-1095190548702885352004-09-14T14:35:00.000-05:002004-09-14T14:35:00.000-05:00In response to your comment, I think it is certain...In response to your comment, I think it is certainly true at my institution that lower-level CS classes (say, up through sophomore year) are taught more<br />as "engineering" than as "science".<br /><br />On a somewhat related note, one thing that strikes me about CS is how ill-defined an *undergraduate* major is. In particular, the classes that one is expected <br />to have taken before graduation seem to vary tremendously from institution to institution, more so than in, say, physics.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3722233.post-1095172164801765602004-09-14T09:29:00.000-05:002004-09-14T09:29:00.000-05:00In the case of physics and history it's hard to ma...In the case of physics and history it's hard to make a career without an advanced degree. Computer science is one of the few areas where you can get a professional-grade salary with just a BA or BS (well, it used to be, before the "job-less recovery").<br /><br />Another aspect is that, at many schools, you don't need the "science" part so much, and the program *is* very focused on programming. A CS degree, after all, is the degree you'd imagine a computer programmer would have (modulo generation).<br /><br />For myself, I have troubles even describing what a PhD in computer science means. I was talking to someone at a car dealership who was convinced that I knew "what was inside computers," as if one could get a similar PhD in "Cars". I ended up telling him it was much more like mathematics, though that is somewhat not true. So, you can see that someone who has a better clue of computer science might see that it mostly involves programming.<br /><br />So, Lance, how would you describe computer science to the layman?Macneil Shonlehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16382866616548432101noreply@blogger.com