In today’s digital and data-driven world, computational thinking is increasingly emerging as a critical skill for industries from technology to manufacturing and beyond.
Computational thinking is a problem-solving approach that enables individuals to tackle complex challenges by breaking problems down into manageable steps, recognizing patterns, and designing repeatable, step-by-step solutions.
In this article, we discuss computational thinking in the real world, from optimizing delivery routes or diagnosing medical conditions to predicting weather patterns or distributing energy.
What is Computational Thinking?
The definition of computational thinking includes the ability to create clearly defined step-by-step solutions to complex problems. These solutions can be replicated in whole or in part to solve similar problems, thus improving outcomes while maximizing efficacy and productivity.
Examples of How Different Industries Use Computational Thinking
Below are real-world examples of how a computational mindset fuels innovation and solutions in our daily lives.
Medical Industry
Computational thinking is a skill that is applied in most healthcare settings. Using algorithms and data analysis helps medical professionals more efficiently and effectively diagnose diseases, analyze medical images and identify patterns in patient data for better treatment outcomes.
Computational thinking in the medical industry is not only used to improve efficiencies and outcomes, but for innovation and problem solving as well.
Supply Chain Management
From manufacturing to retail, supply chain management is another example of an industry where computational thinking is utilized every day. Algorithms perform computations that determine efficient routes for shipping, predict supply and demand and help to manage inventory as effectively as possible.
Agriculture & Farming
Farmers and agriculturalists also utilize computational thinking in their industries. This includes strategizing and making decisions about planting, crop rotation, herd management, irrigation, pest and disease control and more.
Space Exploration
NASA and other space agencies use computational thinking to plan missions, calculate trajectories and analyze data from probes or satellites.
Energy Industry
Energy companies utilize computational thinking to optimize energy distribution. It is also integral to the green energy movement, including the design and production of wind, solar, natural gas, and geothermal energies.
Meteorology
Meteorologists use computational models to simulate and predict weather patterns. These models involve complex algorithms that analyze large datasets of atmospheric conditions to make accurate forecasts.
Criminal Justice and Legal Industries
Computational thinking is prevalent in the criminal justice and legal industries. It can be found in forensic investigations, legal precedence and proceedings and more.
Environmental Conservation
Conservationists use computational thinking to analyze ecological data, track wildlife populations and develop strategies for preserving natural habitats.
Computational thinking is used in almost all industries for financial strategy and business intelligence. Business strategy is data-based, utilizing pattern recognition, modeling, risk assessment and more to identify the most beneficial strategies for achieving goals. These analyses and modeling rely on the concept of computational thinking.
Final Thoughts
These examples demonstrate how computational thinking is used across a wide range of industries and fields to analyze data, solve complex problems, and make informed decisions. It’s a versatile skill that can be applied wherever there is a need to process information and find solutions.
Download our free resource: The Ultimate Guide to Computational Thinking for Educators.
FAQs
One example of pattern recognition in everyday life is in mathematical formulas that we may use regularly, such as for tipping, converting measurements, determining mpg of a vehicle, etc. All mathematical formulas are a result of and used in pattern recognition and algorithmic thinking.
What are real life examples of pattern recognition in computational thinking? ›
One example of pattern recognition in everyday life is in mathematical formulas that we may use regularly, such as for tipping, converting measurements, determining mpg of a vehicle, etc. All mathematical formulas are a result of and used in pattern recognition and algorithmic thinking.
How can computational thinking be applied to real-world problem solving? ›
Computational thinking can be used to solve real-world problems by using CT tools and concepts to better understand the problem, explore different scenarios, and make informed decisions.
What is a real life example of decomposition in computational thinking? ›
Examples of Decomposition in Computational Thinking
Below are some real-world examples of utilizing decomposition in computational thinking: You have to clean your house. Instead of facing the task as a whole, you practice decomposition by breaking the task into a to-do list with multiple subtasks.
What is an example of a computational problem solving? ›
A decision problem is a computational problem where the answer for every instance is either yes or no. An example of a decision problem is primality testing: "Given a positive integer n, determine if n is prime."
What is an example of computational thinking in real life? ›
Younger students may recognize computational thinking in how they organize their toys or share with a friend or family member. Older students may recognize this process in how they plan or execute a bike route, organize their schedule, complete homework, set goals or solve real-life problems.
What is a real life example of abstraction in computational thinking? ›
A real-world example to illustrate the difference between Abstraction and other computing concepts is the operation of a mobile phone. You can make a call, send a message, or browse the internet without needing to know the complex workings behind these operations. This is an example of Abstraction.
What is an example where computational thinking is applied to solve a problem? ›
Examples include playing board games like chess or solving logical reasoning puzzles like Sudoku or a Rubik's Cube. Taking part in computational thinking projects can further strengthen these abilities. They provide hands-on experiences where learners can apply their newfound understanding to real-world situations.
What are the real world applications of computational intelligence? ›
The primary applications of computational intelligence include robotics, image processing, natural language processing, autonomous navigation, medical diagnosis and fault detection.
What computational thinking skills do you think you use or can incorporate in your everyday life? ›
Computational thinking helps people break down complex issues into simpler ones, notice patterns, focus on the important details and devise clear, step-by-step plans to overcome challenges. It's a practical approach that can be used in everyday situations, from organizing a to-do list to making sense of a recipe.
Computational Thinking appears and helps accounting educators and students understand how to communicate with computers, what computers can do, and how computers can simplify complex tasks, which manual works cannot be replaced.
What types of problems are solved by computers? ›
Approximate Solutions
There are many intractable problems that still get solved by computer. Scheduling is one such problem. Producing a timetable for a school is an intractable problem - an optimal solution is likely to require a program that executes in exponential time.
How does computational thinking help us solve problems in our daily lives? ›
Computational thinking is a problem-solving approach that enables individuals to tackle complex challenges by breaking problems down into manageable steps, recognizing patterns, and designing repeatable, step-by-step solutions.
What is a good example of the problem-solving process? ›
A good example of problem-solving is when an individual gets a flat tire on their car in the morning and decides to fix it. They take the old tire off, put a new one on, and then they go about their day as normal.
What is an example of computational and algorithmic thinking? ›
Many everyday tasks that require a step-by-step approach or learning a routine involve computational thinking. Examples include following a recipe, getting dressed and ready for school in the morning, and following the rules of a game.
What is an example of pattern recognition? ›
Pattern recognition has many real-world applications in image processing. Some examples include: identification and authentication: e.g., license plate recognition, fingerprint analysis, face detection/verification, and voice-based authentication.
Can you identify real life examples of pattern recognition? ›
For humans, pattern recognition is a cognitive process in the brain. We can effortlessly match the information we see with the data stored in our memories. We can instantly differentiate between an image of a flower and an animal or identify a familiar face while scrolling Instagram.
Which is an example of pattern recognition in computational problem solving? ›
Expert-Verified Answer. An example of pattern recognition in computational problem solving is option c. If one number from the list is chosen, all of the other numbers can be classified as being larger or smaller than that number.
What is a real life example of a pattern? ›
Patterns exist all around us. We can find a pattern in the trees, in the window frames, on the floor, in our clothes, etc. One such real-life example is the zebra pattern. Patterns can be finite and infinite.
