Computer Science

What is it?

Computer Science describes the study of computers and how their programs work.

 

Did you know?

Computers are all around us. In the home you’ll see them in mobile phones, laptops and tablets. Outside the home they’re used to run hospitals, manage money at the bank and even fly planes!

Computer Science at ResMed

Computer Science describes the study of computers and how their programs work. This includes the hardware they use, algorithms inside them and the applications/programs they run. Computers are very complex but are capable of doing so much and have a huge impact on society.

Computer Science is used broadly throughout ResMed. For example, we have many types of software in our medical devices that control when and how the parts should function. For this to happen, our engineers write code that tells the device how it should behave – similar to how the brain tells the human body how to move. Sometimes, this code doesn’t always tell the device to do the right thing, so we have to make sure we extensively test it so that our products behave as they should when they are given to patients.

ResMed also has a number of web and mobile Applications that connect to our devices (via the internet) and help Doctor’s look after their patients, even if they aren’t close by. We call this “remote monitoring” and has become very useful during COVID-19.

Did you know?

About 90% of the world’s money only exists on computers.

Test your knowledge of Computer Science

The first computer mouse was made of what material?

Explanation: The first mouse prototype was created in 1964 and made of wood!

How many devices worldwide are connected to the internet in 2021?

Explanation: This number is expected to grow to 75 billion by 2025.

How many new viruses do computer hackers write every month?

Explanation: Around 6000 viruses are created every month. The first one was made 30 years ago in 1991!

Normally we blink about 20 times per minute. Looking at a computer reduces our blinking to:

Explanation: There are two factors that influence this. Firstly, when we are focused we blink less and secondly the brightness of the screen reduces how often we need to blink.

True or false: an American university has built a computer that can detect fake smiles?

Explanation: The University of Bradford has created an algorithm that can spot false facial expressions.