Computer Science Proofreading Services

Precision in computer science

Computer science is a difficult subject, programmers know all too well that most compilers need work to be perfectly written before it can output a working program; a misplaced semi colon can leave a coder manually searching through hundreds if not thousands of lines of code. In addition, code should be thoughtfully annotated with comments so that future programmers (which may include the original author!) can maintain a reasonable understanding of what they are reading when they browse through the code and find the area they wish to modify quickly and efficiently.

A similar level of dedication is often required when writing up research after work has been completed, except that the rules are typically laid down by a thesis review committee or journal submission editor. Good grammar is a universal requisite, but the rules governing what constitutes this are often esoteric and can occasionally seem contradictory, unlike in a code compiler, where rules are specific, unequivocal, and apply in all circumstances.

Of course, coding is not the only aspect of computer science; much work has been published in topics as diverse as the ethics of where the balance should be maintained between privacy and security with regard to surveillance, how the singularity might be approached in a manner where even if it can be guaranteed that the created AI will not attempt to subjugate or exterminate humanity, it can still make millions of people redundant at the behest of its owners, thus creating massive economic instability.

Ideally, such a circumstance would create a post-scarcity society in which people are free to pursue whatever they choose while artificial labourers carry out menial tasks, but the reality may be that poor people are still required to find employment but are consistently undercut by robot workers and thus suffer.

This pattern has repeated throughout the industrial era, where drilling machines have proven more efficient than human miners and automata have replaced humans in factory assembly lines. The few exceptions to this have seen workers in sweatshops, only able to undercut automation thanks to appalling working conditions, poor economic status in the region, and the simplicity of the tasks involved (meaning that while it is possible for a person to stitch shirts together with little training, assembling computer equipment such as motherboards by hand would require extensive training and incommensurate time and cost).

If the universal learning capability of a human worker can be replicated by a machine, the worst case scenario is that this pattern of employment is replicated in other industries, and this topic should be a major concern in both AI and robotics research.

Technology and public understanding

In the early 20th century, the main concern of science fiction writers and many scientists was ensuring that humanity would not be destroyed by various technological doomsday scenarios such as an aggressive artificial intelligence, infinitely replicating nano machines called ‘grey goo’, or the creation of an artificial black hole in a laboratory; the actual issue of corporate influence has been insidious and pervasive, and should be thoroughly considered by those on the front lines of research.

Clarity of thought and persuasiveness are of paramount importance to ensure public engagement with issues, and researchers have an obligation to ensure that their work not only passes the standards of journals but is also capable of engaging readers so that they can gain a full understanding of the author’s perspective on the issue in question. A competent computer science proofreading service can help researchers achieve these ends, as scientific researchers tend to specialise in the act of research rather than in writing up their derived conclusions; while this is not universally true, employing a computer science proofreading service to recheck work prior to publication can not only ensure that a piece meets the standards of the journal or dissertation review committee to which it is being submitted, but also that it can gain attention in the public sphere beyond academia.

News outlets are often more interested in how the shock value of a story can gain their outlet a larger audience than scientific rigour, and such organisations often attempt to pick apart research that does not fit their narrative through ad hominem means such as attacking the grammar of the writer, ridiculous though that may sound.

Surveillance and privacy

Returning to surveillance, the issue goes far beyond closed-circuit television and encompasses digital surveillance from corporate, state, and illegal parties. State surveillance should have the primary aim of investigating illegal activities and include checks and balances such as only being carried out by state-sanctioned organisations, requiring a warrant, and with the sole purpose of ensuring the safety of society as a whole. However, there have been reports of NSA employees of programs such as PRISM in the US being fired for spying on personal acquaintances and surveilling fellow citizens without a warrant .

Although such behaviour was severely criticised when brought to light, the degree to which many nations are able to intrude into their citizens’ lives remains troubling.

Corporate surveillance primarily involves automatically harvesting user data to either improve the company’s ability to target users who would be interested in buying products or services the company offers or to sell such information to other parties who typically believe customers would prefer their products. While this is less intrusive than government surveillance, the ethics are often equally murky, as the data can be used to profile and identify specific users even after supposed anonymisation, as demonstrated in Ohm (2009).

Illegal surveillance is typically the preserve of identity thieves and is rarely perpetrated on individual citizens, except where perpetrators believe that they can either extract personal details such as login information using keyloggers or social engineering. This is more a concern for corporations, and without proper oversight, the full extent of devastating hacks may not be reported on for years, until companies feel enough time has passed that they can admit to breaches without significantly damaging their reputation and stock price.

For example, it has only recently come to light that every Yahoo account was compromised in 2013 even though the company downplayed the issue at the time.

The implications of all forms of surveillance present dire warnings to society, and such areas are producing significant amounts of research. Maintaining cutting edge information is vital, as the situation can change daily. Such a hectic pace can make it difficult to maintain relevance, and papers can sometimes be hurried out too quickly and get sent back for revision before being accepted for publication. Employing a reputable computer science proofreading service can help writers ensure that their work is clear, grammatically sound, and adheres to its submission requirements, reducing delays in getting work published and into the public discourse.

Reference

Ohm, P. (2009). Broken promises of privacy: Responding to the surprising failure of anonymization.