So considering the OP is an "Assistant Professor of Computer Science University of Rochester" please refine your analogy whether his target audience falls closer to become the cab driver or the mechanic?
Edit: quoted below OP's case:
>> Write a piece of prototype computer software that demonstrates the feasibility of a novel idea."
>> Write a piece of prototype computer software that collects, processes, and analyzes data to produce novel insights about some topic"
Nonsense. The standard writing tool in mathematics and computer science is LaTeX, which has plenty of bullshittery of its own. Most researchers will generally be suspicious of a Word-produced paper, since it usually will come from crackpots.
Edit: quoted below OP's case:
>> Write a piece of prototype computer software that demonstrates the feasibility of a novel idea."
>> Write a piece of prototype computer software that collects, processes, and analyzes data to produce novel insights about some topic"