Computer and Information Research Scientists
Main Topic: G. I. Sciences
Secondary Topic: Environment and Society
Overview: Computer and information research scientists design innovative uses for new and existing computing technology. They study and solve complex problems in computing for business, science, medicine, and other fields. Particularly, they explore computing problems, collaborate with scientists and engineers, determine the need for research, and develop hardware and software systems to improve people’s computing experiences, conduct experiments, analyze results and publish their findings. Their work is to improve the software and hardware based on machine learning systems, cloud computing and computer architecture. Their work results in better overall computer technology. The following are the computer and information research scientist job titles:
Computer programmers design and program software and new programming language that are used to write software. They improve the programming language in order to make software writing efficient and up –to-date with the needs of the contemporary society. These programs are used in variety of ways by a normal person in their day to day life such as in cars, appliances, medical devices and so on. Hence they often collaborate with the hardware engineers.
Computer hardware engineers research, design, develop and test computer systems and components and equipment such as processors. They also test the hardware, modify the designs as needed, update the hardware and the software and oversee the manufacturing process for computer hardware. They create hardware suitable for and in collaboration with the computer programmers and electrical engineers. Some of them also study the development and application of robots and robotics and study how a machine can interact with the physical world.
Computer and information research scientists use geographical knowledge in different ways. In general, they combine computer science and geographical knowledge to address important issues on a planetary scale. Computer technology is developed for the people and their growing needs and demands. Furthermore, computers also are created for dealing with specific geographic problems such as environmental, social, economic impacts of climate change. This requires the computer scientists to have a working knowledge of different geographies and sectors that they are particularly targeting their work at. On the other hand, geographers also have to deal with large spatial data which requires large processing power of computers. The collection of geographical data also requires the hardware to be accessible and in many cases portable, especially to remote locations. Hence, all these factors related to the geography has to be paid attention by the computer and information scientist. At this age computers are critical for efficiently running modern society and all its elements such as health, security, transportation, finance etc. More and more such sectors have been incorporating sector specific computer technologies for efficiency and effectiveness.
Geographers at work: Geospatial scientists, physical geographers, human geographers, environmental geographers, G. I. Scientists, cartographers, business geographers
Recommended College Courses: Physical geography, human geography, social geography, environmental geography, geographic information science, Fundamentals of Geographic Information Systems, Advanced GIS, Cartography, Digital Image Processing and Machine Learning, Maps and Mapmaking, Remote Sensing and Earth Observation, Web Mapping,
Skills: GIS, Socio-cultural analysis, mapping and modeling, cartography, geographic information systems, computer and database systems, spatial analysis, map reading and interpretation
Occupation Group: Computer and Information Technology
Learn more about Computer and Information Research Scientists from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and U.S. Department of Labor: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/computer-and-information-research-scientists.htm#tab-1
Written by Binay Thapa and Alisa Hartsell