Fashioning a Foundation for the Computing Profession

Abstract

This essay introduces the column "The Profession" and discusses professionalism generally, and reviews the computing profession in particular. An analogy is drawn with the well-known nine dots problem, which is solved with four straight lines providing the solver looks outside the box to join the lines. However, the problem can be solved with one line providing the solver looks outside the piece of paper. In the same way, a professional has a social responsibility which must be exercised by looking outside the technology of the profession to the society as a whole.