Moore's Law: Fast, Cheap Computing and What It Means for the Manager

Questions and Exercises

1. What is the difference between supercomputing and grid computing? How is each phenomenon empowered by Moore's Law?
2. How does grid computing change the economics of supercomputing?
3. Which businesses are using supercomputing and grid computing? Describe these uses and the advantages they offer their adopting firms. Are they a source of competitive advantage? Why or why not?
4. What are the characteristics of problems that are most easily solved using the types of parallel computing found in grids and modern day supercomputers? What are the characteristics of the sorts of problems not well suited for this type of computing?
5. Visit the SETI@Home Web site (http://seti.ssl.berkeley.edu). What is the purpose of the SETI@Home project? How do you participate? Is there any possible danger to your computer if you choose to participate? (Read their rules and policies.)
6. Search online to identify the five fastest supercomputers currently in operation. Who sponsors these machines? What are they used for? How many processors do they have?
7. What is "Moore's Wall"?
8. What is the advantage of using grid computing to simulate an automobile crash test as opposed to actually staging a crash?