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Search found 2009 results on 81 pages for 'science fiction'.

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  • Is Data Science “Science”?

    - by BuckWoody
    I hold the term “science” in very high esteem. I grew up on the Space Coast in Florida, and eventually worked at the Kennedy Space Center, surrounded by very intelligent people who worked in various scientific fields. Recently a new term has entered the computing dialog – “Data Scientist”. Since it’s not a standard term, it has a lot of definitions, and in fact has been disputed as a correct term. After all, the reasoning goes, if there’s no such thing as “Data Science” then how can there be a Data Scientist? This argument has been made before, albeit with a different term – “Computer Science”. In Peter Denning’s excellent article “Is Computer Science Science” (April  2005/Vol. 48, No. 4 COMMUNICATIONS OF THE ACM) there are many points that separate “science” from “engineering” and even “art”.  I won’t repeat the content of that article here (I recommend you read it on your own) but will leverage the points he makes there. Definition of Science To ask the question “is data science ‘science’” then we need to start with a definition of terms. Various references put the definition into the same basic areas: Study of the physical world Systematic and/or disciplined study of a subject area ...and then they include the things studied, the bodies of knowledge and so on. The word itself comes from Latin, and means merely “to know” or “to study to know”. Greek divides knowledge further into “truth” (episteme), and practical use or effects (tekhne). Normally computing falls into the second realm. Definition of Data Science And now a more controversial definition: Data Science. This term is so new and perhaps so niche that the major dictionaries haven’t yet picked it up (my OED reference is older – can’t afford to pop for the online registration at present). Researching the term's general use I created an amalgam of the definitions this way: “Studying and applying mathematical and other techniques to derive information from complex data sets.” Using this definition, data science certainly seems to be science - it's learning about and studying some object or area using systematic methods. But implicit within the definition is the word “application”, which makes the process more akin to engineering or even technology than science. In fact, I find that using these techniques – and data itself – part of science, not science itself. I leave out the concept of studying data patterns or algorithms as part of this discipline. That is actually a domain I see within research, mathematics or computer science. That of course is a type of science, but does not seek for practical applications. As part of the argument against calling it “Data Science”, some point to the scientific method of creating a hypothesis, testing with controls, testing results against the hypothesis, and documenting for repeatability.  These are not steps that we often take in working with data. We normally start with a question, and fit patterns and algorithms to predict outcomes and find correlations. In this way Data Science is more akin to statistics (and in fact makes heavy use of them) in the process rather than starting with an assumption and following on with it. So, is Data Science “Science”? I’m uncertain – and I’m uncertain it matters. Even if we are facing rampant “title inflation” these days (does anyone introduce themselves as a secretary or supervisor anymore?) I can tolerate the term at least from the intent that we use data to study problems across a wide spectrum, rather than restricting it to a single domain. And I also understand those who have worked hard to achieve the very honorable title of “scientist” who have issues with those who borrow the term without asking. What do you think? Science, or not? Does it matter?

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  • Computer Science: Arts or Science?

    - by sunpech
    Various colleges and universities may offer a degree in Computer Science either as an Arts or a Science. What differences are there between the two? Would recruiters and those who conduct interviews favor one over the other? (Bachelor of Arts vs Bachelor of Sciences etc...) Update - Just wanted to add this link to Joel Spolsky's site to give a better frame of reference: BA or BS in Computer Science

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  • Is the science of Computer Science dead?

    - by Veaviticus
    Question : Is the science and art of CS dead? By that I mean, the real requirements to think, plan and efficiently solve problems seems to be falling away from CS these days. The field seems to be lowering the entry-barrier so more people can 'program' without having to learn how to truly program. Background : I'm a recent graduate with a BS in Computer Science. I'm working a starting position at a decent sized company in the IT department. I mostly do .NET and other Microsoft technologies at my job, but before this I've done Java stuff through internships and the like. I personally am a C++ programmer for my own for-fun projects. In Depth : Through the work I've been doing, it seems to me that the intense disciplines of a real science don't exist in CS anymore. In the past, programmers had to solve problems efficiently in order for systems to be robust and quick. But now, with the prevailing technologies like .NET, Java and scripting languages, it seems like efficiency and robustness have been traded for ease of development. Most of the colleagues that I work with don't even have degrees in Computer Science. Most graduated with Electrical Engineering degrees, a few with Software Engineering, even some who came from tech schools without a 4 year program. Yet they get by just fine without having the technical background of CS, without having studied theories and algorithms, without having any regard for making an elegant solution (they just go for the easiest, cheapest solution). The company pushes us to use Microsoft technologies, which take all the real thought out of the matter and replace it with libraries and tools that can auto-build your project for you half the time. I'm not trying to hate on the languages, I understand that they serve a purpose and do it well, but when your employees don't know how a hash-table works, and use the wrong sorting methods, or run SQL commands that are horribly inefficient (but get the job done in an acceptable time), it feels like more effort is being put into developing technologies that coddle new 'programmers' rather than actually teaching people how to do things right. I am interested in making efficient and, in my opinion, beautiful programs. If there is a better way to do it, I'd rather go back and refactor it than let it slide. But in the corporate world, they push me to complete tasks quickly rather than elegantly. And that really bugs me. Is this what I'm going to be looking forward to the rest of my life? Are there still positions out there for people who love the science and art of CS rather than just the paycheck? And on the same note, here's a good read if you haven't seen it before The Perils Of Java Schools

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  • Computer Science or Computer Engineering for Data Science and Machine Learning

    - by ATMathew
    I'm a 25 year old data consultant who is considering returning to school to get a second bachelors degree in computer science or engineering. My interest is data science and machine learning. I use programming as a means to an end, and use languages like Python, R, C, Java, and Hadoop to find meaning in large data sets. Would a computer science or computer engineering degree be better for this? I realize that a statistics degree may be even more beneficial, but I'll be at a school which dosn't have a stats department or a computational math department.

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  • How do I completely self study computer science?

    - by Optimus
    Being a completely self taught programmer I would like it if I could better myself by self-learning computer science course taught to a typical CS grad. Finding different resources on internet has been easy, there is of course MIT open course ware, and there are Coursera courses from Stanford and other universities. There are numerous other open resources scattered around the Internet and some good books that are repeatedly recommended. I have been learning a lot but my study is heavily fragmented, which really bugs me, I would love If somewhere I could find a path I should follow and a stack I should limit myself to so that I can be sure about what essential parts of computer science I have studied and systematically approach those I haven't. The problem with Wikipedia is it doesn't tell you whats essential but insists on being a complete reference. MIT open course ware for Computer science and Electrical Engg. has a huge list of courses also not telling you what courses are essential and what optional as per person's interest/requirement. I found no mention of an order in which one should study different subjects. What I would love is to create a list that I can follow like this dummy one SUBJECTS DONE Introduction to Computer Science * Introduction to Algorithms * Discrete Mathematics Adv. Discrete Mathematics Data structures * Adv. Algorithms ... As you can clearly see I have little idea of what specific subjects computer science consists of. It would be hugely helpful even if some one pointed out essential courses from MIT Course ware ( + essential subjects not present at MIT OCW) in a recommended order of study. I'll list the Posts I already went through (and I didn't get what I was looking for there) Computer science curriculum for non-CS major? - top answer says it isn't worth studying cse How can a self-taught programmer learn more about Computer Science? - points to MIT OCW Studying computer science - what am I getting myself into? Overview of computer science, programming

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  • 100+ Science Fiction Movies Supercut [Video]

    - by Asian Angel
    If you were looking for inspiration for a weekend sci-fi movie watching marathon, then this awesome supercut video of 100+ sci-fi movies is the perfect place to start! Now all you need is a nice tub of popcorn to round things out… Science Fiction: A Supercut (Glitch Mob remix “Monday”) [via Geeks are Sexy] Why Does 64-Bit Windows Need a Separate “Program Files (x86)” Folder? Why Your Android Phone Isn’t Getting Operating System Updates and What You Can Do About It How To Delete, Move, or Rename Locked Files in Windows

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  • what, why, when, should I learn computer science?

    - by dramasea
    I'm 16 years old and really an enthusiast on web programming. I know (X)HTML, css, javascript and php. And i heard about computer science. Below are my question: What is computer science? Should a web programmer learn computer science? If the answer of question 2 is yes, then what programming language(s) should I learn before I get into computer science (I saw the video of 'Introduction to computer science' which is one of the MIT opencourse and it started to use python without teaching you from scratch.) Can I learn computer science now? (Without a university degree, I can watch open courseware.)

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  • what, why, when, should I learn computer science?

    - by dramasea
    I'm 16 years old and really an enthusiast on web programming. I know (X)HTML, css, javascript and php. And i heard about computer science. Below are my question: What is computer science is? Should a web programmer learn computer science? If the answer of question 2 is yes, then what programming language should i learn before i get into computer science(I saw the video of 'Introduction to computer science' which is one of the MIT opencourse and it started to use python without teaching u from scratch) Can I learn computer science now?(Without a university degree, i can watch opencourseware)

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  • Growing Plants that have been Exposed to Lunar Soil [Video]

    - by Asian Angel
    Lunar soil was brought back to Earth during the days of NASA’s Apollo program and scientists eagerly started conducting experiments with it. This short video discusses some of the research and results when plants from Earth were exposed to soil from the Moon. You can read more about these experiments by visiting the blog post linked below. The blog post also contains additional links related to the research. Gardening on the Moon [BoingBoing] Growing Plants in Moon Dirt [YouTube] HTG Explains: What Is Two-Factor Authentication and Should I Be Using It? HTG Explains: What Is Windows RT and What Does It Mean To Me? HTG Explains: How Windows 8′s Secure Boot Feature Works & What It Means for Linux

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  • What discipline does Computer Science belong to?

    - by Macneil
    Is Computer Science science, applied mathematics, engineering, art, philosophy? "Other"? To provide background, here is Steven Wartik's blog posting for Scientific American titled "I'm not a real scientist, and that's okay." The article covers some good topics for this question, but it leaves open more than it answers. If you can think of the discipline, how would computer science fit into its definition? Should the discipline for Computer Science be based on what programmers do, or what academics do? What kind of answers do you get from people who've seemed to think deeply about this? What reasons do they give?

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  • Decorate Your Desktop with the Rock Stars of Science [Wallpaper]

    - by Jason Fitzpatrick
    This understated desktop wallpaper showcases notable names in science with accompanying icons to represent their contribution to the field. The icons are the work of Megan Lee of Megan Lee Studios–you order prints, t-shirts, and other items with her designs on them here–and the wallpaper arrangement comes to us courtesy of Reddit user wastingtime247–check out the via link below for more arrangements. Science Rock Stars Wallpaper by Megan Lee Studios [via Reddit] How to Access Your Router If You Forget the Password Secure Yourself by Using Two-Step Verification on These 16 Web Services How to Fix a Stuck Pixel on an LCD Monitor

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  • Hack Apart a Highlighter to Create UV-Reactive Flowers [Science]

    - by ETC
    College students have long been hacking apart highlighters to create glowing bottles of booze to line their dorm room walls. Far more interesting, however, is the application of the hack to flowers. Many of you may remember a science class experiment from years gone by where in you put food coloring in a beaker and then some freshly cut white flowers; returning to the experiment a day later yielded flowers colored to match the dye you added. This little experiment relies on the same technique, only instead of blue food coloring the flowers suck up UV-reactive highlighter dye. Check out the video below to see the experiment in action: Have a fun science experiment to share? Let’s hear about it in the comments. Make Flowers Glow in the Dark (with Highlighter Fluid and UV Light) [YouTube via Make] Latest Features How-To Geek ETC Learn To Adjust Contrast Like a Pro in Photoshop, GIMP, and Paint.NET Have You Ever Wondered How Your Operating System Got Its Name? Should You Delete Windows 7 Service Pack Backup Files to Save Space? What Can Super Mario Teach Us About Graphics Technology? Windows 7 Service Pack 1 is Released: But Should You Install It? How To Make Hundreds of Complex Photo Edits in Seconds With Photoshop Actions Hack Apart a Highlighter to Create UV-Reactive Flowers [Science] Add a “Textmate Style” Lightweight Text Editor with Dropbox Syncing to Chrome and Iron Is the Forcefield Really On or Not? [Star Wars Parody Video] Google Updates Picasa Web Albums; Emphasis on Sharing and Showcasing Uwall.tv Turns YouTube into a Video Jukebox Early Morning Sunrise at the Beach Wallpaper

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  • Computer Science Degrees and Real-World Experience

    - by Steven Elliott Jr
    Recently, at a family reunion-type event I was asked by a high school student how important it is to get a computer science degree in order to get a job as a programmer in lieu of actual programming experience. The kid has been working with Python and the Blender project as he's into making games and the like; it sounds like he has some decent programming chops. Now, as someone that has gone through a computer science degree my initial response to this question is to say, "You absolutely MUST get a computer science degree in order to get a job as a programmer!" However, as I thought about this I was unsure as to whether my initial reaction was due in part to my own suffering as a CS student or because I feel that this is actually the case. Now, for me, I can say that I rarely use anything that I learned in college, in terms of the extremely hard math, algorithms, etc, etc. but I did come away with a decent attitude and the willingness to work through tough problems. I just don't know what to tell this kid; I feel like I should tell him to do the CS degree but I have hired so many programmers that majored in things like English, Philosophy, and other liberal arts-type degrees, even some that never went to college. In fact my best developer, falls into this latter category. He got started writing software for his church or something and then it took off into a passion. So, while I know this is one of those juicy potential down vote questions, I am just curious as to what everyone else thinks about this topic. Would you tell a high school kid about this? Perhaps if he/she already knows a good deal of programming and loves it he doesn't need a CS degree and could expand his horizons with a liberal arts degree. I know one of the creators of the Django web framework was a American Literature major and he is obviously a pretty gifted developer. Anyway, thanks for the consideration.

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  • The University with the best Computer Science degree?

    - by Shinnok
    Which University provides the best Computer Science degree in your opinion(non US Universities welcomed too)? I do realize that you most probably didn't attend more then one University so you can't really provide a truly insightful opinion on several institutions, but what you can do instead, is describe the one you attended and outline it's strengths and weaknesses. What do i mean by the best is essentially the University that upon graduation and given a subject's assumed reasonable level of passion and interest in the field, one can trust upon the fact he was at least exposed to the best and most deep, correct and up to date courses on Programming, Operating Systems, Internet and Computer Technology overall. We have all heard of recent horror stories in Computer Science teaching, thus an exposure the best of the best, essentially the University you would grant your children to if they were to be interested into this field, would be a great thing.

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  • Master Degree in MIS for computer science student

    - by tnhan07
    I'm junior student in computer science. After taking half of my major related courses, I found that I don't like this theoretical side of IT. As a result, I decided that I would devote my career to CIS/MIS because it is more interesting. However, some veteran programmers in this forum said that having a strong computer science foundation would help much for CIS. Therefore, I think it's better for me to complete my CS degree then have a Master Degree in MIS than have a minor in MIS. After some internet searching, I found that top universities(in my reach) offering master degree in CIS/MIS are all business schools, is there any obstacle for a CS student who lacks of business knowledge like me if I study in these schools? Do you have any advice for me?

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  • Good Intro to Computer Science Book for FE Developer [on hold]

    - by Squirkle
    I am a JavaScript developer/architect who, like many developers these days, did not come from a Computer Science background (I studied Philosophy at a liberal arts college), but instead learned development by actually building applications, and by reading books explaining language grammars, design patterns, and best practices. I have never felt that my ignorance of CS concepts has hurt my ability to build great apps or find employment. Recently, however, I have felt the itch to grow in this direction. Do you have any suggestions for some good introductory CS resources/books? I know that Computer Science is a huge field and my question is very general, but I am looking for a 101-type survey of the high-level concepts, from which I can branch off into more specific areas of study. Thanks!

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  • The Science of Brain Freezes [Video]

    - by Jason Fitzpatrick
    For many readers summer is in full swing and icy treats are abundant; check out this video to see the science behind how a frozen treat can bring on the dreaded “brain freeze”. [via Boing Boing] How to Make Your Laptop Choose a Wired Connection Instead of Wireless HTG Explains: What Is Two-Factor Authentication and Should I Be Using It? HTG Explains: What Is Windows RT and What Does It Mean To Me?

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  • Help me make a choice between comp science and software engineering [closed]

    - by Darkdante
    I am a college foundation student and I am really having trouble on which major I should choose between a B.Sc in computer science or software engineering.I have always wanted to be a lead software developer at a big company and I am really interested in coding starting my own website and even create my own apps and software.I really don't have a strong background in programming.And here i am looking at this piece of paper asking me to choose from the two and i don't want to make a mistake that maybe will make me regret.So guys please help me.S.0.S

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  • Good university for computer science with plans for game development

    - by DukeYore
    I am starting my computer science degree at a local community college in programming using C++. However, I will be transferring to a 4-year university. Does anyone have any insight on university programs? I know Cal State Fullerton has a degree with a minor in Game Development. however, is that as important as getting a degree from a really great school? If I could shoot for something like Cal Poly would that be better? Or even Stanford or SF State being so close to so many gaming companies up there in the Bay area? Thank you in advance for any guidance.

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  • Computer science [closed]

    - by user73589
    I'm a computer science graduate Information systems department. I graduated this year with GPA 3.8 but I'm totally lost, we didn't work on making applications and writing a lot of codes at college. I feel that if I applied in any job I won't be taken because I don't have any knowledge. I'm a very hardworker but I don't know from where to start and what to do. Should I go for web design and that staff or for Android and mobile applications? What can I do and how to start?

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  • Turn a Green Laser into a Microscope Projector [Science]

    - by ETC
    No need to settle for squinting over a microscope, hack a green laser and a cheap webcam lens into a projector. Check out the video below to see the projector in action. Over at Hackteria, user Dusjagr shares a clever tutorial on how to hack a laser and some odd parts into a projector intended for microscopic subjects. With a strong enough light source, a properly spaced lens assembly, and a slide or petri dish filled with something of interest, you can create microscope projector. Curious how it would work and what the results would look like? Check out this demonstration video: That wiggling creature you see in the video is a nematode from a sample of pond water. For more information on building your own laser-scope projector, hit up the link below. DIY Laser Microscope [Hackteria via Make] Latest Features How-To Geek ETC Learn To Adjust Contrast Like a Pro in Photoshop, GIMP, and Paint.NET Have You Ever Wondered How Your Operating System Got Its Name? Should You Delete Windows 7 Service Pack Backup Files to Save Space? What Can Super Mario Teach Us About Graphics Technology? Windows 7 Service Pack 1 is Released: But Should You Install It? How To Make Hundreds of Complex Photo Edits in Seconds With Photoshop Actions Awesome 10 Meter Curved Touchscreen at the University of Groningen [Video] TV Antenna Helper Makes HDTV Antenna Calibration a Snap Turn a Green Laser into a Microscope Projector [Science] The Open Road Awaits [Wallpaper] N64oid Brings N64 Emulation to Android Devices Super-Charge GIMP’s Image Editing Capabilities with G’MIC [Cross-Platform]

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  • GRE subject Computer science

    - by Maddy.Shik
    How do I prepare for the GRE Computer Science subject test? Are there any standard text books I should follow? Agree that its under graduation level and one doesn't need to dig to deep for it. I have done my computer engineering from a college who ranks in top 20 in India. So may be my curriculum has not been that good as compared to international students. Since now i want to get admission in to world renowned university's Ph. D. program. I want to enhance my basic skills up to a level to beat other international students in competition. I want to know good book references which are recommended by professors in international school like CMU, MIT, Standford etc. Like for Algorithms Coreman is considered very good. Good books builds concepts from very basic so that one doesn't need to mug up even a basic concepts. Coreman is just too good with good blend of Mathematics and programming concepts. Definitely Test paper are must but that can be practiced once one has read text books thoroughly. Besides its been 2 years i passed out from college so its is essential for me to revise all concepts from text books. Please tell me standard text books for each subject like Computer Architecture, Database Design, Operating Systems, Discrete Maths etc.

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  • Computer science curriculum for non-CS major?

    - by Daniel
    Hi all, I would like to have some ideas for building up my foundation CS skills. I have started programming computers 10 years ago and have made a pretty good career out of it. However, I cannot stop thinking that the path that brought me here was very particular, and if something goes wrong (e.g. I get laid off) it would be harder to find a job here in the US on the same salary level, OR in a top company. The reason I say that is that I am a self-learner; my degree is not in Computer Science so although I master C/C++/Java, I do not have the formal CS and mathematical background that many other software developers (esp. here in the US) have. When I look at job interview questions from Apple, Google, Amazon, I have the impression that I'd flunk those technical interviews at some point. Don't get me wrong, I know my algorithms and data structures, but when things dive too deeply into the CS realm I am in trouble. What can I do to close the gap? I was thinking about a MSc in CS, but will I even UNDERSTAND what's going on there if I'm not a CS undergrad? Should I go back to basics and get a BSc in CS instead? I always tend to go into self-study mode when I want to learn new stuff, but I have the impression that I will need more formal education in CS if I want to have a shot at working at those kinds of companies. Thank you!

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  • How to understand computer science as a whole?

    - by MrCellophane
    I am a college student in Computer Science, I have been studying CS for a long time. But even till today, I still feel so confused about a lot of things. First of all, I have solid foundation in alg, data structure, and OOP, but I don't have a clear understanding of the whole system of the subject. I studied database, alg, data structure, OOP, network, software engineering, OS, and a lot of courses. I know what they are, but I don't know how to connect them together. Is there a way to have a clear understanding of the architecture of the subject? And is there a way to know what technology is used to do what? For example, in interviews, when people ask me alg, data str, Java, OS or any other specific field, I could answer, but when they ask some other very general about the field, I have no idea. Well, I know my question maybe a little bit confusing, but what my situation is I don't even know how to ask a clear question. I don't know my question, it's totally a mess in my head. Is there a way to make it clear?

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