Supercomputers
Supercomputers are the fastest, most powerful computers designed to tackle complex problems requiring vast amounts of computer time. Two types of supercomputer exist. One type has several extremely complex and expensive processors that carry out computations serially, one at a time. Performing billions of operations per second, they are being overshadowed by a second type called massively parallel supercomputing. This system has thousands of simple, inexpensive processors connected in parallel. A computational problem is divided into parts, with portions assigned simultaneously to various processors. The individual processors calculate subtotals and send them to a central processor for combining. The articles below provide information on supercomputers, development and history of the supercomputer.
Living Computers
Would you like to offer some advice to your computer about increasing its efficiency? Or even better, order it to think about the color that matches your room interiors with furniture? The day is not far away when machines and computers would start to think on their own. Artificial Intelligence my friends, is knocking Big Time.
Technology: Fastest Supercomputer in the World Proves One in a Million Billion
Built from microchips originally destined for games consoles, Roadrunner is the world's fastest and latest supercomputer
The Deep Blue Supercomputer's Chess Programme
Chess: The world chess champion was defeated this week by a £36.50 computer program. It's time we accepted the inevitable Stephen Moss.
Supercomputer to Give 30-year Weather Forecast
Japan's science ministry has announced plans to harness the power of the Earth Simulator, until recently the world's fastest supercomputer, to predict the weather up to 30 years.
How 10 Quadrillion Sums a Second Will Make Computer the World's Fastest
In the world of computers, it promises to be the biggest, fastest, and most mindboggling, of them all. Officials in Japan yesterday announced that they intend to build a supercomputer that will operate 73 times faster than the current top computer.
Kasparov's Jerusalem visit checked
The former world chess champion Garry Kasparov has cancelled a visit to Jerusalem this week, during which he was to have played against a supercomputer, because a bank there is threatening to sue him for a £1m debt.
At 35.6 Trillion Calculations a Second, the Computer Has the Earth at Its Feet
It is the ultimate virtual reality ride, a machine so powerful it recreates the entire planet in 'an Earth simulator.' And now, to the chagrin of US scientists, Japan's newest supercomputer has been rated the world's fastest.
Chess: The world chess champion was defeated this week by a £36.50 computer program. It's time we accepted the inevitable Stephen Moss.
Supercomputer to Give 30-year Weather Forecast
Japan's science ministry has announced plans to harness the power of the Earth Simulator, until recently the world's fastest supercomputer, to predict the weather up to 30 years.
How 10 Quadrillion Sums a Second Will Make Computer the World's Fastest
In the world of computers, it promises to be the biggest, fastest, and most mindboggling, of them all. Officials in Japan yesterday announced that they intend to build a supercomputer that will operate 73 times faster than the current top computer.
Kasparov's Jerusalem visit checked
The former world chess champion Garry Kasparov has cancelled a visit to Jerusalem this week, during which he was to have played against a supercomputer, because a bank there is threatening to sue him for a £1m debt.
At 35.6 Trillion Calculations a Second, the Computer Has the Earth at Its Feet
It is the ultimate virtual reality ride, a machine so powerful it recreates the entire planet in 'an Earth simulator.' And now, to the chagrin of US scientists, Japan's newest supercomputer has been rated the world's fastest.