Editing Computer engineering (section)

==Specialty areas==
There are many specialty areas in the field of computer engineering.

===Processor design===
{{Main article|Processor design}}
[[Processor (computing)|Processor]] design process involves choosing an [[Instruction set architecture|instruction set]] and a certain execution paradigm (e.g. [[VLIW]] or [[RISC]]) and results in a [[microarchitecture]], which might be described in e.g. [[VHDL]] or [[Verilog]]. [[Central processing unit|CPU]] design is divided into design of the following components: [[Datapath|datapaths]] (such as [[Arithmetic logic unit|ALUs]] and [[Pipeline (computing)|pipelines]]), control unit: logic which controls the datapaths, [[Computer memory|memory]] components such as [[Register file|register files]], [[Cache (computing)|caches]], clock circuitry such as clock drivers, PLLs, clock distribution networks, pad transceiver circuitry, logic gate cell library which is used to implement the logic.

===Coding, cryptography, and information protection===
{{Main article|Information security}}
[[File:Source code in C.png|thumb|[[Source code]] written in the [[C (programming language)|C]] programming language]]
Computer engineers work in coding, applied cryptography, and information protection to develop new methods for protecting various information, such as [[Digital image|digital images]] and [[Digital Music|music]], fragmentation, [[copyright infringement]] and other forms of tampering by, for example, [[digital watermarking]].<ref name="SCCC">{{cite web |title=Computer Engineering Overview |url=http://www.careercornerstone.org/pdf/compeng/compeng.pdf |publisher=Sloan Career Cornerstone Center |access-date=July 20, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120916035940/http://www.careercornerstone.org/pdf/compeng/compeng.pdf |archive-date=September 16, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Communications and wireless networks===
{{Main article|Communications networks|Wireless network}}
Those focusing on communications and wireless networks, work advancements in telecommunications systems and networks (especially wireless networks), modulation and error-control coding, and information theory. High-speed [[network planning and design|network design]], interference suppression and modulation, design, and analysis of [[fault-tolerant system]], and storage and transmission schemes are all a part of this specialty.<ref name = "SCCC"/>

===Compilers and operating systems===
{{Main article|Compiler|Operating system}}
[[File:Windows10abstract.png|thumb|Windows 10, an example of an [[operating system]]]]
This specialty focuses on [[compiler]]s and [[operating system]]s design and development. Engineers in this field develop new operating system architecture, program analysis techniques, and new techniques to assure quality. Examples of work in this field include post-link-time code transformation [[algorithm]] development and new operating system development.<ref name="SCCC" />

===Computational science and engineering===
{{Main article|Computational science and engineering}}
Computational science and engineering is a relatively new discipline. According to the Sloan Career Cornerstone Center, individuals working in this area, "''computational methods are applied to formulate and solve complex mathematical problems in engineering and the physical and the social sciences. Examples include aircraft design, the plasma processing of nanometer features on semiconductor wafers, [[VLSI]] circuit design, radar detection systems, ion transport through biological channels, and much more''".<ref name="SCCC" />

===Computer networks, mobile computing, and distributed systems===
{{Main article|Computer network|Mobile computing|Distributed computing}}
In this specialty, engineers build integrated environments for computing, communications, and [[information access]]. Examples include shared-channel wireless networks, [[Adaptive management|adaptive resource management]] in various systems, and improving the quality of service in [[Mobile technology|mobile]] and ATM environments. Some other examples include work on [[Wireless network|wireless network systems]] and fast [[Ethernet]] cluster wired systems.<ref name="SCCC" />

===Computer systems: architecture, parallel processing, and dependability===
{{Main article|Computer architecture|Parallel computing|Dependability}}
[[File:Intel 80486DX2 bottom.jpg|thumb|An example of a computer CPU]]
Engineers working in computer systems work on research projects that allow for reliable, secure, and high-performance computer systems. Projects such as designing processors for [[Multithreading (computer architecture)|multithreading]] and [[Parallel processing (computing)|parallel processing]] are included in this field. Other examples of work in this field include the development of new theories, [[Algorithm|algorithms]], and other tools that add [[Computer performance|performance]] to computer systems.<ref name="SCCC" />

Computer architecture includes [[CPU design]], [[cache hierarchy]] layout, [[memory organization]], and [[Load balancing (computing)|load balancing]].

===Computer vision and robotics===
{{Main article|Computer vision|Robotics}}
[[File:Humanoid Robot (1) ITB 2017.JPG|thumb|An example of a [[humanoid]] robot]]
In this specialty, computer engineers focus on developing [[Visual sensor network|visual sensing technology]] to sense an environment, representation of an environment, and manipulation of the environment. The gathered three-dimensional information is then implemented to perform a variety of tasks. These include improved human modeling, image communication, and human-computer interfaces, as well as devices such as special-purpose cameras with versatile vision sensors.<ref name="SCCC" />

===Embedded systems===
[[File: Oxygen devices.svg|thumb|Examples of devices that use embedded systems|alt=]]
{{Main article|Embedded system{{!}}Embedded systems}}
Individuals working in this area design technology for enhancing the speed, reliability, and performance of systems. [[Embedded system|Embedded systems]] are found in many devices from a small [[FM radio]] to the space shuttle. According to the Sloan Cornerstone Career Center, ongoing developments in embedded systems include "''automated vehicles and equipment to conduct search and rescue, automated transportation systems, and human-robot coordination to repair equipment in space.''"<ref name="SCCC" /> {{As of|2018}}, computer embedded systems specializations include [[System on a chip|system-on-chip]] design, the architecture of [[edge computing]] and the [[Internet of things]].

===Integrated circuits, VLSI design, testing and CAD===
{{Main article|Integrated circuit|Very-large-scale integration}}
This specialty of computer engineering requires adequate knowledge of electronics and electrical systems. Engineers working in this area work on enhancing the speed, reliability, and energy efficiency of next-generation very-large-scale integrated ([[VLSI]]) circuits and microsystems. An example of this specialty is work done on reducing the power consumption of VLSI algorithms and architecture.<ref name="SCCC" />

===Signal, image and speech processing===
{{Main article| Signal processing|Digital image processing|Speech processing}}
Computer engineers in this area develop improvements in human–computer interaction, including [[speech recognition]] and synthesis, medical and scientific imaging, or communications systems. Other work in this area includes computer vision development such as [[face recognition|recognition of human facial features]].<ref name="SCCC" />

=== Quantum computing ===
{{Main article|Quantum computing}}This area integrates the [[Quantum mechanics|quantum]] behaviour of small particles such as [[Quantum superposition|superposition]], [[Wave interference|interference]] and [[Quantum entanglement|entanglement]], with classical computers to solve complex problems and formulate algorithms much more efficiently. Individuals focus on fields like [[Quantum cryptography]], [[Quantum simulator|physical simulations]] and [[Quantum algorithm|quantum algorithms]].