The Next Twenty-Five Years in Computer Science

How can Information Technology professionals enjoy long-term success when many of the skills they develop as students and early-stage professionals become obsolete so quickly? This discussion shows how a solid foundation built on computer science theory enables long-term success in IT practice. A practitioner who has nurtured solid theoretical foundations and a disposition toward life-long learning is thereby well-prepared for a long and rewarding career.

C. Matthew Curtin
Interhack Corporation

The rapid pace of Information Technology has become an article of faith for many. While we are surrounded by new products and new versions of products, all of these rest upon common foundations established decades earlier. A firm grasp of computer science theory can make the difference between a frustrating career spent always attempting to catch up and one where "new" things can be quickly and properly classified and assimilated. A successful career as an information technologist has required a solid background in computer science. In the next twenty-five years, this foundation will require the ability to make that science relevant—without watering it down.

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Matt Curtin presented The Next Twenty-Five Years in Computer Science on January 26, 2009 at a Franklin University Tech Connect event celebrating the twenty-fifth anniversary of the university's Computer and Information Sciences Program.