COMPUTING AND ITs DEFINATION

A difference engine: computing the solution to a polynomial function

Computer laboratory, Moody Hall, James Madison University, 2003

A rack of servers from 2006

Computing is any goal-oriented activity requiring, benefiting from, or creating a mathematical sequence of steps known as an algorithm — e.g. through computers. Computing includes designing, developing and building hardware and software systems; processing, structuring, and managing various kinds of information; doing scientific research on and with computers; making computer systems behave intelligently; and creating and using communications and entertainment media. The field of computing includes computer engineering, software engineering,computer science, information systems, and information technology.

DefinitionsEdit

The ACM Computing Curricula 2005^[1] defined "computing" as follows:

"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."

and it defines five sub-disciplines of the computing field: Computer Science, Computer Engineering, Information Systems, Information Technology, and Software Engineering.^[2]

However, Computing Curricula 2005^[1] 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" has sometimes been narrowly defined, as in a 1989ACM report on Computing as a Discipline:^[3]

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?"

The term "computing" is also synonymous with counting and calculating. In earlier times, it was used in reference to the action performed bymechanical computing machines, and before that, to human computers.

source wikipedia

computing by computerhope.com

Computing

1. The term "Computing" can have multiple meanings, but the basic meaning is the act of calculating a value using mathematical formulas or methods. A computer processes many functions by computing information, which in its simplest form, is a series of ones and zeroes (called binary code). The computer got its name due to this.

Compute has been used in multiple other forms, but still to refer to the same basic function of calculating, or determining, information. People sometimes make the comment "does not compute" in a semi-joking manner, to mean something does not make sense, or they cannot come up with an answer to a question. Robotic characters in movies and television shows have made similar comments that mean the same thing.

2. Computing may also refer to a computer magazine titled "Compute!" that was published from 1979 to 1994, which focused on the computer system and all the major platforms at the time.

3. Computing is also a common misspelling for computer