Theory-Guided Technology in Computer Science

Scientists usually identify themselves as eithertheoreticians or experimentalists, while technology –the application of science in practice – is done byengineers. In computer science, these distinctionsare often blurred. This paper examines the history ofmajor achievements in computer science as portrayed bythe winners of the prestigious Turing Award andidentifies a possibly unique activity calledTheory-Guided Technology (TGT). Researchers developTGT by using theoretical results to create practicaltechnology. The reasons why TGT is practical incomputer science are discussed, as is the coolreception that TGT has been received by softwareengineers.