Modern computer is one of the greatest achievments of modern science, in this sense, computer is the "child" of science, because modern science invented, or "gave birth" to computers. Also, computers nowadays become the most important tool of modern scientific researches, the study of computer and computer-related aspects, the computer science, has become one integral part of modern scientific endeavors, in this sense, computer science is also member of a big scientific "family". 

Hi Qasim,

Computer science is part of Applied Science which is subset to Science - you might want to refer the following link from wikipedia:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Applied_science

In IT realm, we usually label IT or computer related entities like Hardware, Software (including Middleware & Databases) & Services (1-off or ongoing operations) as "enabler" or "vehicle" or "tool" to help business or research etc due to its strengths as you'd mentioned.  Reason being without the correct input from business, research or other higher order domain requirements, IT or computer can just process / transform the wrong thing faster.  Another words, IT or computer is just a means to an end, it is not an end in itself.

Modern computer is one of the greatest achievments of modern science, in this sense, computer is the "child" of science, because modern science invented, or "gave birth" to computers. Also, computers nowadays become the most important tool of modern scientific researches, the study of computer and computer-related aspects, the computer science, has become one integral part of modern scientific endeavors, in this sense, computer science is also member of a big scientific "family". 

Yes, Han is correct.  But we can say that computing is like a helpful friend.  At work, we are always interacting with this machine.  It is now like an INDISPENSABLE FRIEND.

But at times, we will appreciate that it is just a HEARTLESS MACHINE.  Recently I used Viper, a free anti plagiarism software and scanned one article.  The matching content was 39%.  Then I made some alterations and scanned again the next day, because I had already exceeded the quota for the day.  It was 28%, and this was acceptable.  So I may call the computer a child, a child does help out in a family, especially an Asian family!

Yes, a very useful and amazing "child". Don´t forget to feed (with innovations and interest).

Dear Han Ping Fung, Ivo Carneiro de sousa

When I Say a computer, I means all branches that are related to computer. Branches are computer science, Computer engineering, software engineering, Information technology and Information technology (According to ACM/IEEE Recommendations, 2008)

Dear Michel Velazquez-Marino

 I have added Hunt to question to clarify what I mean by a computer.

Dear Colleagues,

Good Day,

All Science is Computer Science - George Johnson, New York Times, March 25, 2001

Physics, biology, chemistry, neuroscience, genetics, even sociology and anthropology depend heavily on computers. Increasingly, experiments are done "in silica", that is, by developing and experimenting with models of real systems rather than the systems themselves.

In fact, computer technology is often central to much scientific research. This research requires not just domain experts, such as medical and environmental researchers, but also people with deep knowledge of computer technology who are able to develop algorithms and complex applications to facilitate scientific research.

please,see the links attached

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_science

http://arxiv.org/abs/1407.0199

http://www.mtholyoke.edu/~blerner/Applications.html

Dear Qasim Mohammed Hussein, 

All in the areas of sciences  can be used computer, therefore computer  no "child" can be considered as "great".

Regards, Shafagat

Computer is great facilitator to science, not the child!

Since a computer is a tool that used from other sciences, so the computer produces (in all its branches) a services the other sciences to perform their computations (like the son helps his family)

I think we can better say that computer is the blood running through the sciences. It is the ultimate connective tissue to the body of knowledge.

Dear all

I think Computer Skill resembles language skill, all are fundamental skill for science work.

Dear colleagues,

Good Day,

There is a British saying "Chips with everything" , l say " Computers with every Sciences / Engineering/ Arts etc etc....."

The analogy that you have employed is quite accurate.  Computer is not only one of the ground breaking results of the scientific research but is also an enabler a helper and even in some cases the reason for new innovation so in some sense what you have said is true. 

Dear Cecilia,

I prefer child, because computers obey, friends never!

Indeed the computer of today is the child of many of the sciences particularly of mathematical computations  and logical reasoning. In the attempt to push the capacity of computers to a higher and more efficient way,  the field what is called artificial intelligence (AI) is working a paramount work in which computers somehow can behave and function like humans except that they lack consciousness.  

In the endeavor to bring such a colossal computing almost human like machine in to existence, (fields other than the traditional ones that are involved in computing) biology, chemistry, physics have to play a role in building the mind of a computer, the brain, the computing part with that of consciousness.

But is that possible to built consciousness in machines while we are still debating on what consciousness is and where it came from?  But the human mind is always capable of imagining new things and one day we may be able to bring such a possibility.   

I do not know whether you call it the child or the mother but no doubt that the instrument is one of the very important component for the modern academic activities. Possibly Theoretical Computer Science" is the only subject where you don't need a physical computer for your research.

exactly, without computers we can not live,  even all the Lab. instruments become computerized 

Dear Dr. Qasim,

I agree with what you have stated.

I always think of science development as a long journey that human race has taken and will continue taking. During this journey, computer has become a cane or handrail that assists all sciences in advancement and moving forward faster. 

Thanks for the question. 

In a sense, we can say so. Computer is one of the most important inventions of modern scientific research. The importance of computers has been undoubtedly increased in all areas of science education and scientific research.

After a second thought I think computer should be called a child. Tremendous potential of its application has been rightly pointed out by almost all of my colleagues. However, one thing has not been mentioned yet, is its misuse. There are cases; especially in education domain we tend to use computers to make it more entertaining rather than adding extra academic content by using video, multimedia etc. I feel the new born child (the computer technology) is being pampered by such action. I have consciously used the word “pampered” and I have an apprehension that the technology may turnout to be a “spoiled child”.

Its like "Chick or Hen in the first place", both computer and science live together. With lot of improvement in technology, use of computer is inevitable. Further development in computing gadgets have become a fashion today.

Using NVRAM laptop computers would no longer need back up batteries, permitting them to be made still smaller and lighter. This achievement of nanotechnology is considered as a long –standing dream of the computer industry.

https://globaljournals.org/GJRE_Volume12/6-Nanotechnology-and-Its-Impact-on-Modern-Computer.pdf

All these comments about "child". Yes computer were developed in and for science, they are a product. And computer technology has a lot of scientific features. In the meantime the "children" are grown up to mighty and important assistents, real powerful helpers for science and research. 

Dear All,

The opportunities and use of computers in science initiated a revolution of quick working up of tremendous data and extensive subjects as well as facilitated publication process. However parallel with the ease of working ups many superficial papers and mechanically, badly adapted analyses have appeared because many pseudo-scientists have not learned the elementary rules of statistics and examination and could not resist the convenience computers offered.  This means that it is not easy to properly use the new opportunities.

Computers have become an integral part of modern science. They are essential tools (I prefer using the word "tools" instead of "children" ) in helping scientists to understand the world around us. Computers have changed the face of science so that scientists are no longer constrained to doing just experiment-based or theoretical research. Now professional scientists can enter results & data into a computer and the computer can recreate an intricate or simplified representation of scientific work. The use of computers in education is widely spreading nearly in each corner of this world.

If researchers, involved in computer science or engineering, really want to help working scientists do more science, they should work more in development of conventional small-scale computing. On the other hand, no enough work is done to teach scientists how to use computers more effectively as research tools. Some university science & engineering scholars think that there is no room to teach students "good" computing since each course of postgraduate level is full to the brim.

Previously when computer was not there we had to do calculation using mechanical gear based calculators. At that time for theoretical research our aim was to get an analytical solution of the problem. I feel, that used to give us more insight. These days we do not even like to waste time for such formulation unless the formulation is obvious. We go for simulation!

I fully agree with other collegues that computers and etc. are merely tools,

The tools, some times, play an importance role in the result. So, the tools become a basis in the work.

 In fact, computer technology is often central to much scientific research. This research requires not just domain experts, such as medical and environmental researchers, but also people with deep knowledge of computer technology who are able to develop algorithms and complex applications to facilitate scientific research.

http://www.mtholyoke.edu/~blerner/Applications.html

Learning computers and Job openings - status in US

A national non-STEM job opening is filled in about 33 days, compared to 56 days for jobs that require programming skills and 65 days for mobile developing, There’d be more people to fill these jobs if there were more computer science graduates, and there’d be more graduates if more people could start the subject in high school.

http://qz.com/340551/america-is-failing-its-children-by-not-teaching-code-in-every-high-school/

In research should computer be used only for numerical computation or to handle a large data set? Should we be satisfied only with storage and retrieval of a huge amount of information? I think the complete capabilities of a modern digital computer have not yet been completely exploited. That our computer can take logical decisions is one of the most important achievements. This capability, I think, can help us to guide our thinking process to reach a particular goal. Once we reach the goal by tracing a particular decision path, possibly we can have a computer assisted analytical solution for a given research problem.

The attached write-up is taken from the following book

ESSAYS IN COMPUTING SCIENCE

C. A. R. Hoare

Oxford University Computing Laboratory

C. B. Jones

(editor)

Department of Computer Science,

Manchester University

PRENTICE HALL

NEW YORK

I think it is worth reading  for those who are taking part in this discussion.

Computer ...

I think computer is not "child" but "true friend" of science.