Syllabus Focus: Unit 1 Module 1 Content 2

Specific Objective 2: describe the relationship between Information Technology and other
disciplines in Computing;

Content: Computing, Computer Science, Software Engineering, Computer Engineering, and

Information Systems; commonalities and differences between disciplines.

Disciplines in Computing

Information Technology professionals possess the right combination of knowledge and

practical, hands-on expertise to take care of both an organization’s information technology
infrastructure and the people who use it. They assume responsibility for selecting hardware and
software products appropriate for an organization. They integrate those products with
organizational needs and infrastructure, and install, customize and maintain those applications,
thereby providing a secure and effective environment that supports the activities of the
organization’s computer users. In IT, programming often involves writing short programs that
typically connect existing components (scripting).

Computing includes designing and building hardware and software systems for a wide range of
purposes; processing, structuring, and managing various kinds of information; doing scientific
studies using computers; making computer systems behave intelligently; creating and using
communications and entertainment media; finding and gathering information relevant to any
particular purpose, and so on.

Computer Science

 The study of computers, including both hardware and software design. Computer
science is composed of many broad disciplines, including artificial intelligence and
software engineering.

 The study of computing, programming, and computation in correspondence with

computer systems. This field of study utilizes theories on how computers work to
design, test, and analyze concepts. Computer science usually has a stronger
mathematical foundation than a scientific one and on some occasions may not focus
directly on computers and their systems.

Software Engineering
 The systematic application of scientific and technological knowledge, through the
medium of sound engineering principles, to the production of computer programs,
and to the requirements definition, functional specification, design description,
program implementation, and test methods that lead up to this code.

CAPE NOTES Unit 1 Module1 Content 2 1

  Development of procedures and systematic applications that are used on electronic
machines. Software engineering incorporates various accepted methodologies to
design software. This particular type of engineering has to take into consideration
what type of machine the software will be used on, how the software will work with
the machine, and what elements need to be put in place to ensure reliability.

Computer Engineering

 Computer engineering refers to the study that integrates electronic engineering

with computer sciences to design and develop computer systems and other
technological devices. Computer engineering professionals have expertise in a
variety of diverse areas such as software design, electronic engineering and
integrating software and hardware. Computer engineering allows professionals to
engage in a number of areas such as analyzing and designing anything from simple
microprocessors to highly featured circuits, software design, and operating system
development. Computer engineering is not limited to operating computer systems
but is aimed at creating a broad way to design more comprehensive technological
solutions.

Information Systems

 An information system (IS) refers to a collection of multiple pieces of equipment

involved in the dissemination of information. Hardware, software, computer system
connections and information, information system users, and the system’s housing
are all part of an IS.

Information System is a combination of people, hardware, software, communication

devices, network and data resources that processes (can be storing, retrieving,
transforming information) data and information for a specific purpose. The operation
theory is just similar to any other system, which needs inputs from user (key in
instructions and commands, typing, scanning). The inputted data then will be processed
(calculating, reporting) using technology devices such as computers, and produce output
(printing reports, displaying results) that will be sent to another user or other system via a
network and a feedback method that controls the operation.

CAPE NOTES Unit 1 Module1 Content 2 2