Computer Science Can Save Lives...or End Them

     With the advancements in technology and the evolution of computers, mankind has been able to accomplish great things in all disciplines. Without computers, doctors would not be able to take advantage of the precision of laser surgery, or use MRI scans to visualize a tumor in a patient's brain, or even simpler than that, automatically regulate medication dosages. Without computers, Pirates of the Caribbean would not have looked as awesome.
     Computers play a tremendous role in our everyday lives, whether we realize it or not. That however, makes them all the more dangerous. The ways in which they affect our lives and our society make it so that the simplest computing mistake could have dire consequences. Taking the example of medicine, how easy would it be to make a small computational error that would change the formula by which medication dosage is calculated, and overdose a patient, or give them less medication then they need and hence not cure them properly or in time? The answer, VERY! Similarly, how easy is it to forget one number or one variable of a 3-page code when programming a space rocket, and hence causing it to explode or take the wrong path? The answer? Extremely easy! The proof? Delta II, 1992: The graphite-epoxy casing of one of the solid-rocket boosters split 7.2 seconds into the flight, triggering the rocket's self-destruct system. Titan IV, 1998, began to pitch over the Atlantic Ocean and safety officers had to send a destruct signal. Delta III, 1998, was also commissioned a destruct signal after appearing to break up during flight. In these three cases luckily no injuries were reported, but there could have just as easily been astronauts on board those rockets at the time of explosion.

 
    The point to be taken away from this blog is not that computers are bad, but that they are important, that they have become an integral part  of our lives, seen in almost every aspect of them, that it takes extreme precision, patience, and care to be equipped to work in that field, and that all the people behind these machines carry a lot of weight on their shoulders.

Writing References:

• http://www.floridatoday.com/story/tech/science/space/2016/09/01/spacex-falcon9-rocket-explosion-one-of-many-florida-launch-failures/89716540/

Image Sources:

• https://www.google.com/search?q=computer+lab&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjznJfx1vDOAhXCpx4KHeAmAwYQ_AUICCgB&biw=1070&bih=1065&dpr=0.9#tbm=isch&q=scientific+computer+lab&imgrc=_YBoHKp6MA0O6M%3A

• https://www.google.com/search?q=rocket+explosion&newwindow=1&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwjlwvaz2PDOAhXEFx4KHdIkA8QQ_AUICigD&biw=1070&bih=1065&dpr=0.9#imgdii=U5stWnFA0UnfyM%3A%3BU5stWnFA0UnfyM%3A%3BFqHT1dgif5RjwM%3A&imgrc=U5stWnFA0UnfyM%3A