Chapter 1: Computer engineering

Computer engineering, sometimes known as CoE or CpE, is a subfield of electrical engineering that merges many subfields of electrical engineering, electronics engineering, and computer science. Its primary purpose is to design computer hardware and software. At some educational institutions, the field of computer engineering is also known as computer science and engineering or electrical and computer engineering.

Computer engineers are required to have expertise in a variety of fields, including electronic engineering, computer science, hardware-software integration, software design, and software engineering. Using the methods and ideas of electrical engineering and computer science, it can include a wide range of fields, including artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, computer networks, computer architecture, and operating systems, among others. Computer engineers are involved in a wide variety of hardware and software components of computing, including the design of individual microcontrollers, microprocessors, personal computers, and supercomputers, as well as the design of circuits. This subfield of engineering is concerned not only with the operation of computer systems in and of themselves, but also with the manner in which these systems might be incorporated into the bigger picture. Computer engineering has many applications, and one of those applications is robotics.

Written software and firmware for embedded microcontrollers, the design of very large scale integrated circuits (VLSI) chips, analog sensors, mixed signal circuit boards, and operating systems are typical areas of focus for computer engineers. Computer engineers are especially well-suited for research in the field of robotics, which is strongly dependent on the utilization of digital systems for the purpose of controlling and monitoring electrical systems such as motors, communications, and sensors.

As a result of the fact that the whole range of information that is utilized in the design and implementation of computers is beyond the scope of an undergraduate degree, many educational institutions that provide computer engineering degrees give students the opportunity to select areas of study that they wish to study in greater depth during their junior and senior years. In certain other educational establishments, students of engineering can be required to finish one or two years of general engineering before they can declare computer engineering as their primary area of concentration.

It wasn't until the 1970s that the modern personal computer was born, following a series of significant advancements in semiconductor technology. Among these are the first transistor to function, which was developed by William Shockley, John Bardeen, and Walter Brattain at Bell Labs in 1947 and 1955; the silicon dioxide surface passivation developed by Carl Frosch and Lincoln Derick in 1957; the first planar silicon dioxide transistors developed by Frosch and Derick in 1957; the planar process developed by Jean Hoerni; the monolithic integrated circuit chip developed by Robert Noyce at Fairchild Semiconductor in 1959; the metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET, or MOS transistor) demonstrated by a group of researchers at Bell Labs in 1960; and the single-chip microprocessor (Intel 4004) developed by Federico Faggin, Marcian Hoff, Masatoshi Shima, and Stanley Mazor at Intel in 1971.

Cleveland, Ohio's Case Western Reserve University was the first institution in the United States to develop a degree program in computer engineering. This program was established in 1971. ABET had granted accreditation to a total of 250 computer engineering programs in the United States as of the year 2015. The accreditation of institutions that teach computer engineering is carried out by a number of different organizations that are a part of the EQANIE network in Europe. Some postsecondary schools throughout the world offer a bachelor's degree that is commonly referred to as computer engineering. This is because there is a growing demand for engineers who are capable of simultaneously designing hardware, software, and firmware, as well as managing all types of computer systems that are utilized in industry. Computer engineering and electrical engineering are two types of engineering schools that both incorporate analog and digital circuit design as part of their curriculum. It is essential for computer engineers to possess a solid understanding of mathematics and science, just as it is for engineers working in the majority of engineering disciplines.

At some educational institutions, the field of computer engineering is simultaneously referred to as computer science and engineering. Completion of a bachelor's degree in computer engineering, electrical engineering, or computer science is typically required for entry-level positions in the field of computer engineering careers. In most cases, it is necessary to acquire knowledge in a variety of mathematical subjects, including calculus, linear algebra, and differential equations, in addition to computer science. Due to the similarities between the two sectors, degrees in electronic or electric engineering are also equivalent to the requirements. Due to the fact that hardware engineers frequently collaborate with computer software systems, it is essential for them to have a solid background in computer programming. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, "a computer engineering major is similar to electrical engineering but with some computer science courses added to the curriculum" . In many large companies or for certain specialized jobs, a master's degree is required.

Computer engineers should also make it a priority to stay abreast of the quick advancements that are being made in technology. Consequently, many people continue their education throughout their working lives. The acquisition of new talents or the enhancement of current ones can both benefit from this, particularly when it comes to the former. For instance, because the relative cost of resolving a bug rises as it progresses further along in the software development cycle, there is the potential for larger cost savings to be attributed to generating and testing for quality code as early as possible in the process, particularly before the release of the product.

Those who make their living in the field of computer engineering are referred to as computer engineers of course.

Establishment: Educational establishments (including but not limited to colleges and universities)

Institution: A private institution, which may include organizations that specialize in computer engineering as well as private businesses.

Regulatory Board of the Country is an example of a public institution called an institution.

Institution: Whether it be a public or private establishment

Hardware and software are the two primary areas of concentration in the field of computer engineering.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) published a report titled "Job Outlook Employment for Computer Hardware Engineers." The report stated that the anticipated ten-year growth for computer hardware engineering from 2019 to 2029 was an estimated 2%, which would result in a total of 71,100 jobs. When compared to other jobs, they describe themselves as "slower than average" in their writing. This represents a decline from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' (BLS) projection for computer hardware engineering from 2014 to 2024, which was 3% and included a total of 77,700 jobs; "and is down from 7% for the BLS estimate from 2012 to 2022, and is further down from 9% reported in the BLS estimate from 2010 to 2020." Today, computer hardware is roughly equivalent to electronic and computer engineering (ECE), and it has been subdivided into a great number of subcategories, with embedded system design being the most important of these.

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) of the United States of America, "computer applications software engineers and computer systems software engineers are projected to be among the occupations that are expected to grow at a rates that are faster than average." As of 2014, the field of computer software engineering was projected to experience a growth rate of approximately seventeen percent over the next ten years, and there were a total of 1,114,000 positions available in that same year. This represents a decrease from the BLS forecast of 22% for software developers for the period of 2012 to 2022. And even lower down from the BLS prediction of thirty percent from 2010 to 2020. Additionally, the growing worries regarding cybersecurity contribute to the fact that the pace of increase in computer software engineering is significantly higher than the average rate of increase for all sectors. Nevertheless, a portion of the work will be contracted out to locations in other nations. As a consequence of this, the rate of job creation will be slower than it was during the previous decade. This is because positions that would have been distributed to computer software engineers in the United States will instead be distributed to computer software engineers in nations such as India. Furthermore, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the job outlook for computer programmers during the period of 2014-24 is a decline of 8%. This decline is followed by a decline of 9% for the period of 2019-29, followed by a decline of 10% for the period of 2021-2031, and now an 11% decline for the period of 2022-2032 for individuals who program computers (also known as embedded systems) but are not computer application developers. In addition, the number of women working in software disciplines has been growing at a rate that is even quicker than that of other engineering fields throughout the...