 The
widespread and increasing use of computers and information technology
has generated a need for highly trained, innovative workers with
extensive theoretical expertise.
These workers, called computer scientists, are the designers, creators,
and inventors of new technology. By creating new technology, or finding
alternative uses for existing resources, they solve complex business,
scientific, and general computing problems. Some computer scientists
work on multidisciplinary projects, collaborating with electrical
engineers, mechanical engineers, and other specialists.
Computer
scientists conduct research on a wide array of topics. Examples include
computer hardware architecture, virtual reality, and robotics.
Scientists
who research hardware architecture discover new ways for computers to
process and transmit information. They design computer chips and
processors, using new materials and techniques to make them work faster
and give them more computing power. When working with virtual reality,
scientists use technology to create life-like situations. For example,
scientists may invent video games that make users feel like they are
actually in the game.
Computer
scientists working with robotics try to create machines that can perform
tasks on their own -- without people controlling them. Robots perform
many tasks, such as sweeping floors in peoples’ homes, assembling cars
on factory production lines, and “auto-piloting” airplanes.
Computer science researchers employed by academic institutions have job
functions that are similar in many ways to those employed by other
organizations. In general, researchers in academic settings have more
flexibility to focus on pure theory, while those working in business or
scientific organizations, covered here, usually focus on projects that
have the possibility of producing patents and profits. Some researchers
in non-academic settings, however, have considerable latitude in
determining the direction of their research.
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Computer
Science Resources |
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Online |
Overview:
Overview of Computer Science |
Preparation:
Admission Requirements, Alternate Degree Paths, Graduate
Programs, Accredited Programs |
Specialty Areas:
Special Areas of Study |
Day in the Life:
Teams and Coworkers,
Tasks, the Workplace |
Earnings:
Employer Options, Salary Ranges, Types of Employers |
Employment:
Statistics, Industries, Employers |
Career Path Forecast:
Predictions |
Professional Organizations:
Resources, Networking, Support |
Internet Resources:
 Association
for Computing Machinery
Association
for Women in Computing
Computer
Science Teachers Association
IEEE
Computer Society |
Note: Some resources in this section are provided by the US Department
of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics
and the
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
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