Entry 2 - IT Security

Description of Topic:

Computer Security or IT Security, intuitively, is the general concept of protecting computers against any non-intended use. As Morrie Gasser defines it, “The protection of computer systems from the theft or damage to the hardware, software or the information on them, as well as from disruption or misdirection of the services they provide”. This term is so general that it includes such a myriad of different types of security to protect and involve the following…

Cloud security, which involves data held in server rooms not under your personal management.

Malware protection, which eliminates software or any other type of malicious programs that try to attack a computer.

Phishing, which is primarily a malicious email sent in order to retrieve information illegally.

Encryption, which encodes messages or information that is sent in order for that information to be only readable by the intended user.

And etc.

Relation to Computer Science:

IT security’s relationship to computer science should be apparent in that it directly deals with protecting computers, hardware, and software, all which operate using CS. The difficulty with security is that it is preventing computer science programs with computer science programs, which both usually have either errors or entry ways to access. This promises that both malware and security are not always efficient or 100% protective. However, security is absolutely essential for privacy relevant to any information or program that contains high importance.

References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_security
http://www.forbes.com/sites/sungardas/2015/01/15/what-9-cyber-security-buzzwords-and-jargon-terms-really-mean/#449cde685e57
http://security.freshmango.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/IT-Security-Icon-Brainstorm-Chart-lr.jpg

Entry 1 - Artificial Intelligence

Description of Topic:

Artificial Intelligence (AI), as Merriam Webster defines it, is  "1: A branch of computer science dealing with the simulation of intelligent behavior in computers. 2: The capability of a machine to imitate intelligent human behavior". The denotation of the words AI literally encapsulate how computers are able to be used to solve problems. The connotation however has inevitably evolved into how humanlike a computer can be or if a computer can obtain consciousness. Some people argue that AI will never have the intelligence like humans do regardless of how well it can mimic human movements and some others argue the complete opposite, that AI could possibly take over the world. As of now, AI, is used everywhere in our daily life (through "Siri-like" and "Alexa-like" software, cars, phones, or, essentially any computer that can make decisions).

Relation to Computer Science:

This topic is actually all about computer science as shown by the Webster definition. These computers are programmed by humans and therefore it is a direct relation to CS. In order for a computer to mimic human behavior it has to follow various algorithms. However, a question I inevitably have then is, how much different does computer science have to be from what we believe it to be now in order to be able code and program consciousness (if this is at all remotely possible)? As it is now, AI is a subcategory of computer science because it deals with computers that come from computer science but does not encapsulate computer science as a whole.

Sources:
1. https://www.merriam-webster.com/ 
2. https://www.technologyreview.com/s/534871/our-fear-of-artificial-intelligence/ 
3. http://cdn.ttgtmedia.com/rms/computerweekly/photogalleries/237178/1411_20_the-honda-asimo-robot.jpg
4. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Artificial_intelligence