Computer scientist Jonathan De Vita graduated from Lancaster University, studying AI and coding as part of his degree. This article will look at computer science, a rapidly growing and increasingly important field of study that is having a transformative impact on numerous industries today.
Computer science has paved the way for significant breakthroughs in anthropology, with researchers leveraging cutting-edge satellite data surveying systems to discover that the Amazon region was far more densely populated than previously supposed. Anthropologists have been using data gathered via satellite imagery for some time to identify ancient geoglyphs, the earthworks used for ceremonies. Latterly, researchers have been leveraging advanced computer models to predict where ancient sites were located, assessing precipitation, soil pH and elevation as well as predicting population densities. Research suggests that indigenous tribes of the Amazon constructed interconnected, fortified cities spanning an immense 1,100-mile area that flourished between 1200 and 1500 AD.
Computer science was particularly valuable in the fight against COVID-19, leveraging the power of machine learning to process complex datasets and design advanced computer models to predict how the virus was likely to spread and mutate, galvanising scientific communities. Advanced computer models were used to map out interactions among infected residents on both a regional and national level.
AI is at the forefront of digital transformation, with the potential to develop solutions for some of the world’s most pressing problems – the most significant being climate change. AI helps researchers to better understand the effects of storms and natural disasters. Take for instance JJAIBOT, an AI interface that uses predictive analytics to assess air pollution and predict when it will be most severe. Meanwhile, climate informatics combines climate science and data to reconstruct past conditions and predict extreme weather, using advanced computational systems and large-scale data models to forecast the impact of climate and extreme weather.
The development of advanced computational systems has changed many aspects of modern life. In the field of healthcare, computer science has had a game-changing impact. For over a decade, hospitals all over the world have been utilising robotic surgery to improve and save lives. Innovations in robotics have enabled doctors to take laparoscopic surgery to the next level, allowing them to perform ever-more complex procedures while simultaneously helping to avoid may of the complications associated with open surgery. In the UK, the NHS has adopted CMR Surgical’s pioneering Versius surgical robotic system, with robotic arms positioned around the patient and directed via a control panel by a surgeon nearby. This remote approach has enabled surgeons to perform increasingly complex procedures while simultaneously minimising the risk of complications. A field of study that combines computation, information and automation, computer science has made all manner of modern innovations and emerging technologies possible, revolutionising market sectors as diverse as media, healthcare, transportation, education, finance, cryptography and defence.