Most computer engineers are further classified by specific areas of focus. The following is a list of several major specialty areas within computer engineering:
- Coding, Cryptography, and Information Protection
- Communications and Wireless Networks
- Compilers and Operating Systems
- Computational Science and Engineering
- Computer Networks, Mobile Computing, and Distributed Systems
- Computer Systems: Architecture, Parallel Processing, and Dependability
- Computer Vision and Robotics
- Embedded Systems
- Integrated Circuits, VLSI Design, Testing, and CAD
- Signal, Image, and Speech Processing
Coding, Cryptography, and Information Protection
Computer engineers in this area are developing novel methods for protecting digital images, music, and other information from errors in transmission or storage, copyright infringement and other forms of tampering. Coding theory is used to detect and correct errors caused by distortions in the transmission or storage of digital information, or to compress information. In particular, wireless communications, multi-antenna systems, optical transmission, and other realistic communication systems pose important open challenges for the reliable transmission and protection of information. Digital watermarking is the process of embedding codes, usually secret, in the images/information to be stored to deter hackers from downloading information obtained illegally, and to efficiently manage large image databases.
Communications and Wireless Networks
This specialty area focuses on a broad range of topics that will advance the frontiers of communications systems and networks (with particular attention to wireless), modulation and error-control coding, and information theory. Computer engineers working in this area may explore wireless communication opportunities to take advantage of new frequency bands and increase the efficiency of current bands. Other areas of focus are design techniques for highspeed networks, interference suppression and modulation, design and analysis of fault-tolerant systems, and storage and transmission schemes.
Compilers and Operating Systems
Those focusing on the specialty area of compilers and operating systems design future computer operating systems, libraries, and applications to be automatically customized for each deployment environment. They might develop new operating system architectures, transparent program analysis techniques, post-link-time code transformation algorithms, and novel quality assurance techniques.
Computational Science and Engineering
In this area, computational methods are applied to formulate and solve complex mathematical problems in engineering and in the physical and the social sciences. Computer simulation methods are developed for all kinds of systems, and effective display techniques are employed to communicate the computational results to the user. 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.