This article is mainly to understand the jargon Computer Science concepts in easy layman language. I have used my maximum user understandable language for easier understanding and provided explaination for 5 major concepts in Layman’s terms.
1. Concept of Algorithm.
How can the concept of “Algorithm” be made understood to a normal person without using computer concepts????
Let us understand the same with a simple example.
Suppose you want to explain to a person how to make tea. So how can we do that in a step by step basis??
We can write the method in which we write the same in a step by step manner as shown below:
- Take a pan, and fill it with three-four cup water.
- Keep the pan on top of the stove and switch on the gas on medium heat level.
- When the water in the pan is boiling, add the tea leaves.
- When the tea leaves have been properly boiled in the water, add milk and sugar and keep boiling till the milk has been properly boiled.
- Your tea is ready
See!! In this way, we were able to explain the toughest concept of algorithm as the step by step solution to the problem. In this sample question above, our problem was how to make tea. The step by procedure in getting a solution(here, its the tea) is called the algorithm.
This concept can be extended to understand many algorithms or program code in easy simple bullet point steps.
2. Sorting Algorithms
Everyone feels sorting techniques tough, right?? It evident, as one algorithm is different from another,how can we possibly memorise everything??
Now, How about we teach sorting algorithm in a dancing form?? Sit back and enjoy these dance thereby understanding the sorting algorithms with great ease. Who knows, maybe along with the algorithm, you might even learn the dance steps too!!!!
Quick-sort Algorithm –
Bubble-sort algorithm –
3. Recursion
Performing the concept of recursion is tough and confusing right, as the process just goes on and on till a minimum condition is reached.
But how do we explain the same to a lay-man as he would never understand the basic concept of minimum condition (or base condition)
Here comes an easier method to understand the theory and concept of recursion.
Suppose you have come to a concert to watch a Drama of a famous novel. It’s too dark and you are unable to see the seat you have taken for yourself and your friend who is yet to accompany you. Suddenly, your friend who has to accompany you to watch the concert calls you to find out where you are currently seated.
Now, as already mentioned, being dark, you don’t know how many seats behind are you from the screen as it is very difficult for you to find out the row number you are currently sitting. One of the best ways you could do is ask the person in front of you and just add 1 as that would be the current row. The person in front of you would ask the person in front of them and this process continues till the last person doesn’t see anyone in front of him. Now, he gives a number as a result, and then the person behind him adds 1 and passes the number to the next person and this goes on till the number reaches you following which you add 1 and find out the row number.
This concept is basically recursion.
4. Dynamic Programming
Let us look into the conversation between a mom and a daughter to understand how this works
Mom : (writes on a paper) 2*2*2 = ?? Mom : Do you know the value of this question? Daughter: Yes, the value is equal to 8, right? Mom : Now how about I tell you to multiply a 3 to it? What would be the result then? Daughter: Then, it would be 24. Mom: Well, that's super speed you have calculated, good Job,Could you tell us how were you able to do so fast? Daughter: I just multiplied with the previous value. Mom: Well, its because you remember the previous result without calculating that again and hence, you were able to give the result fast.
Dynamic programming follows this type of algorithm where previous computations are temporarily stored and then this is retained for future computations.
5. Big Data
Lets understand this concept with a simple situational scenario.
Suppose you have a leak in your kitchen pipe connected.Now, as a result of this you have leaking of water through the wooden surface of the kitchen.
You look at this as a very small problem which you can fix by yourself so you take the rubber sealeant and the tools to fix the problem. But, on fixing the same, you realise that there is another bigger leak for which you think you need to call the plumber and he is yet to come. Note, that the water is still leaking which is to be fixed as soon as possible. So you think to drain the water into a small bucket for the time being . But then you realise that the internal pipe has also broken and you realise that this bucket cannot hold all the water, as it would be gallons and hence you would require a bigger bucket or would require a construction of underground well to solve the issue
Similar is the concept of big-data. It is generally the concept of solving complex data and data sets, which cannot be solved with conventional available tools.