Forging a career as a computer scientist is a great option, and it is only set to become more so as the global economy relies more on technology in day-to-day life.
In fact, there are now countless new software-based industries that have been created over the past two decades which never existed before, nor were predicted to exist at any point, yet have quickly become the most lucrative sectors on earth.
Examples of this include the social media phenomena, which has come from nowhere to host billions of users on global platforms. Google and Facebook are among the most valuable companies in the world – not to mention the most influential – and they are reliant entirely on software.
Although social media is an obvious example, this same trend is apparent everywhere. For instance, Airbnb created a whole new digital sub-sect of the hotel industry. Now, there are multiple platforms that compete for this burgeoning market, all boasting highly developed software.
As a result, computer scientists (particularly software engineers) are in huge demand. For many businesses, software represents a digital arms race against their rivals, and they have no problem investing a lot of money in a top computer scientist.
However, this is not the only computer science trend to watch out for. Here’s six of the most compelling:
Gaining an online degree in computer science gives you the opportunity to take advantage of any career opportunity
Firstly, if you want to become involved with computer science and make the most of the increasing opportunities within all branches of it, then you’ll need a masters in computer science. It will give you a strong foundation from which to build upon in whichever area of specialization is right for you.
It is important to develop a strong basic skillset because it allows you to become more flexible with your career choices further down the road. By taking an online degree especially, you will allow yourself the extra time to focus on computer science outside of education, whether as a side hustle to fund your learning or even a fully-fledged job.
Crypto and blockchain has the potential to revolutionize tech
Computer science is a diverse field, and nothing demonstrates this breadth of possibility than the emergence of crypto and blockchain technology.
While most people think of Bitcoin and Ethereum when they hear the words crypto and blockchain, it is actually a far broader industry than this. With everything from banking and finance (decentralized finance, or Defi for short) to smart contract technology helping revolutionize government processes (such as Cardano), blockchain is an exciting trend that is quickly developing into a mainstream force.
Although it is still in its infancy, blockchain technology is a burgeoning industry, with thousands of people worldwide involved in it in some way. In fact, it is quickly becoming a hotbed of computational talent, so it is worth considering if you are starting a career in computer science.
Big data will only become more prevalent
Data is fast becoming gold dust for corporations and governments. The collection of detailed, applicable information about users is what transformed social media giant Facebook into a multi-billion dollar behemoth and made Google one of the most powerful entities on earth.
The collection of data is nothing new, but it is a trend that is only set to grow and become more sophisticated in the future. Indeed, the cultivation and analysis of big data is a huge task, which is why data scientists are in huge demand right now.
Businesses understand that if they can mine more data than their rivals and have the ability to interpret it correctly, they will understand their customers better and likely increase their market share as a result. This is why data science is such a significant part of being a computer scientist.
Algorithms are running many apps and services
Again, algorithms are nothing new, but they are a trend that is set to get bigger over the next decade. As more and more data is collected about the users of apps, online services, and search engines, it has become easier for algorithms to become more complex.
This will likely have a significant impact on user experiences and behavior. For example, search results will become more tailored to each individual user, affecting what information they have immediate access to. App algorithms will also become increasingly powerful, affecting how people interact with each other online (such as on social media and dating apps).
The impact of machine learning and AI is already being felt
On a related note to algorithmic developments, machine learning and AI is becoming increasingly prevalent in day-to-day life.
Machine learning is essentially the study of the computational algorithms mentioned above, allowing the AI software which produces the algorithm to constantly adapt and develop itself.
This means that increasingly broad sections of daily life will be beholden to artificial intelligence, which will automatically adapt and learn from user data and its own experience.
Everything from Amazon’s Alexa product to streaming services, and even dating apps, use machine learning, which is only set to develop in the years to come.
Computer science will increase the amount of ‘one person’ tech businesses
On a separate note, it could be argued that as computer scientists become more and more sought after for a variety of roles, it will become easier for specialists to create their own ‘one person’ businesses. This is because there are simply too many companies for specialist tech service brands to help, leading to a premium on computer science services.
As a result, it makes sense for many computer scientists to branch out on their own and offer their own specialized service in whichever industry they choose.
This especially makes sense when you consider that a lot of businesses can’t afford to hire a computer scientist full-time. Instead, hiring a freelancer gives both the company and computer specialist greater levels of flexibility and helps computer scientists to deliver their services to a greater number of people.
