Zvanysse Week 1

Before Reading the Denning Articles

1. I think computer science is the science of formulating efficient and logical algorithms in order to complete a defined task. On an extremely broad scope, I think computer science is simply the science of how computation works.
2. I think that other people may think of computer science as those hackers looking at computers with 0's and 1's filling the screen. I think others may have a very "media" like interpretation when they think of computer science.
3. When my younger relatives think of computer science, I think that the first thing that comes to their minds are video games. I think that a lot of my younger relatives mesh graphics and actual coding together.

Before Reading the Janovy Chapter

1. When I think of biology, I think of how organisms work. Really the study of anything that is living.
2. I don't really consider myself a biologist by my definition because I am not actively studying any living thing.

After Reading the Denning articles and Janovy Chapter

1. I think the purposes for these readings is for us to better understand what computer science and biology really is. I think that for this class to succeed, the very first thing that we should do is define our terms - especially when it comes to the very subject that we are studying.
2. I find the computational thinker as the most appealing "voice." Solving problems cuts across all subjects at any level. It does interest me to think about how to solve problems using very different approaches - a skill that is very important in the computer science field. I can use the skills learned in various classes and apply them to different subjects.
3. The principle of automation I believe very directly correlates with macroeconomic trends. Finding patterns with various correlations can be used to accurately forecast future economic events.
4. I found the concept that true biologists find interdependency with pretty much everything especially provocative and thought provoking. I found myself thinking of the "butterfly effect" and how one change to the biological tree can effect almost everything else either directly or indirectly. Furthermore, according to the article, biologists go a step further to analyze and make observations on the relationships found.
5. After reading the article, I see a biologist as someone who "makes some kind of original observation of nature and meld them into a synthesis of understanding." By this definition, I do not see myself as a biologist for one main reason. That being that I do not believe that I have made an original observation. I think that I have made observations that nobody has explicitly told me, however I do not believe that I was the first one to make that observation. For example: tree's leaves fall in Fall. I do believe that I have synthesized a fair amount of observations into understandings, however again, I have not made an original observation therefore my synthesis of observation is also not original.