Computing
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{{About||the formal concept of computation|computation|the magazine|Computing (magazine)|the scientific journal|Computing (journal)}}File:MemoryRam.jpg|thumb|RAM (Random Access Memory) is a
hardware component ]]
Computing is usually defined as the activity of using and improving
computer technology,
computer hardware and
software. It is the computer-specific part of
information technology.
Computer science (or computing science) is the study and the science of the theoretical foundations of information and computation and their implementation and application in computer systems.
Computing Curricula 2005(1) defined computing:
In a general way, we can define computing to mean any goal-oriented activity requiring, benefiting from, or creating computers. Thus, computing includes designing and building hardware and software systems for a wide range of purposes; processing, structuring, and managing various kinds of information; doing scientific studies using computers; making computer systems behave intelligently; creating and using communications and entertainment media; finding and gathering information relevant to any particular purpose, and so on. The list is virtually endless, and the possibilities are vast.
A computer is a
machine that manipulates
data according to a set of
instructions called a
computer program. The program has an
executable form that the computer can use directly to execute the instructions. The same program in its human-readable
source code form, enables a
programmer to study and develop the
algorithm. Because the instructions can be carried out in different types of computers, a single set of source instructions converts to machine instructions according to the
central processing unit type. The execution
process carries out the instructions in a computer program. Instructions express the
computations performed by the
computer. They trigger sequences of simple actions on the executing machine. Those actions produce effects according to the
semantics of the instructions.
Computer programming in general is the process of writing, testing, debugging, and maintaining the
source code and documentation of
computer programs. This source code is written in a
programming language, which is an
artificial language, restrictive, demanding, and unforgiving to humans but easily translated by the computer. The purpose of programming is to invoke the desired behaviour (customization) from the machine. The process of writing high quality source code requires knowledge of both the application's domain
and the computer science domain. The highest quality software is thus developed by a team of various domain experts, each person a specialist in some area of development. But the term
programmer may apply to a range of program quality, from
hacker to
open source contributor to professional. And a single programmer could do most or all of the computer programming needed to generate the
proof of concept to launch a new
"killer" application.
Definitions
{{Wikiversity|computing}}The term
computing has sometimes been narrowly defined, as in a 1989
ACM report on
Computing as a Discipline(2):
''The discipline of computing is the systematic study of algorithmic processes that describe and transform information: their theory, analysis, design, efficiency, implementation, and application. The fundamental question underlying all computing is 'What can be (efficiently) automated?'''
Computing Curricula 2005[ also recognizes that the meaning of computing depends on the context:-]Computing also has other meanings that are more specific, based on the context in which the term is used. For example, an information systems specialist will view computing somewhat differently from a software engineer. Regardless of the context, doing computing well can be complicated and difficult. Because society needs people to do computing well, we must think of computing not only as a profession but also as a discipline.
The term computing is also synonymous with counting and calculating. In earlier times it was used in reference to mechanical computing machines.A computer is an electronic device that performs certain arithmetic and logical operations without any errors.Science and theory
Hardware
See information processor for a high-level block diagram.{{multicol}}
{{multicol-break}}
{{multicol-end}}Instruction-level taxonomies
After the commoditization of memory, attention turned to optimizing CPU performance at the instruction level. Various methods of speeding up the fetch-execute cycle include:
Software
History of computing
Business computing
Human factors
Computer network
Wired and wireless computer network
Computing technology based wireless networking (CbWN)
The main of goal of CbWN is to optimize the system performance of the flexible wireless network.
Computer security
Data
Numeric data
Character data
Other data topics
Mechatronics
Classes of computers
Companies - current
Companies - historic
- Acorn, bought by Olivetti
- Amdahl Corporation, bought by Fujitsu
- Bendix Corporation
- Burroughs Corporation, merged with Sperry to become Unisys
- Compaq, bought by Hewlett-Packard
- Control Data
- Cray
- Data General
- Digital Equipment Corporation, bought by Compaq, in turn bought by Hewlett-Packard
- Digital Research - produced system software for early Intel microprocessor-based computers
- English Electric Company
- Ferranti
- General Electric, computer division bought by Honeywell, then Bull
- Honeywell, computer division bought by Bull
- ICL
- Leo
- Lisp Machines, Inc.
- Marconi
- Micro Instrumentation and Telemetry Systems produced the first widely sold microcomputer system (kit and assembled)
- Nixdorf Computer, bought by Siemens
- Olivetti
- Osborne
- Packard Bell
- Prime Computer
- Raytheon
- Royal McBee
- RCA
- Scientific Data Systems, sold to Xerox
- Siemens
- Sinclair Research, created the Sinclair ZX Spectrum, ZX80 and ZX81
- Southweat Technical products Corporation produced microcomputers systems (kit and assembled), peripherals, and software based on Motorola 6800 and 6809 microcomputer chips
- Sperry, which bought UNIVAC, and later merged with Burroughs to become Unisys
- Symbolics
- UNIVAC
- Varian Data Machines, a division of Varian Associates which was bought by Sperry
- Wang
Organizations
Professional
Standards bodies
See also: Standardization and Standards organization
Open standards
See also Open standard
See also
{{Wiktionary|computing}}
References
-
[The Joint Task Force for Computing Curricula 2005. Computing Curricula 2005: The Overview Report (pdf)]
-
[Computing as a Discipline (pdf)]
{{Technology}}حوسبةগণনা (কম্পিউটিং)Výpočetní technikaΠληροφορικήComputación전산अभिकलनמיחשובSzámítástechnikaTeknologi komputasiコンピューティングKomputerologiaComputaçãoКомпьютеризацияקאמפיוטעריי
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- time: 7:59am EDT - Thu, Mar 18 2010