When talking
about computation techniques, we are talking about, the necessary knowledge
needed to compute the solutions of real life problems.
In our world today, you cannot name any field
of study that do not make use of a computer. It has to be one way or another. Even
if you try otherwise, you won’t like the experience.
If you give
three workers has same job to do. The first one wrote on a paper, the second
one typed on a typewriter and the third one did his work with a computer. What
do you expect the result will be like?
The writer would
have to get a suitable pen, get paper(s) and a good penmanship. Even with these
qualities checked, there is space for error.
This is because we are human, and as such will always tend make mistakes.
For the work to be presentable, if there is a mistake, the writer must start
afresh on a new paper. Illustrations would be tedious, or right out impossible.
When the work is finally submitted, you will notice very many faults and
imperfections.
The worker with a
typewriter will outright rule out illustrations and real time arithmetic data.
Writing has one default font. Many characters are missing so the worker will be
limited in so many ways. Mistakes also means new paper (or a dirty work). After
submission, you will become dissatisfied with how inflexible the result is (or
worse, how dirty. Don’t forget about unchecked errors).
The worker with
a computer will however use a word document interface to do the work on a
computer (Microsoft word, word pad…). With the computer, you can have many
fonts, styles, character size… Errors can be corrected at same interface
without wasting paper. A good interface will even prompt for reediting the
error. When submitted, any displeasure will be mostly on lags in worker’s skills.
Now don’t be the
one giving the work, be one of the workers. Which one would you rather be? Obviously,
the computer using worker will be the most possible answer. Because a computer
is fast, efficient and flexible.
Think about any
field of study again, what are the alternatives to computers (note that all
electronics are part computers?). If you find them, check which would be chosen
for best result. Please comment anyone that is not a computer after you must
have finished analysing.
In as much
computers are used in all field of study, a computer cannot generate intelligence
that was not given to it by sentient creatures. Thus the need to know how to
compute the way of solving real problems in the computer.
An Electrical
Engineer could want to build a circuit to solve a problem, especially one not
done before, he will have to physically build it. To build the circuit by trial
and error will waste resources (transistors, capacitors, resistors…), but with
a program like Proteus many things are covered. He can test as many different
models as possible and not incur loss at each failure. He might even keep
creating models until he can make an even more efficient, and less costly
model.
How are all these programs that run in a computer to help
us solve our problems come to be? They were computed into the computer by a programmer. These programmers
use languages to write so that the computer will understand what you are instructing
it. These languages range from machine binary codes to high level language like
.Net and Java. To compile these programs, the programmer must pass some steps.
These steps are as thus bellow. (I won’t
go into details about programing language. If you want to know more about this,
please comment.)
Steps in solving problems
Understanding the problem: This is important because if you do not know exactly
what the problem is, you will never be able to solve it. If the problem of a
water duct is low pressure, if you do not identify it correctly, you might even
end up solving a leaking problem. Of cause you have not solved the pressure
problem and have simply wasted resources. It is important to not only identify
the problem, but to be able to break down this problem into classifications. In
the end leave a program statement.
Formulation of model: This is the creation of the general data of
information into classified archives. These models are broken into Empirical
model (real life database) and Statistical model (mathematical models)
Development: This is the development of algorithms that will aid
the solving of equations. After the algorithms must have been developed, for
easier transition, a flow diagram could be created.
Codding: This is the actual programming of the solutions to the problem.
Testing: Checks
for bugs and mistakes would be conducted after the programing.
Evaluation: this is assessment of quality the software possess, and
rating it in accordance to acceptable international market standard.
Installation: The created programs are then put in formats where it
can be transferable from on computer to another. This aids marketing software.
Maintenance: this has to do with the upkeep of the software and
upgrades
Documentation: This is the denotation of processes and hows. It is very important because,
it helps keep track of syntax, and n turn helps in updates. It also help users
understand how the program truly work.
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