Computing Tomorrow: Future Research Directions in Computer Science

by Ian Wand, Robin Milner

Overview

Computer science is no longer just a technology—for nearly all of us, it has become a way of life. Whether we spend our days surfing the Internet, or merely use an automatic teller machine on occasion, computers have affected our lives. This collection of sixteen original essays by distinguished computer scientists celebrates the achievements of computer science research, and speculates about the unsolved problems in the field. Various essays address artificial intelligence, parallel programming, global information systems, and a host of other relevant topics. The book shows that long-term research in computer science is crucial and must not be driven solely by commercial considerations. The authors expose the difficult aspects of their topics in clear terms, and illustrate that computer science is now a full-fledged and growing intellectual discipline.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521103091
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	03/19/2009
Edition description:	Reissue
Pages:	384
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 9.00(h) x 2.90(d)

Table of Contents

Preface; Contributors; 1. The complexity of algorithms M. D. Atkinson; 2. Building novel software: the researcher and the marketplace P. J. Brown; 3. Prospects for artificial intelligence Alan Bundy; 4. Structured parallel programming: theory meets practice John Darlington, Yi-ke Guo and Hing Wing To; 5. Computer science and mathematics J. H. Davenport; 6. Paradigm merger in natural language processing Gerald Gazdar; 7. Large databases and knowledge reuse P. M. D. Gray; 8. The global-yet-personal information system J. R. Gurd and C. B. Jones; 9. Algebra and models C. A. R. Hoare; 10. Real-time computing Mathai Joseph; 11. Evaluation of software dependability Bev Littlewood; 12. Engineering safety-critical systems John A. McDermid; 13. Semantic ideas in computing Robin Milner; 14. Computers and communications R. M. Needham; 15. Interactive computing in tomorrow's computer science William Newman; 16. On the importance of being the right size Simon Peyton Jones; References; Index.

Editorial Reviews

Sixteen essays by computer scientists celebrate the achievements of research and speculate about the unsolved problems in computer science which require future investigation. The collection shows that long- term research is crucial and that it must not be driven solely by commercial considerations. Topics include prospects for artificial intelligence; large databases and knowledge re-use; the global-yet- personal information system; real-time computing; structured parallel programming, semantic ideas in computing; and interactive computing in tomorrow's computer science. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews

"...a refreshing introduction to alternative perspectives....Most of the contributions were both informative and entertaining."
Gregory V. Wilson, Dr. Dobb's Journal

"... eloquently written by well-known and well-respected scientists from both industry and academia..."
Sara Kalvala, reviews.com

From the Publisher