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Learn more about "Computing"

Computing

[[File:MemoryRam.jpg|thumb|RAM (Random Access Memory) is a Computer hardware|hardware Electronic component|component]]
Computing is usually defined as the activity of using and improving computer technology, computer hardware and computer software|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 2005The Joint Task Force for Computing Curricula 2005. Computing Curricula 2005: The Overview Report (pdf) 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 (computing)|data according to a set of Code (computer programming)|instructions called a computer program. The program has an Execution (computing)|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#Formalization|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 (computing)|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 Formal semantics of programming languages|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 (hobbyist)|hacker to Hacker (programmer subculture)|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|"killer" application.

Definitions

The term ''computing'' has sometimes been narrowly defined, as in a 1989 Association for Computing Machinery|ACM report on ''Computing as a Discipline''Computing as a Discipline (pdf):

''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

- Computer science
- Theory of computation
- :Category:Computational models|Computational models
- Digital Bibliography & Library Project, as of July 2007, lists over 910 000 bibliographic entries on computer science and several thousand links to the home pages of computer scientists
- Scientific computing
- Metacomputing
- Topological computing
- Autonomic Computing

Hardware

See information processor for a high-level block diagram.
- Computer
- Hardware design|Computer Hardware Design
- Computer network
- Computer system
- History of computing hardware

Instruction-level taxonomies

After the commoditization of random-access memory|memory, attention turned to optimizing CPU performance at the instruction level. Various methods of speeding up the fetch-execute cycle include:
- designing instruction set architectures with simpler, faster instructions: RISC as opposed to Complex instruction set computer|CISC
- Superscalar instruction execution
- Very long instruction word|VLIW architectures, which make parallelism explicit

Software

- Software engineering
- Computer programming
- Computer|Computational
- Software patent
- Firmware
- Operating systems
- Application software|Application Software
    - Databases
    - Geographic information system
    - Spreadsheet
    - Word processor
- Programming languages
    - Interpreter (computing)|interpreters
    - compilers
- Speech recognition

History of computing

- History of computing hardware from the tally stick to the quantum computer
- History of computer science
- Punch Card
- Unit record equipment
- IBM 700/7000 series
- IBM 1400 series
- System/360
- Early IBM disk storage

Business computing

- Accounting software
- Computer-aided design
- Computer-aided manufacturing
- Computer-assisted dispatch
- Customer relationship management
- Data warehouse
- Decision support system
- Electronic data processing
- Enterprise resource planning
- Geographic information system
- Management information system
- Material requirements planning
- Strategic enterprise management
- Supply chain management
- Product Lifecycle Management
- Utility Computing

Human factors

- Accessible computing
- Human-computer interaction
- Human-centered computing

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.
- Source coding
    - Codebook design for side information based transmission techniques such as Precoding
    - Wyner-Ziv coding for Cooperative wireless communications
- Security
    - Dirty paper coding (DPC)|Dirty paper coding for cooperative multiple antenna or user precoding
- Intelligence
    - Game theory for wireless networking
    - Cognitive radio|Cognitive communications
    - Flexible sectorization, Beamforming and SDMA
- Software
    - Software-defined radio|Software defined radio (SDR)
    - Programmable air-interface
    - Downloadable algorithm: e.g., downloadable codebook for Precoding