Nowadays, almost everyone uses computers. Many people have personal computers at school, at home, or in their office. Computers are also part of many modern appliances, like microwaves, cellular phones, and cars.

Computer science is different from just using the computers that are all around us. Computer scientists develop things for the computers that the rest of us will use. Most computer scientists are either programmers or researchers.

Computer programmers tell the computer what to do. They write programs in languages that the computer can understand. Basic programming languages, like Assembly Language, are closer to the binary codes that the computer uses. Binary is a number system that uses only ones and zeros. The computer can understand this number system because the ones and zeros can be represented by a switch being on or off. Basic programming languages are used for setting up the base level functions of a computer. Programmers might use these languages when they're designing a new operating system, like DOS or Windows, or when they're building a computer.

There are also higher level programming languages, like QBASIC, C++, or Java. Writing in these languages is more similar to writing in a human language like English. Using these programming languages, programmers can create new applications like Microsoft Word, or they can create games.

Most computer programmers work for large or small computer companies, but many other institutions also need computer programmers, like non-computer based high-tech companies, or the government.

Computer programming seems to be a very new science. In fact, the first program was written by a woman named Ada Lovelace in 1843! A few years earlier, she had learned that a man named Charles Babbage had the idea to build a calculating engine, which he called the Analytical Engine. An Italian named Menabrea wrote a summary of Babbage's ideas. When Ada Lovelace translated this summary, she added her own notes at the end which were three times as long as the original article. In these notes, she predicted that such a machine could be used to compose complex music or to produce graphics. She also wrote a plan for how Babbage's engine could be used to do advanced mathematical calculations. This plan was the first computer program. This was such an important step that in 1979 a programming language was named Ada in her honour.

Computer scientists are not only programmers, however. Many computer scientists also do different kinds of research. One important area of study is artificial intelligence. Researchers in this area are trying to understand whether machines can think like people, or perhaps are trying to actually create intelligent machines. Other researchers try to improve computers; they might study how to store data more efficiently, or how computers could be better used. They might also develop new methods for computer programming. Computer scientists doing research often work at universities, or in the Research and Development departments of high-tech companies.

There is a field related to computer science called computer engineering. Computer engineers are involved in the study of design, management, and maintenance techniques related to hardware and software. Some computer engineers design the physical machines that run the computer programs written by computer scientists. Computer engineers also design new computer technology, like faster computer chips. Others study complicated computer systems or networks.