CMSC 100CMSC 100

The Future of Computing:The Future of Computing:

Grand Challenges and the Next Killer AppsGrand Challenges and the Next Killer Apps

Professor Marie desJardins

Thursday, November 29, 2012

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The Future of The Future of ComputingComputing

What are the “grand challenges” of computing---our next generation of big problems to solve?

What are some technologies on the horizon that may be “game-changing”? Quantum computing Self-configuring robotics and “smart matter” Nanotechnology

What is the next “killer app”?

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Grand Challenges: Grand Challenges: CRA 2002CRA 2002

In 2002, the Computing Research Association held a conference to identify Grand Challenges for computing

1. Systems You Can Count On Global, scalable, persistent, reliable, efficient networks

2. A Teacher for Every Learner Scalable, learner-centered distance learning/collaboration

3. Ubiquitous Safety.net Disaster prediction, prevention, mitigation, and response

4. Conquering System Complexity Self-configuring, -optimizing, -maintaining, -healing systems

5. Build a Team of Your Own Augmented cognition: human/machine “cognitive partnerships”

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Grand Challenges: Grand Challenges: UKCRC 2009UKCRC 2009

The UK Computing Research Committee has identified eight Grand Challenges for computer science

1. In Vivo In Silico (virtual organisms)2. Science for Ubiquitous Global Computing3. Memories for Life (storing/searching pictures, video, email, ...)4. Architecture of Brain and Mind5. Dependable Systems Evolution6. Journeys In Non-Classical Computing (biological/natural)7. Learning for Life8. Bringing the Past to Life for the Citizenhttp://www.ukcrc.org.uk/grand-challenge/current.cfm

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Quantum ComputingQuantum Computing Bits can’t get any smaller But electrons can be in multiple

quantum states simultaneously (“superpositioning”) qubit: can be in 2 states at once 2 qubits: 4 states at once n qubits: 2n states at once!

In effect, we can build massively parallel computers! SciAm Special: How Do Quantum Computers Work? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hSr7hyOHO1Q&feature

=related

Images: ams.org Thu 11/29/12Future of Computing

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Self-Configuring Self-Configuring SystemsSystems

Quadrotors (University of Pennsylvania) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQIMGV5vtd4

More nifty self-configuring robots: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkvpEfAPXn4&feature=fvw

Image: discovermagazine.com Thu 11/29/12Future of Computing

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NanotechnologyNanotechnology “Nano” refers to the scale of these systems:

1nm = 10-9 meters = one billionth of a meter Carbon-carbon bonds are about .15 nm A DNA molecule has a diameter of about 2nm The smallest cellular life form is about 200nm across

“Nanotechnology”: Devices that are smaller than ~100nm First mention of nanotechnology (not by that name):

Richard Feynman, 1959 talk First nanotechnology:

Fullerenes (discovered in 1985) – carbon molecules forming a hollow structure (sphere, ellipsoid, tube)

“Buckyball” – spherical fullerene (both named after Buckminster Fuller, inventor of the geodesic dome)

These are actually used today in manufacturingImages: godunov.com, answers.com Thu 11/29/12Future of Computing

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Approaches to Approaches to NanotechnologyNanotechnology

Self-assembly Like the self-configuring systems we saw at the macro level!

Top-down design of “molecular machines” We can program these nanomachines!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkTXefpkXCQ Nanorobotics 3D printing

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlq5R84TlVw&feature=related

Applications: manufacturing, environmental remediation, medical treatment...

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Killer AppKiller App A “killer app” is a paradigm-shifting technology

application

Lots of things have been referred to as “killer apps”: Spreadsheets Email The Web Google Word processing

Images: celecus.com, logic.stanford.edu, google.comThu 11/29/12Future of Computing

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What’s the Newest What’s the Newest Killer App?Killer App?

A Google search on “Next Killer App” reveals the following “killer apps” from the last few years: Business Week 2007

Paperless maps (GPS) Mashable.com 2010

Social media games blogs.oracle.com 2011

NFC proximity-based phone payments Mashable.com 2012: Killer Apps for Engineering and Science

Majors Knowledge modeling and visualization tools:

MonsterAnatomyHD, GeneIndexHD, 3D Brain...

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What’s the Next Killer What’s the Next Killer App?App?

Here are some of the “next killer apps” as cited by 2012 sources: EETimes.com:

Machines that see: embedded vision CNN:

TV’s next killer app: instant weather reports Forbes:

iWallet, “cloud lockers” (Dropbox), custom apps NPD Group:

Apple Lightning connector Bloomberg:

Maps and navigation

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The Next Killer App: The Next Killer App: Google Earth?Google Earth?

Google Earth application: Security watch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_J7qE6frzz8

Google Earth 5 – 3D Mars! http://goggleearthvideos.magnify.net/video/Google-Earth-5-

3D-Mars

Google Earth Zooms Too Close video: http://www.break.com/index/google-earth-zooms-too-

close.html

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