Computer ScienceHistory, Significance, Social Influence

ByEdward Hatch

History of Computer Science

Difference engine (1840’s) - Charles Babbage, British mechanical engineer, created the first mechanical to compute mathematical calculations.

Bombe (1939) - Alan Turning, British Mathematician, created the first electromechanical system.

Colossus (1945) – Tommy Flowers, British electrical engineer, created the first digital computer.

Apple 1 (1972) – Steven Wozniak, American electrical engineer, created the first personal computer.

Image courtesy of Science Museum of London Image courtesy of http://www.colossus-computer.com/

Computer Science as a Discourse Community

Common goals - Promotion of technology and further development of the field

Genre - Computer & System Programming, Networking, Engineering, & Research

Communication – Coordination between the creation of programs and hardware

Members – New members of all skill & experience levels are always welcome

Lexis• Java(Programming Language)• BIOS (Basic Input Output System)• File extensions (.mp3, .ppt, . jpg)

Methods

Formal interviews

Informal discussion with friends within the discourse community

Data & Analysis

Major political and economic push for students to major in computer science and related fields in the form of scholarships. Open source community been a catalyst for the next generation of computer science majors.

Students who major in computer science are marketable after graduation with a bachelors degree.

Employment opportunities have resisted fluctuations within the job market over the past decade.

X-FactorThere are more jobs for computer science majors than there are graduates.

Increasing role & need for women in all sectors and fields of computer science including CEO.

Marissa Mayer Yahoo CEO since 2012

Lisa Su AMD CEO since 2014

Conclusion

Computer Science is an ever expanding & open discourse community. The community is always accepting new members regardless of skill level and experience. As technology reaches deeper into our lives the community grows with it.

References

Cleveland, William S. "Learning from Data: Unifying Statistics and Computer Science."

International Statistical Review 73.2 (2005): 217-21. Print.

Denning, Peter J. "The Science of Computing: What Is Computer Science?" American

Scientist 73.1 (1985): 16-19. Print.

Grabarczyk-Turner, Jenn. “Ethnography Interview Questions.” Email interview. 01 Apr

2015

Knuth, Donald E. "Computer Science and Its Relation to Mathematics." The American

Mathematical Monthly 81.4 (1974): 323-43. Print.

Sperry, Rita. " Ethnography Interview Questions." E-mail interview. 31 Mar. 2015