Expert: Jeff Laatsch - 2/18/2009

Question
QUESTION:
Hello, Jeff

I'm halfway towards my bachelor of computer science degree.
I just got a question for you (which may sound a bit silly for you, but for me it is sth i dont know very well)

is a degree with a specialization (such as animation, game development, software engineer, database etc) more important than a general degree in computer science?

what is your opinion about that??

Sincerely,

John K.

p.s. by the way, the general degree in computer science would allow me to choose any comp science course until i achieve a certain number of credit points.



ANSWER: John:

Yes in a way it is let me explain. I got my Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Information Systems or CIS or IT technology.
However, looking back I would or should of specialized in something I
enjoyed. Then again with the 'general' type you have several different ways you can go. Look under my CAREERS: Computer Science past answers.

Right Now Game Development and Animation are pretty hot.

Kind Regards,
Jeff

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION:
Hi again, Jeff

First of all thanks for the answer

I viewed some of your past answers on careers. I've read the one where you explain different areas of computer science (such as computer engineering, information science etc)

Here is my question:
Do you know anything about the "Distributed systems" field in computer science???

Distributed systems is one of the majors offered at my university, but unfortunately it doesn't provide any description about it

Sincerely,

John K.

P.S. the only thing that distributed systems attracts me is the fact that it includes a java course, which i've finished and enjoyed.  

Answer
John:
n distributed computing a program is split up into parts that run simultaneously on multiple computers communicating over a network. Distributed computing is a form of parallel computing, but parallel computing is most commonly used to describe program parts running simultaneously on multiple processors in the same computer. Both types of processing require dividing a program into parts that can run simultaneously, but distributed programs often must deal with heterogeneous environments, network links of varying latencies, and unpredictable failures in the network or the computers.

Kind Regards,
Jeff