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Ask HN: Still unsolved problems where computer science can benefit people?

• apu 16y ago
  are there still any new real problems in the world where computers can be a good solution? Yes, yes, a million times yes! We've only just started scratching the surface of what can be done. I have a hard time finding any problems where the field of computer science can contibute a practical solution to the problem This makes no sense at all unless you meant to replace "the field of computer science" with "I". I either find a marked is filled with competitors... Well that's a good sign that something's there which people need. If you have an idea in a field with competitors, you should ask yourself what you'll do differently. Is there some part of the problem you've figured out that no one else has? Why aren't people satisfied with the current solutions? Or there are very high barriers to entry This is tougher to solve. Sometimes you can find a way to sneak in. Perhaps start in a neighboring area and slowly encroach in? Or is there a way you can drastically undercut the existing approaches? How can a humble programmer make a difference in today's world? I think there are tons of opportunities for programmers, depending on your interests, your abilities, and your motivation. Everything from contributing to FOSS projects, to joining major or minor companies or non-profits, to consulting, to starting your own company. For example, I have a friend who works at OpenPlans ( http://openplans.org/ http://openplans.org/ ), which "makes cities better" by allowing non-profit groups to organize and manage themselves. Think of it as programmers enabling non-programmers to take advantage of the web to do what they need to get done, to actually make a difference in people's lives.
• ig1 16y ago
  Anti-corruptions is a huge area, automated check and removal of opportunities for corruption. Education's also a huge market, making education scalable is a multi-billion dollar problem. In developing countries the mobile market is incredibly hot, phone banking and market information by phone is transforming economies. How about the volunteer problem, volunteering has a high barrier to entry, figure out a way to lower it and you can change the entire third sector. Infact in pretty much every area you can think of there are opportunities.
• Daishiman 16y ago
  If we're talking about 100% scientific matters, the reality is that for most active research topics do require a Master's or PhD to get into the bleeding edge. Now, the reality is that there is a LOT of research that's out there that needs to find its way into the public's hands. There's a lot that can be done by an enterprising person by implementing what's already out there and shaping it into a user-friendly solution. I personally think the latter is a much more difficult task than getting original research out. It also requires well-rounded people willing to put the effort. This is where anyone with patience and hard work can make a difference.