Fred Brooks is the first recipient of ACM Allen Newel Award. This award is presented as a token of honour to the individuals for their contributions in bridging Computer Science with other disciplines. In the article “The Computer Scientist as Toolsmith – II”, Brooks has given the opinion that Computer Science is probably not the best name that is coined for the discipline of computers which deals with solving problems for the users. Explaining the core difference between Science and Engineering, he states that Science is about discovering facts and laws of the universe, but engineering is about creating new things. In Computer Science, we are focussed on creating new things/new solutions, so the discipline can be appropriately referred as
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Science is about discovering new laws and facts, but engineering is about making new things. Computer Science professionals are primarily focussed on developing improvised solutions for users, hence these professionals can be better referred to as Toolsmiths rather than Computer scientists. A Toolsmith is successful only when his tool users are benefitted and satisfied with the tool. This very expectation holds correct in our case too. We succeed only when the solutions developed by us are useful, easy and makes the users faster and better. In the context of the name of the discipline, Brooks further says that often the name of a discipline can be misleading. Taking the example of Artificial intelligence (AI), he says that in the initial period of AI, much of the money and efforts were focussed on developing machines that could think and act like humans, eliminating human involvement, but unfortunately nothing very significant has been achieved till today. Instead developing a system, which can amplify human intelligence would take us a long way in developing new technologies and efficient …show more content…
There is a belief that products/ideas are successful and meaningful only when they are given exposure on TV, making everybody crazy of fame and show off rather than excellence and brilliance. Because of its virtual and passive nature, TV has driven us way from the real world and people, recreation and real communication.
In the last page of the article, Brooks has explained the power of thinking and imagination with the example of Computer Graphicists. With the power of imagination, Computer Graphicists can sub-create worlds which can be more beautiful and meaningful than the world one has ever seen. These worlds would have their own rules, creatures and astonishing surrounding which would mesmerize the viewers. To perform a great work of this magnitude, one needs to feed their mind and soul with true, beautiful and meaningful
Science is about discovering new laws and facts, but engineering is about making new things. Computer Science professionals are primarily focussed on developing improvised solutions for users, hence these professionals can be better referred to as Toolsmiths rather than Computer scientists. A Toolsmith is successful only when his tool users are benefitted and satisfied with the tool. This very expectation holds correct in our case too. We succeed only when the solutions developed by us are useful, easy and makes the users faster and better. In the context of the name of the discipline, Brooks further says that often the name of a discipline can be misleading. Taking the example of Artificial intelligence (AI), he says that in the initial period of AI, much of the money and efforts were focussed on developing machines that could think and act like humans, eliminating human involvement, but unfortunately nothing very significant has been achieved till today. Instead developing a system, which can amplify human intelligence would take us a long way in developing new technologies and efficient …show more content…
There is a belief that products/ideas are successful and meaningful only when they are given exposure on TV, making everybody crazy of fame and show off rather than excellence and brilliance. Because of its virtual and passive nature, TV has driven us way from the real world and people, recreation and real communication.
In the last page of the article, Brooks has explained the power of thinking and imagination with the example of Computer Graphicists. With the power of imagination, Computer Graphicists can sub-create worlds which can be more beautiful and meaningful than the world one has ever seen. These worlds would have their own rules, creatures and astonishing surrounding which would mesmerize the viewers. To perform a great work of this magnitude, one needs to feed their mind and soul with true, beautiful and meaningful