You claim that "very few people ever actually learn how they work or how they can be properly and efficiently integrated into our lives". However, the University of Waterloo (way up here in Canada), has two (count them, TWO!) that deals with just this.
Computer Engineers deal with both the development of hardware and software. The program resulted from a combination of computer science and electrical engineering. As a result we get the big picture when it comes to computers, and we take it from an engineering perspective.
Plus there's also Systems Design Engineering. I am not a part of this program, but I know others who are. SyDe Eng's investigate the inner workings of systems, whether they be social, mechanical, or electronic. Many of them specialize towards the hi-tech side of things since so many jobs exist for them, simply because they are not many people (currently) that can go between two systems.
My advice to any of those out there that wish to see both the hardware and software side of computers (and in an in-depth fashion), try out one of these programs.
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You claim that "very few people ever actually learn how they work or how they can be properly and efficiently integrated into our lives". However, the University of Waterloo (way up here in Canada), has two (count them, TWO!) that deals with just this. Computer Engineers deal with both the development of hardware and software. The program resulted from a combination of computer science and electrical engineering. As a result we get the big picture when it comes to computers, and we take it from an engineering perspective. Plus there's also Systems Design Engineering. I am not a part of this program, but I know others who are. SyDe Eng's investigate the inner workings of systems, whether they be social, mechanical, or electronic. Many of them specialize towards the hi-tech side of things since so many jobs exist for them, simply because they are not many people (currently) that can go between two systems. My advice to any of those out there that wish to see both the hardware and software side of computers (and in an in-depth fashion), try out one of these programs.