CS Unplugged: Computer Science Without a Computer

carapace wrote: post #4

nutjob2 wrote: post #3

Computer science is no more about computers than astronomy is about telescopes. - Dijkstra

"Calling it 'computer science' is like calling surgery 'knife science'." ~ also Dijkstra

My professor says that it would be like calling astonomy telescope science. In Danish it is called "Datalogi" the teaching of data because the founder of danish computer science, Peter Nauer, called it that.

Re: CS Unplugged: Computer Science Without a Computer

#6

Post by mukuro » Wed, Aug 01, 2018, 10:41 PM UTC

I heard that many CS majors in India have never used a computer, some of them have impressive theoretical knowledge and become successful in real jobs.

Re: CS Unplugged: Computer Science Without a Computer

#7

Post by [deleted] » Wed, Aug 01, 2018, 10:42 PM UTC

carapace wrote: post #4

nutjob2 wrote: post #3

Computer science is no more about computers than astronomy is about telescopes. - Dijkstra

"Calling it 'computer science' is like calling surgery 'knife science'." ~ also Dijkstra

[deleted]

Re: CS Unplugged: Computer Science Without a Computer

#8

Post by lux » Wed, Aug 01, 2018, 10:54 PM UTC

Love seeing things like this. I've been a developer for 20+ years now and my only formal learning was a high school comp sci class where our teacher Mr. Smythe made us do all our theory on paper or the chalk board, including tests. We did have lab time too, but it he wanted us to be able to reason our way through problems and not rely on the machine for that. I still carry a paper notebook everywhere and use it constantly. Can't thank him enough.

Re: CS Unplugged: Computer Science Without a Computer

#9

Post by lainga » Wed, Aug 01, 2018, 11:05 PM UTC

mukuro wrote: post #6

I heard that many CS majors in India have never used a computer, some of them have impressive theoretical knowledge and become successful in real jobs.

I have heard this was the same reason behind the vast dominance of Russian programmers in the early days of HFT (cf. Michael Lewis' Flash Boys): CS classrooms in late-80's USSR had maybe one computer between them, so you spent a lot of time getting your programs right on paper before it was your turn to use the machine.

Re: CS Unplugged: Computer Science Without a Computer

#10

Post by sattoshi » Wed, Aug 01, 2018, 11:56 PM UTC

erk__ wrote: post #5

carapace wrote: post #4

Earlier quoted context omitted.

"Calling it 'computer science' is like calling surgery 'knife science'." ~ also Dijkstra

My professor says that it would be like calling astonomy telescope science. In Danish it is called "Datalogi" the teaching of data because the founder of danish computer science, Peter Nauer, called it that.

Dataology would have been a great name. I would have loved to be a dataologist.