How often do you use technology? We use our phones to tell us the time, and catch up with friends and family. We play games on consoles such as the Xbox, PS4, or even through VR. Even if we have a burning question we tend to ask google. Whether we like it or not, technology has become a powerful force in our everyday lives. 

And that's exactly why computer science has quickly become one of the most attractive subjects to study. Learning the secret language of coding is an impressive tool to have and can be very appealing to many leading industries. It’s no wonder why it is heavily supported by many celebrities (Jimmy Fallon, Karlie Kloss, will.i.am etc) who actively encourage young people and women to study computer science. 

But what exactly does it mean to study computer science? Is it all about computers? Not quite, it’s actually a broad subject that doesn’t necessarily fit into one definition. In a nutshell, computer science covers lots of different topics on computing thinking. In your studies you can learn about data structure, algorithms, programming, and software designs. The main takeaway is that you will become an expert in all things information: storing, understanding, manipulating and presenting. 

As the world is becoming more and more reliant on technology, it's good to act fast in this booming market and sparking up an interest in computer science is a great place to start. With our recommendations you can learn some surprising facts about the history of the internet as well as the socio-economic perspective on artificial intelligence. There is so much to learn and continue learning here. 

Book: Where Wizards Stay Up Late: The Origins of the Internet, 1996, by Katie Hafner

It wasn’t too long ago the internet wasn’t part of our lives, yet as soon as it came about, it radically impacted how we go about our day. It really is one of the biggest breakthroughs in technology to date. Still, as much as we realise how important the internet is to us, many of us know very little about the origins of it all.  

Where Wizards Stay Up Late, tells us about the journey J.C.R. Licklider undertook through his ideas behind a universal network and communication devices, and how that impacted his successors into creating a collaborative research tool called ARPANET. This later evolved into the internet we use now. It is an encouraging depiction of invention, hard work and dedication to the technology industry.

Film: The Social Dilemma, 2020

The Social Dilemma exposes the elements which make social media sites so psychologically addictive. The Netflix documentary uses opinions of people in the technology business to look at the darker side of technology. It touches on topics such as the dangers of fake news, artificial intelligence as well as how social media sites can affect our mental health.

It’s a fascinating documentary for anyone who wants to learn more about how experts experienced working in technology and just how impactful computer science is. By the end of the documentary, you may have formed your own opinions and be left wondering, what's next? The Social Dilemma is a great talking-point for students wishing to continue into this industry. 

Podcast: Spark with Nora Young

Nora Young is one of the few female forces in the technology industry. She also specialises in writing and journalism which is how she came to produce her podcast Spark. The podcast covers vast topics on computer science, such as the evolution of search engines or how cyberwarfare contributed to Russia's war in Ukraine.

The perfect podcast for anyone interested in coding, it goes through basic programming to advanced concepts. It’s everything you would ever want to know about the subject. If you listen, you’ll be much better informed about the latest developments in the industry and be able to understand and discuss many of the most interesting and important issues of the modern world. 

Useful websites

Tutorialspoint - For aspiring computer programmers, tutorialspoint has some fantastic tutorials on coding and programming (HTML, Python etc). It’s a great starting point for anyone interested in computer science. 

Studytonight - This is the best site if you are looking for simple, easy to understand language to explain technical topics on programming. Focused programs are Java, C language, CSS as well as many others. 

Geeks for Geeks - For more advanced coders, this website offers a number of services such as preparing for upcoming interviews in computer science and learning about programming from industry experts.