by John Wong
Who is that professor teaching Data Structures and Algorithms this semester? He is none other than Professor Alfred Aho, former researcher at AT&T Bell Laboratories and Bellcore, now the chairman of the Department of Computer Science at Columbia. Professor Aho brings the forefront of computer science to Columbia. To many people, cyberspace may be a novel concept, but Prof. Aho has been involved with it for 25 years. In addition, he was one of the creators of a widely used information processing language, AWK (an acronym for Aho, Weinberger, and Kernighan). Professor Aho's research interests also include developing theoretical foundations for computer science which may lead to practical applications in the future.
Some engineering students have asked if it would be worthwhile to pursue a master's degree in computer science, since computers are so pervasive in our society. Frank Wang, SEAS '96, an electrical engineering major, asked Professor Aho during the Kandel Coffee Hour, whether it would be beneficial to study computer science in graduate school to "force him to touch the computer more often." While Prof. Aho did not give a specific response, he noted that every educated person should know the basic concepts of computer science, as such knowledge are vital in the workplace. "Students need to take computer science to be prepared for the information age, when algorithmic problem-solving will be the currency of thought as much as economics or natural sciences are today," said Prof. Aho. Even though the field will advance in subsequent years, basic concepts such as computer logic, data structures, and the organization of information will continue to be relevant. When asked about what skills besides technical skills are essential for computer science students to master, Professor Aho responded by saying that communications skills are vital to one's success. Prof. Aho may teach Introduction to Software Engineering (W3156) next term, and his plans are to make the class more interactive. Students will be required to give presentations about the projects that they do. The real world demands that people communicate ideas to others, and developing such skills in school helps students succeed later on in life.
Computer science is still a hot field due to a vast number of recent advances. Telecommunications companies invest greatly in software that allows software modules to be easily interfaced into existing systems. Entertainment, communications, and information companies also invest greatly in new computer science technology. Prof. Aho also mentioned the invention of the digital notary system, in which progresses in computer science can be "patented" electronically, so that the original file can be certified. This idea is becoming increasingly important because advances in computer science can be plagiarized rather easily because of the ease of transfer and duplication of files. Such a notary system puts a "time stamp" on files, so that people "can't cheat on time." The developer of this concept is Stu Haber, a Columbia graduate.
New advances in computer science may result from advances in neurology and microbiology. For example, the human brain uses certain algorithms to reach conclusions about sets of information. A deeper understanding about the brain's functions may give computer scientists new methods of solving problems.