Whither Computer Science?

Liam J. Bannon

University of Limerick, Ireland

Aarhus University, Denmark

Dia: 15/04/2015
Hora: 14 às 16h
Local: Anfiteatro Maria Irene Melo
Instituto Tércio Pacitti (NCE/UFRJ)

Abstract

Computer Science has existed as an academic discipline for well over half a century. In that time, of course, many changes have taken place concerning the development and use of hardware and software. Today, computers are used as much for communication as calculation. The question is, what are the fundamentals of computing as a discipline, and indeed, is there a single shared view of what a CS curriculum should consist of? A number of prominent computer scientists have argued for re-thinking the nature of the CS field. In this talk, I wish to argue for a broadening of the scope of the CS discipline. My main pojnt is that, as Peter Naur has argued, computing can be viewed as a human activity, and CS students should also understand something of the human (f)actors connected with the design and use of computer-based systems. It is not simply about the capabilities of the machine.

Liam Bannon, visiting scientist, PPGI/UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Dia: 15/04/2015
Hora: 14 às 16h
Local: Anfiteatro Maria Irene Melo
Instituto Tércio Pacitti (NCE/UFRJ)