|
Computing is transforming our society in ways that are as profound as the changes wrought
by physics and chemistry in the previous two centuries. Indeed, there is hardly an aspect of
our lives that hasn't already been influenced, or even revolutionized, by digital technology.
Given the importance of computing to modern society, it is therefore somewhat paradoxical
that there is so little awareness of the fundamental concepts that make it all possible. The
study of these concepts lies at the heart of computer science, and this new book by
MacCormick is one of the relatively few to present them to a general audience.
One reason for the relative lack of appreciation of computer science as a discipline is that it
is rarely taught in high school. While an introduction to subjects such as physics and
chemistry is generally considered mandatory', it is often only at the college or university
level that computer science can be studied in its own right. Furthermore, what is often
taught in schools as "computing" or "ICT" (information and communication technology) is
generally little more than skills training in the use of software packages. Unsurprisingly,
pupils find this tedious, and their natural enthusiasm for the use of computer technology in
entertainment and communication is tempered by the impression that the creation of such
technology is lacking in intellectual depth. These issues are thought to be at the heart of the
50 percent decline in the number of students studying computer science at university over
the last decade. In light of the crucial importance of digital technology to modern society,
there has never been a more important time to re-engage our population with the
fascination of computer science.
In 2008 I was fortunate in being selected to present the 180th series of Royal Institution
Christmas Lectures, which were initiated by Michael Faraday in 1826. The 2008 lectures
were the first time they had been given on the theme of computer science. When preparing
these lectures I spent much time thinking about how to explain computer science to a
general audience, and realized that there are very few resources, and almost no popular
books, that address this need. This new book by MacCormick is therefore particularly
welcome.
MacCormick has done a superb job of bringing complex ideas from computer science to a
general audience. Many of these ideas have an extraordinary' beauty and elegance which
alone makes them worthy of attention. To give just one example: the explosive growth of
web-based commerce is only possible because of the ability to send confidential information
(such as credit card numbers, for example) secretly and securely across the Internet. The
fact that secure communication can be established over "open" channels was for decades
thought to be an intractable problem. When a solution was found, it turned out to be
remarkably elegant, and is explained by MacCormick using precise analogies that require no
prior knowledge of computer science. Such gems make this book an invaluable contribution
to the popular science bookshelf, and I highly commend it. |
