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I have corrected wording and titles, in addition I have added more content to expand the fields of activity of computer engineers, according to leading universities and leading articles in the world Tags: Reverted references removed |
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'''Computer engineering, ('''CE''' or '''CpE''') is a branch of engineering that combines two disciplines, computer science and electrical engineering''' . Computer engineers acquire knowledge in these two disciplines with a focus on computer architectures and operating systems and a combination of hardware and software compared to computer science only or electrical engineering only. Computer engineering graduates engage in their profession in a large number of fields such as: design of VLSI chip components, digital signal processing (including image and speech processing), communication theory, firmware programming, computer security, software design, analog and digital circuit design, printed circuit design and mixed-signal components , RF circuits, Embedded systems and compiler design, robotics and control, machine learning, quantum computing, power systems, electromagnetic compatibility and more.
| last = IEEE Computer Society
| author-link = IEEE Computer Society
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|date=December 12, 2004
| page = iii
| quote = Computer System engineering has traditionally been viewed as a combination of both electronic engineering (EE) and
| last = Trinity College Dublin
| url = http://www.tcd.ie/Engineering/about/what_is_eng/computer_eng_intro.html
| title = What is Computer System Engineering
| access-date = April 21, 2006
==History==
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==Education==
Computer engineering is referred to as [[computer science and electrical engineering]] at some universities. Most entry-level computer engineering jobs require at least a bachelor's degree in computer engineering (or computer science and electrical engineering). Typically one must learn an array of [[mathematics]] such as [[calculus]], [[algebra]] and [[trigonometry]] and some [[computer science]] classes.{{Citation needed|date=April 2019}} Degrees in [[electronic engineering|electronic]] or [[Electrical engineering|electric engineering]] also suffice due to the similarity of the two fields. Because hardware engineers commonly work with computer software systems, a strong background in computer programming is necessary. According to BLS, "a computer engineering major is similar to electrical engineering but with some computer science courses added to the curriculum".<ref name="CHE">{{cite web|url=http://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/computer-hardware-engineers.htm|title=Computer Hardware Engineers|date=January 8, 2014|publisher=Bureau of Labor Statistics|access-date=July 20, 2012}}</ref> Some large firms or specialized jobs require a master's degree.
It is also important for computer engineers to keep up with rapid advances in technology. Therefore, many continue learning throughout their careers. This can be helpful, especially when it comes to learning new skills or improving existing ones. For example, as the relative cost of fixing a bug increases the further along it is in the software development cycle, there can be greater cost savings attributed to developing and testing for quality code as soon as possible in the process, particularly before release.<ref name="The cost of fixing a bug">{{cite web|url=http://www.feabhas.com/sites/default/files/uploads/News/Feabhas_Infographic_FINAL.pdf|title=Feabhas_Infographic_FINAL|website=feabhas|publisher=Feabhas}}</ref>
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There are two major focuses in computer engineering: hardware and software.
===
{{Main|Hardware architect}}
According to the [[Bureau of Labor Statistics|BLS]], Job Outlook employment for computer hardware engineers, the expected ten-year growth from 2019 to 2029 for computer hardware engineering was an estimated 2% and a total of 71,100 jobs. ("Slower than average" in their own words when compared to other occupations)".<ref name="hweng">{{cite web|url=http://www.bls.gov/ooh/architecture-and-engineering/computer-hardware-engineers.htm|title=Computer Hardware Engineers: Occupational Outlook Handbook|publisher=U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics}}</ref> This is a decrease from the 2014 to 2024 BLS computer hardware engineering estimate of 3% and a total of 77,700 jobs. "<ref name="hweng"/> and is down from 7% for the 2012 to 2022 BLS estimate<ref name="hweng" /> and is further down from 9% in the BLS 2010 to 2020 estimate.<ref name="hweng" />" Today, computer hardware is somehow equal{{clarify|date=June 2019}} to electronic and computer engineering (ECE) and has been divided into many subcategories; the most significant{{citation needed|date=June 2019}} is embedded system design.<ref name = "CHE" />
===Software design===
According to the U.S. [[Bureau of Labor Statistics]] (BLS), "computer applications software engineers and computer systems software engineers are projected to be among the faster than average growing occupations" The expected ten-year growth as of 2014 for computer software engineering was an estimated seventeen percent and there was a total of 1,114,000 jobs that same year.<ref name="softdev">{{cite web|url=http://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/software-developers.htm|title=Software Developers: Occupational Outlook Handbook|publisher=U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics}}</ref> This is down from the 2012 to 2022 BLS estimate of 22% for software developers.<ref name = "C.S.E.">{{cite web |title=Computer Software Engineer |url=http://www.bls.gov/k12/computers04.htm |publisher=Bureau of Labor Statistics |date=March 19, 2010 |access-date=July 20, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130726002354/http://www.bls.gov/k12/computers04.htm |archive-date=July 26, 2013}}</ref><ref name="softdev" /> And, further down from the 30% 2010 to 2020 BLS estimate.<ref name = "CSE2">{{cite web |title=Software Developers |url=http://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/software-developers.htm |date=January 8, 2014 |publisher=Bureau of Labor Statistics |access-date=July 21, 2012}}</ref> In addition, growing concerns over cybersecurity add up to put computer software engineering high above the average rate of increase for all fields. However, some of the work will be outsourced in foreign countries.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2020-08-04/big-tech-wants-you-to-believe-america-has-a-skills-gap|title=Tech Companies Want You to Believe America Has a Skills Gap|newspaper=Bloomberg.com|date=August 4, 2020}}</ref> Due to this, job growth will not be as fast as during the last decade, as jobs that would have gone to computer software engineers in the United States would instead go to computer software engineers in countries such as India.<ref name="bls.gov">{{cite web|url=http://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/computer-programmers.htm|title=Computer Programmers: Occupational Outlook Handbook|publisher=U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics}}</ref> In addition, the BLS Job Outlook for Computer Programmers, 2014–24 has an −8% (a decline, in their words),<ref name="bls.gov"/> a Job Outlook, 2019-29 a -9% (Decline),<ref name="ReferenceA">{{Cite web|url=https://www.bls.gov/ooh/computer-and-information-technology/computer-programmers.htm|title=Computer Programmers : Occupational Outlook Handbook: : U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics|website=www.bls.gov}}</ref> and a 10% decline for 2021-2031<ref name="ReferenceA"/> for those who program computers (i.e. embedded systems) who are not computer application developers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bls.gov/opub/btn/archive/publication.htm#regional-reports|title=Archive By Publication : Beyond the Numbers: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics|website=www.bls.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.designnews.com/design-hardware-software/soon-be-extinct-embedded-software-engineer|title=The Soon-to-Be-Extinct Embedded Software Engineer|date=May 10, 2018|website=designnews.com}}</ref> Furthermore, women in software fields has been declining over the years even faster than other engineering fields.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://developers.hp.com/public/blog/hp-international-womens-week-women-computer-science-dropping-1980s|title=hp's Developer Portal | HP International Women's Week: Women in Computer Science dropping since 1980s|website=developers.hp.com}}</ref>
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Processor design process involves choosing an instruction set and a certain execution paradigm (e.g. VLIW or RISC) and results in a microarchitecture, which might be described in e.g. VHDL or Verilog. CPU design is divided into design of the following components: datapaths (such as ALUs and pipelines), control unit: logic which controls the datapaths, memory components such as register files, caches, clock circuitry such as clock drivers, PLLs, clock distribution networks, pad transceiver circuitry, logic gate cell library which is used to implement the logic.
===Solid state electronics===
{{Main article|Semiconductor}}
A semiconductor is a material which has an electrical conductivity value falling between that of a conductor, such as copper, and an insulator, such as glass. Its resistivity falls as its temperature rises; metals behave in the opposite way. Its conducting properties may be altered in useful ways by introducing impurities ("doping") into the crystal structure. When two differently doped regions exist in the same crystal, a semiconductor junction is created. The behavior of charge carriers, which include electrons, ions, and electron holes, at these junctions is the basis of diodes, transistors, and most modern electronics. Some examples of semiconductors are silicon, germanium, gallium arsenide, and elements near the so-called "metalloid staircase" on the periodic table. After silicon, gallium arsenide is the second-most common semiconductor and is used in laser diodes, solar cells, microwave-frequency integrated circuits, and others. Silicon is a critical element for fabricating most electronic circuits.
===Cryptography, and cyber security===
{{Main article|Information security}}
[[File:Source code in C.png|thumb|[[Source code]] written in the [[C (programming language)|C]] programming language.]]
Computer engineers work in coding, cryptography, and information protection to develop new methods for protecting various information, such as digital images and music, fragmentation, copyright infringement and other forms of tampering. Examples include work on wireless communications, multi-antenna systems, optical transmission, and [[digital watermarking]].<ref name="SCCC">{{cite web |title=Computer Engineering Overview |url=http://www.careercornerstone.org/pdf/compeng/compeng.pdf |publisher=Sloan Career Cornerstone Center |access-date=July 20, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120916035940/http://www.careercornerstone.org/pdf/compeng/compeng.pdf |archive-date=September 16, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
===Communications theory and
{{Main article|Communications networks|Wireless network}}
Those focusing on communications and wireless networks, work advancements in telecommunications systems and networks (especially wireless networks), modulation and error-control coding, and information theory. High-speed [[network planning and design|network design]], interference suppression and modulation, design, and analysis of [[fault-tolerant system]], and storage and transmission schemes are all a part of this specialty.<ref name = "SCCC"/>
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[[File:Windows10abstract.png|thumb|Windows 10, an example of an [[operating system]].]]
This specialty focuses on [[compilers]] and [[operating systems]] design and development. Engineers in this field develop new operating system architecture, program analysis techniques, and new techniques to assure quality. Examples of work in this field include post-link-time code transformation algorithm development and new operating system development.<ref name="SCCC" />
===Analog design===
{{Main article|Analogue electronics}}
Analogue circuits are typically harder to design, requiring more skill than comparable digital systems to conceptualize.[13] An analogue circuit is usually designed by hand because the application is built into the hardware. Digital hardware, on the other hand, has a great deal of commonality across applications and can be mass produced in a standardised form. Hardware design consists largely of repeated identical blocks and the design process can be highly automated. This is one of the main reasons that digital systems have become more common than analogue devices
===Computational science and engineering===
{{Main article|Computational science and engineering}}
Computational science and engineering is a relatively new discipline. According to the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center, individuals working in this area, "computational methods are applied to formulate and solve complex mathematical problems in engineering and the physical and the social sciences. Examples include aircraft design, the plasma processing of nanometer features on semiconductor wafers, [[VLSI]] circuit design, radar detection systems, ion transport through biological channels, and much more".<ref name="SCCC" />
===Computer systems: architecture, parallel processing, and dependability===
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This specialty of computer engineering requires adequate knowledge of electronics and electrical systems. Engineers working in this area work on enhancing the speed, reliability, and energy efficiency of next-generation very-large-scale integrated ([[VLSI]]) circuits and microsystems. An example of this specialty is work done on reducing the power consumption of VLSI algorithms and architecture.<ref name="SCCC" />
===Signal, image and speech processing ===
{{Main article| Signal processing| Image processing| Speech processing}}
Computer engineers in this area develop improvements in human-computer interaction, including [[speech recognition]] and synthesis, medical and scientific imaging, or communications systems, including broad knoledge in random and digitak signal proccesing. Other work in this area includes computer vision development such as [[face recognition|recognition of human facial features]].<ref name="SCCC" />
=== Quantum computing ===
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