Talk:Timeline of scientific computing

Untitled

I suppose the most appropriate topic to start the talk page would the definition and scope of the subject matter. Based on that at computational science at time of writing, I take the view that the subject is mostly quantitatively/numerically based, (except for the odd symbolic method). However, due to recent developments in grid computing, eScience and distributed systems there is strong argument for the inclusion of these as well. A simpler, more relaxed defintion might simply be the application of computing to scientific problems (which itself might be another issue). This might require some discussion on where certain fields fit into, so that a relevant timeline can be constructed. See also talk:computational science.

For example: this might rule out subjects geo-, chemo-, astro- and bioinformatics (although the distinction of the latter from computational biology is not clear to me). More generally, I do think the distinction between computational x-ology(based on problems from x-istry/ics/ology) and x-informatics(based on informatics/informational approach) is enough to warrant the creation of a separate article (and timeline) for the latter (if it doesn't exist). Ema--or (talk) 13:37, 8 December 2012 (UTC)

Made new comments @ computational science talk. Ema--or (talk) 09:08, 30 November 2023 (UTC)

What 'bout nobel winning works (other(s)? Ema--or (talk) 22:25, 7 August 2023 (UTC)

Article neutrality

Looking at the article, it would seem there are clear instances of systemic bias. This thread is to try deal with this.

A few issues one can think of:

• Firstly, mathematics is especially well-represented, physics less so; chemistry (this is deliberate; see further discussion on this topic) and the life sciences are barely discussed, as are other sciences, save for a few key milestones (weather forecasting). Engineering, also largely neglected may or may not deserve its own timeline, but first see talk:computational engineering (or here).
• Nothing before the invention on the electronic computer. Deliberate. Perhaps controversial, but deliberate so. Computational chemistry suffers especially because of this, IMO because it cannot be put in that narrative (i.e. computer revolution), and because this user is still trying to track the first implementation of already existing methods on computer; feel free to help!

See also wp:neutral point of view, it is something I myself will be going over. Ema--or (talk) 02:22, 9 December 2012 (UTC)

Had a change of heart. So as not to dishonour the likes of Lewis Fry Richardson, Howard Aiken and others, and accomodate the rather important computational chemistry, I've decided to create and move content to a new page that focuses on the modern history while this can zoom out for the big picture.

“Computer Science is no more about computers than astronomy is about telescopes.” - Dijkstra. 

I suppose the same could be said about scientific computation as well. Ema--or (talk) 15:47, 13 December 2012 (UTC)

Done... see here. Ema--or (talk) 18:45, 21 December 2012 (UTC)

Deletion of Timeline of modern scientific computing article

Shame. Well, though - I guess it was a good 4 years (and a 1/2) or so .. Ema--or (talk) 02:35, 28 August 2017 (UTC)

Definition of subject

What is the definition of this field? Does it for, example, include signal processing, which is itself a slightly nathematical field? Ema--or (talk) 21:23, 6 September 2015 (UTC)

• What about ray tracing, or solid modelling or other visualization/graphics techniques? Ema--or (talk) 16:26, 7 February 2016 (UTC)
  • Or quantum computing? Ema--or (talk) 14:45, 20 February 2016 (UTC)

Merging similar timeline articles

It appears that several timeline articles were spun off by the same person that contain roughly the same information about scientific computing/numerical analysis topics but with different titles, probably with the intention to discuss events critical to those subfields. However, it doesn't appear that any real progress has been made in fleshing any of them out into truly separate entities that highlight the distinguishing features. Timeline of modern scientific computing is a duplicate of this article, Timeline of computational mathematics was last seriously edited in 2015, Timeline of numerical analysis after 1945 in 2014, and Timeline of computational physics in 2013. Given that these individual articles have stagnated and still contain roughly the same information, it seems that the obvious solution is to merge them all back into one for conciseness. --Blueclaw (talk) 16:16, 10 May 2017 (UTC)

It seems we've been here before. This article is/was supposed to be a top level article in a series about scientific computing. It was (at first) meant to give a broad picture view of the field as a whole (see above), particularly before the computer revolution. The focus of the other sub-fields would then start from after 1940 or so, and would become more specialised in their chosen area of focus. Admittedly, recently progress in this effort has stalled somewhat; but, needless to say, I still think the original intention is still a valid road map. Ema--or (talk) 02:27, 28 August 2017 (UTC)

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