In the past, each century has been defined by major advancements. The 19th century was all about the Industrial Revolution, electricity, and moving from farming to more advanced societies. The 20th century brought breakthroughs in physics and engineering, making life easier with inventions like refrigerators and washing machines. Now, the 21st century is the digital age, dominated by the Internet. No matter what you want to do—whether it’s racing cars, playing sports, or building houses—software is transforming every field.
Meet the LettuceBot, a robot that can “see” its surroundings. Every hour, it examines 1.5 million plants and makes decisions for each one. This technology helps farmers grow more lettuce efficiently, making food production more sustainable and affordable. Such advancements were unimaginable before computer science and technology came into play.
Imagine having a job that combines programming, fashion, art, design, and shopping! That’s what Polyvore does. Many of the products we use today are apps on our phones. If you want to create something new and exciting, learning to program is crucial. With computer science, the possibilities are endless. If you have a cool idea, programming is often a key part of bringing it to life. That’s why learning this skill is so important.
The technology we’re developing today will be used by doctors in the near future. When you visit a doctor, they might ask for a sample to analyze using advanced sequencing technology. This helps identify illnesses quickly. For example, if there’s a new virus, we can compare it to a database of known viruses. However, human expertise is still needed because computers can’t fully interpret the data on their own yet.
Our software helps people save energy and reduce carbon emissions. So far, we’ve saved over 8 terawatt-hours of energy, which is like taking 1.1 million cars off the road. Predicting wind energy involves many factors, making it too complex for humans to calculate manually. That’s where computer models come in handy.
I create software that scans images for illegal content, working closely with organizations like the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. I’m proud of how our work positively impacts people’s lives, especially when addressing important social issues. It’s about giving people the tools they need to make the world a better place.
The blend of art and technology is becoming more important. As computers and software become part of our daily lives, people are discovering how to use technology to create amazing art. For example, in animated movies like Finding Nemo, the beautiful visuals are made using mathematical algorithms and computer programs, which artists then refine to create stunning images.
At its heart, computer science is about invention—challenging the norm and striving for improvement. Not learning to program is like not learning to read; it limits your future opportunities. In the world of coding, you can choose your own path. The idea that you can start a project in your dorm room and create something used by a billion people is incredible. It’s inspiring to see your innovations make a positive difference in people’s lives.
Learn computer science. It’s changing everything.
Research the LettuceBot and create a presentation on how it uses computer vision to improve agriculture. Include a section on how similar technologies could be applied to other crops or farming practices.
Imagine you are a developer at Polyvore. Design a simple app interface that combines fashion and technology. Sketch your ideas and explain how programming can enhance the fashion industry.
Create a mock scenario where you use computer algorithms to diagnose a fictional illness. Explain how computer science aids in medical advancements and the importance of human expertise in interpreting data.
Using basic math and computer models, calculate how much energy your school could save by implementing energy-efficient practices. Present your findings and suggest ways to reduce carbon emissions.
Use a simple graphic design program to create a piece of digital art. Reflect on how technology influences art and entertainment, and share your artwork with the class.
**Computer Science is Changing Everything**
I think the 19th century was about the Industrial Revolution, about electricity, and about transforming agricultural society into something more advanced. The 20th century focused on physics and engineering, making everyday life easier with inventions like refrigerators and washing machines. Now, the 21st century is undoubtedly the digital age, defined by the Internet. Whether you aspire to be a race car driver, play baseball, or build a house, all these fields have been revolutionized by software.
**Agriculture**
The LettuceBot is a robot that can sense its environment. Every hour, this LettuceBot analyzes 1.5 million plants and takes individual actions on them. We enable lettuce growers to achieve higher yields in their fields, making food production more sustainable and cost-effective—something that wasn’t possible before the advent of computer science and technology.
**Fashion**
I have a really exciting job where we build Polyvore, which combines my passions for programming, fashion, art, design, and shopping! Many products we use today are software-based applications on our phones. If you want to create something innovative, learning programming is essential. There are countless possibilities with computer science, so if you start with the cool idea you want to develop, you’ll often find that programming is a key part of the process. Therefore, acquiring this skill is important.
**Medicine**
The technology we are developing now will soon be used by doctors in the next decade. When you visit the doctor feeling unwell, they might ask you to provide a sample. This sample can be analyzed using advanced sequencing technology, allowing us to identify illnesses quickly. For instance, if we are searching for a new virus, we can compare our sequence of interest against a comprehensive database of known viruses. However, human analysis is still necessary, as computers aren’t yet capable of fully interpreting the data.
**Energy**
Our software helps individuals save energy and reduce carbon emissions. So far, we’ve saved over 8 terawatt-hours, which is equivalent to removing about 1.1 million cars from the road. Forecasting wind energy involves numerous parameters, making it impractical for a human to perform all the calculations manually. That’s where computer models come into play.
**Public Safety**
I develop software that scans images for illegal content. I collaborate closely with organizations like the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. I am proud of the impact our work has on people’s lives, especially given the pressing social issues that can benefit from technological solutions. It’s about empowering those who are working to improve the world by providing them with the necessary tools.
**Art and Entertainment**
The intersection of art and technology is becoming increasingly significant. As computers and software become integral to our daily lives, people are discovering the creative potential of using technology to produce remarkable works of art. For example, in animated films like Finding Nemo, the visuals—such as flowing water and vibrant colors—are generated through mathematical algorithms and computer programs. These are then refined by artists to create stunning final images.
At its core, this is about invention—questioning the status quo and striving for improvement. I believe that not learning to program would be akin to not learning to read; it would close off many future opportunities. In the coding profession, there are endless possibilities, and you can choose your own path. The idea that you can start a project in your college dorm and potentially create something that a billion people use daily is astonishing. It’s humbling and inspiring to see your innovations make a positive impact on people’s lives.
Learn computer science. It’s changing everything.
Computer – An electronic device that processes data and performs tasks according to a set of instructions called a program. – Example sentence: The computer in our classroom helps us learn programming by running different coding exercises.
Science – The systematic study of the structure and behavior of the physical and natural world through observation and experiment. – Example sentence: Computer science involves studying algorithms and data structures to solve complex problems.
Technology – The application of scientific knowledge for practical purposes, especially in industry. – Example sentence: Advances in technology have made it possible for us to communicate instantly with people around the world.
Software – A set of instructions, data, or programs used to operate computers and execute specific tasks. – Example sentence: We use software like word processors and spreadsheets to complete our school projects.
Programming – The process of designing and building an executable computer program to accomplish a specific computing task. – Example sentence: In our programming class, we learned how to write code in Python to create a simple game.
Energy – The capacity to do work, often used in the context of computing to refer to the power consumption of electronic devices. – Example sentence: Modern processors are designed to be energy-efficient to extend battery life in laptops and mobile devices.
Agriculture – The practice of farming, including the cultivation of the soil for growing crops and the rearing of animals to provide food and other products. – Example sentence: Technology in agriculture, like automated tractors, helps farmers increase their productivity and efficiency.
Medicine – The science and practice of diagnosing, treating, and preventing disease, often enhanced by technology in modern healthcare. – Example sentence: Medical software allows doctors to access patient records quickly and provide better care.
Internet – A global network of interconnected computers that communicate freely and share and exchange information. – Example sentence: The internet is a valuable resource for students to research information for their assignments.
Art – The expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, often in a visual form such as painting or sculpture, but also in digital formats using technology. – Example sentence: Digital art software allows artists to create stunning visuals using a computer and a graphics tablet.
