CZ Talk:Computers Workgroup

Sub Workgroups?

"Computers" seems awfully broad to me. Perhaps we could break this down into more specific workgroups? Is there currently a policy on workgroup breadth? --Jim R. Wilson 12:23, 7 February 2007 (CST)

We eventually need a set of subgroups, but since we currently have only a handful of active people, it's really not worth it at this point. What were you thinking of working on? If you want to help out with personal computer, I'd be much obliged. -- ZachPruckowski (Talk) 12:29, 7 February 2007 (CST)

One thing I am planning to focus on, once we've recovered from the Slashdotting, is recruitment. Then we'll have more active editors and authors and more interest in making subgroups. In the meantime, could you be persuaded to pretend that there is a subgroup you desire and proceed to plan, and work on articles, on behalf of that group but in the context of the Computers group? (Make sense?) --Larry Sanger 12:33, 7 February 2007 (CST)

Pseudocode

Do we have any standard definition of pseudocode we should be using? If not, I would recommend that we adopt one for use whenever we are not talking about one particular language. This would bring a more consistent user experience for our readers. --Nick Johnson 09:53, 9 February 2007 (CST)

The above was moved over here by me -- ZachPruckowski (Talk) 10:41, 9 February 2007 (CST)

Titular article, miscelleny

I would like to propose replacing the current content of the Computer article with a copy of Wikipedia's corresponding article. Myself and another editor rewrote the Wikipedia article a while back and, while it is far from perfect, I honestly think it is an improvement over the old Wikipedia revision upon which the current Citizendium article is based. There are a some things about it that will probably need changing to conform to this wiki's stylistic preferences, but on the whole I think it offers improved organization and topical coverage.

I was also wondering why the Citizendium article title uses the plural form of the word. The singular form seems like it would be the preferred encyclopedic style. In addition, would there be any objection to importing Wikipedia's CPU article, either on grounds of topical relevance or accuracy? I wrote the article myself, and it was a featured article on Wikipedia until recently when it was realized that it doesn't have sufficient citations to keep featured status. My apologies if this isn't the correct place to post this information, I'm still getting acquainted. -- Matt Britt

I think the term computers got inherited and copied onto the workgroup, to have the same word all over everything related to computers.

To change it would be a nuisance since every link used throughout CZ needs be changed manually. To use the WP article, by all means feel free to. Befoere however, move the computers home page to something like computers_old page. Robert Tito | Talk 19:31, 15 February 2007 (CST)

I would, but the page is move-protected. Is there any particular reason I shouldn't just replace the page text? -- Matt Britt

New look of workgroup page

Since the old workgroup page looked a little bit shabby I copied over content from other groups and added a few headings we might want to use to further organize us. It would be nice if we could remove the "old content of page" list of articles soon as that has no advantage over the automatic listing of Computers WG articles available. So please move any link you want to keep from there to e.g. "subtopics" or "most-wanted articles" soon.

--Markus Baumeister 18:46, 12 March 2007 (CDT)

wrong group I think

Paul you (or somebody) removed computers away from natural sciences. It should howver be there as it is based in: mathematics, physics, chemistry and is applied by these sciences. cheers. Robert Tito |  [[Talk]]  20:55, 13 March 2007 (CDT)

Larry moved this workgroup to the Applied Arts branch and I changed the banner to match it. --Paul Derry 21:12, 13 March 2007 (CDT)

Thanks Paul, I will have a verbal intermission with Larry :) (I wonder if popcorn and coke is available then as well). Anyway just thought it worth mentioning that computer/computer science here is a subdivision or sub-faculty of the faculty of mathematics and natural sciences. cheers and thanks for your great work. Robert Tito |  [[Talk]]  21:33, 13 March 2007 (CDT)

This is a matter for the Editorial Council to discuss, and when I get a chance I will finally get that group started. (We're also waiting on the new servers because that's where our many new mailing lists will live.)

The difference between natural, social, and applied is vague, but reasonably well understood, I should hope. If the focus of a broad area of study like comp sci is on applications of science to solve particular technological problems, it's "applied science" or "applied arts." That anyway will be my argument. --Larry Sanger 00:23, 14 March 2007 (CDT)

There has long been a tension between computer science as an academic discipline, and supposedly application oriented disciplines such as computer engineering. I say "supposedly" because I do not accept that theoretical computer science is of no practical interest, even if departments are scrambling to come up with programs called something else, as if "computer science" were an epithet! I'm also aware that many people argue that computer sience does not deserve to be considered a science because the object of study is not part of the natural world, but this is not a view that I think is generally held among professionals in the field. There is, of course, the well-known comment attrirbuted to Dijkstra (I'd love to find a definitive source here) that "computer science is no more about computers than astronomy is about telescopes". The essential object of study in computer science is computation in the abstact, much as the basic object of study in mathematics is number, quantity, structure or pattern. I don't claim that this makes computer science a natural science, but it is at least as out of place when classified as an applied art as it among the sciences. Greg Woodhouse 12:26, 9 April 2007 (CDT)

We need some structure on the main page

There is a very practical reason that we need more structure on the main page: volunteers are going to go there to get an idea of what needs to be done and where they can best focus their efforts. At present, we are effectively giving no guidance. Greg Woodhouse 12:30, 9 April 2007 (CDT)