A taxonomy of computer science
P J H King · ITNOW · 1976
The appearance of the BCS report is probably symptomatic of the unsatisfactory nature of many computer science courses now available and it must be conceded that the emergence of the subject, at least in the universities, has been rather confused. What must be rejected is the frequent assumption that there is an academic activity, ‘computer science’, which is a rather theoretical and mathematical thing, of no concern to the average computer professional working in data processing for whom it is irrelevant. If such were the case then there would seem little reason for this activity to continue. Central to the taxonomy I am putting forward is the notion that computer science has the essential characteristic of an engineering discipline—a concern for the identification of practical requirements and the construction of artefacts and systems which meet them in a satisfactory and cost-effective way. The term computer science has, perhaps, not helped and the French equivalent, l’informatique, seems somehow more appropriate. Whatever the title it includes the application of computers in data processing and information systems.