Supercomputers: Directions in Technology and Applications -- Copyright -- PREFACE -- Contents -- PART A OPENING REMARKS -- 1 Welcome -- 2 Supercomputers: Vital Tool for the Nation's Future -- 3 Introduction -- PART B THE CHANGING LANDSCAPE OF SUPERCOMPUTER TECHNOLOGY -- 4 Existing Conditions -- Characteristics of High-Performance Computers -- Types of Computers -- Taxonomy of High-Performance Computers -- General Purpose -- Special Purpose -- Research -- THE SCIENTIFIC COMPUTING ENVIRONMENT-A MATRIX -- Trends in the Generic Information Technologies -- Processing -- Storage -- Communications -- Interface -- Modes of Operation -- RATIONALE FOR USE OF SUPERCOMPUTERS -- Requirements for Supercomputing: The User Perspective -- The Dimensions of Arithmetic Complexity -- An Example of Complexity -- The Scale of Response Times -- Benefits of Supercomputing: The Managerial Perspective -- TRENDS IN SUPERCOMPUTER TECHNOLOGY -- Trend in Execution Rate at Los Alamos National Laboratory -- High-Performance Computing -- Serial versus Parallel Processors -- Dimensional Analysis of Execution Rate -- Trend in Component Densities -- Trend in Cycle Times -- Trend in High-Speed Logic Technologies -- Milestones in Processor Architecture -- Architectural Efficiency -- Balance in Vector Processor Design -- Parallel Processing -- Flynn's Taxonomy -- An Expanded Taxonomy of Architectures -- Key Issues in Parallel Processing -- A Taxonomy of Limits to Massive Parallelism -- CONCLUSIONS -- 5 Toward the Future -- THE CURRENT STAGE IN SUPERCOMPUTING -- Speed -- Central Processing Units -- Memory Size -- Input/Output -- Peripherals -- Physical Size -- Software -- Systems -- THE NEXT STAGE IN SUPERCOMPUTING -- Parallel Processing Environment -- Component Technology Development -- Device Speed -- Circuit Density -- Metal Interconnect -- Substrate Material -- Power Consumption.

Packaging -- Testing and Measurement -- System Technology Development -- Architecture Concepts -- Solution Time -- Exploitation of Parallelism -- Application Technology Development -- SUMMARY -- New Directions -- Potential Impact -- Need for Technological Leadership -- DISCUSSION -- PART C EXISTING APPLICATIONS OF SUPERCOMPUTERS IN INDUSTRY -- 6 Deciding to Acquire a Powerful New Research Tool-Supercomputing -- USING COMPUTATION TO PRODUCE PHARMACEUTICALS -- ASSESSING ADVANTAGES OF SUPERCOMPUTING -- Immediate Feedback for Rapid Results -- Increased Human Input -- Visualization of Results -- CREATING AN ENVIRONMENT FOR SUPERCOMPUTING -- Gaining Acceptance -- Defining Computing Requirements -- Protecting Corporate Investment -- MAKING A DECISION -- 7 Using Supercomputing to Transform Thinking About Product Design -- UNDERSTANDING THE NEED FOR COMMUNICATION -- USING SUPERCOMPUTERS TO INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY -- Visualization as a Stimulus for Creativity -- Visualization and Simulation of Physical Processes -- Visualization Applied to the Manufacture of Products -- ASSIMILATING SUPERCOMPUTING INTO THE R&D CULTURE -- 8 Achieving a Pioneering Outlook with Supercomputing -- EXTENDING THE RANGE OF APPLICATIONS -- Product Design -- Research -- ADDING SUPERCOMPUTING CAPABILITY -- DISCUSSION -- PART D CONCLUDING REMARKS -- 9 Summary.