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Sample Careers in Computing

Medical Imaging

Doctors today can clean the arteries of a patient's heart, preventing a future heart attack. Modern medical imaging can reveal a detailed view of clogged problem areas — without any surgery. CAT scans, MRIs, and ultrasounds are all the products of computing professionals.

  • Computer engineers design the hardware.
  • Computer scientists devise the algorithms to process images from electrical impulses. Software engineers write software and ensure that it meets medical quality standards.
  • IT professionals connect the imaging equipment to the rest of the high-tech hospital gear.
  • Information systems specialists ensure that the right medical staff gets the right information at the right time.
  • Digital media professionals work on the 3D visualization and creating related 3D models and animations.

Finding Information on the Web

Most people use search engines such as Google and Yahoo every day. But search engines for the web could be much better than they are today. How about searching for objects in pictures? Or sounds? Scenes in movies? The web is constantly growing. Search engines need to learn what information means.

  • Computer scientists devise the revolutionary approaches that makes search possible.
  • Software engineers develop the products that dig up results.
  • Specialists in information systems design solutions that allow search companies to sell relevant advertisements.
  • Computer engineers design complex, high-performance networks to cope with immense quantities of data.
  • Digital Media professionals work on designing and creating artful, user-friendly web interfaces for highly interactive Web 2.0 content.

Online Music and Movie Distribution

One day you might tell your grandchildren stories about what television was like. The future of music, movies, and all media is on the Internet. From iTunes to YouTube, commercial entertainment is moving to the Web — fast. Most of the major studios plan to distribute films online. The entertainment industry is being shaken up and the whole revolution is powered by technology and computing professionals.

  • Computer scientists design the huge databases that store music, TV shows, and movies.
  • Specialists in software engineering, IT, and computer science work with artists to create attractive, engaging interfaces for consumers.
  • Information systems professionals design the logic that keeps track of customers' interests and provides recommendations.
  • Computer engineers built the iPod and other portable media devices on which we play our downloads.
  • Digital Media professionals are critical for creating today's content, whether the latest Pixar release, special effects for the latest Hollywood blockbuster, or user-mixed audio.
Mobile Devices

Soon, the idea of using your cell phone only for voice will seem old-fashioned. You already text your friends, but mobile phones are rapidly becoming much more. They can access the Web, play games, and even tell you where you are right now. Soon you'll be able to press a key and instantly buy tickets to see your favorite band at a club you're just walking by. Or pay bus fare just by hopping onto the bus you want to take.
  • Computer engineers develop smaller, less power-hungry chips.
  • Computer scientists create compression algorithms to transmit information more efficiently.
  • Information systems specialists design the connections between businesses and mobile customers.
  • IT specialists make sure that the hardware and software used behind the scenes is up-to-date.
  • Digital Media professionals create the content that you see and hear on these devices, from the user interface, the music and movies, and the games that you play.

Gaming

The Microsoft Xbox 360. The Sony Playstation 3. The Nintendo Wii. They're all great gaming machines, but the technology behind them isn't a game at all — it's seriously powerful stuff. And games aren't just for kids anymore. Adults not only play today's video games, they create them, too. At the heart of these virtual reality platforms is cutting edge computing.

  • Computer engineers produce faster, more powerful chips capable of displaying ever more lifelike characters in 3- dimensional worlds.
  • Computer Science and Software Engineering experts create the artificial intelligence that makes each game challenging, keeping players coming back for more.
  • IT professionals support networks and infrastructure that enable game development.
  • Information Systems professionals create systems for keeping track of customer feedback, Online Music & Movie Distribution behavior, and demand.
  • Digital Media professionals design, produce, and develop content for modern video games platforms, from storyboards to 3D modeling and animation to creating gameplay.

 

(Adapted from the ACM Computing Degrees and Careers web site)