Computer Science graduate student predicts the potential benefits of exascale (high performance computing) technology

Bluegene, a super computer at the Argonne National Laboratory,
computes at the petascale. 

Exascale technology refers to technology with computing capabilities beyond the current petascale that can compute vast amounts of data in seconds and can hopefully benefit humanity as we continually advance towards a tech savvy life. Petascale technology is currently in the fields of weather, climate simulation, quantum chemistry, brain simulation, cosmology and other disciplines required advanced computations. Bluegene (pictured on the left) has many applications to many different fields. From running every possible chess move and helping world champion chess player Veselin Topalov, to simulating the one percent of the human cerebral cortex, Bluegene has advanced the computing world. These already, superb super computers, give great technological advantage to whatever discipline it is applied to and the development of exascale technology is exciting, especially for those in computer science.


The Potential of Exascale Technology from a Computer Scientist's perspective
Justin Wagner, my computer programming TA, is currently a Computer Science graduate student at the University of Maryland with interests in computational biology and computer systems. His work in the computer science field nears exascale technology and the potential of working with this technology is closer than one may think.

Exascale Technology in public usage
Exascale technology can be beneficial to many areas of the public. Advanced computer power brings about a plethora of plausible research opportunities that may improve the lives and studies of many people. Mr. Wagner, with an interest in computational biology, sheds his perspective on such advances.

Futuristic Smart Homes with Exascale Technology? Can exascale technology be personal?

With exascale technology on our fingertips, could exascale technology possibly be reworked for the public on a more personal level? Could cars and homes utilize higher power technology to possibly make way for smarter, futuristic ways of living? Computers have advanced greatly in terms of computing power, could it someday reach this scale for the public?

There is a lot to be researched about exascale technology, and it is exciting to think about the possibilities. As Mr. Wagner points out, the personalizing of exascale technology may not be seen in the near future, and may possibly be prohibited to the realms of scientific research, but who knows? Companies may someday utilize the technology in a way to better our lives. For example, if our internet providers or cell phone companies used exascale technology to higher the processes behind the networking of our phones to other phones, we may be able to live in a world where "no signal" is a bad excuse! Other examples include playing your favorite video game or movie at incredibly higher frames per second. It's exciting to think about life in terms of exascale technology, and the fields of Computer Science are ready to utilize and perfect it for the many disciplines that could highly benefit from it.