Computers – Art or Science?

Why do computers crash? If software can’t wear out why does it need maintenance? Why can’t IT be simple?

These questions can be answered at a top level by asking another: Is computer science really a science? Or part art?

It’s a science surely? After all, you get a computer science degree (BSc) from University with the other thrifty dressers sporting an unhealthy Playstation tan?

Well perhaps it’s not so clear cut and I will get on to why that’s relevant in a minute.

The history piece is that only a few years ago simply having a business computer was enough. They were glorified typewriters, barely connected to each other. The internet was used by governments and laptops were the size of 3 house bricks and weighed twice as much. Things were simple.

10 years later with 3 million small businesses (<50 people) and 42 million internet users in the UK it’s a different story. The capacity of the average PC now surpasses the average need. They create more, store more, and share more. It’s also worth noting that the average PC in a smaller business is often treated like a home one, or the same unit (How many of us hook our iPods into our PC at work?).

Most people won’t dispute that humans are still evolving, and at a base level we can argue that computers go through a similar process in a smaller way. For example, when you turn on your PC there are so many processes going on that things don’t always work as planned (Most often for worse but sometimes better).

Perhaps computers can evolve without human intervention? Every setup is unique and they can now effectively self medicate, repairing themselves through updates over the internet for example.

You’re possibly wondering what I’ve been smoking? Here’s a practical experiment to prove my point:

I built 5 Laptops from the same manufacturer with the same operating system, the same office suite and used them in the same way for 1 hour. I started the PC, opened Word, created a document, printed, went on the internet and browsed to bbc.co.uk.

Each one behaved slightly differently as expected but one was dog slow for no apparent reason, taking an age to open files and get on the web. (Spooky question, and slightly geeky, but does this constitute personality?! If so, at what point will a computer become conscious? Was it just grumpy? PS after a restart, a little chat and some chocolate it was fine)

So what’s the point, how does it affect you and what should you do?

Well first off we need to be patient with IT as it is still is in its infancy. I would also like you to challenge the ‘fear and loathing’ normally associated with it.

Our thoughts

The divide between computing as a science and an art is (and has been for some time) blurring

Computers don’t always do what they say on the tin

Sometimes there is no simple answer to why equipment fails. The real solution is to have a process in place that minimises the fallout when it does

IT cannot always be kept simple. However, it is a steep and short learning curve to understand the logic behind computing and you don’t need to be a tech propeller head to ‘get it’

Get some IT training and/or coaching so you can help yourself

If a computer works, leave it alone! It is sometimes not worth upgrading to the latest and greatest

We can now buy really powerful IT equipment for very little cash so the focus for successful IT solutions in small business is shifting from ‘content’ to ‘context’. In other words, it’s not what you’ve got but how you use it that counts

 

So is computing part art and science? Maybe there’s no distinction? da Vinci didn’t think so.