The Future of Computing:Grand Challenges and the

Next Killer Apps

CMSC 100Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Prof. Marie desJardins

The Future of Computing

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”?

Grand Challenges: CRA 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”

Grand Challenges: UKCRC 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 Computing

3. Memories for Life (storing/searching pictures, video, email, ...)

4. Architecture of Brain and Mind

5. Dependable Systems Evolution

6. Journeys In Non-Classical Computing (biological/natural)

7. Learning for Life

8. Bringing the Past to Life for the Citizen

http://www.ukcrc.org.uk/grand-challenge/current.cfm

Quantum 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

Self-Configuring Systems

ckBot (University of Pennsylvania) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JG5GrAtalE

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

Image: discovermagazine.com

“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 manufacturing

Nanotechnology

Images: godunov.com, answers.com

Approaches to Nanotechnology

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

Top-down design of “molecular machines” We could theoretically program these nanomachines! Nanorobotics Programmable matter

Claytronics: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bcaqzOUv2Ao Applications: manufacturing, environmental remediation, medical

treatment...

Killer 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.com

What’s the Newest Killer App?

A Google search on “Next Killer App” reveals the following “killer apps” from the last few years: Technology Source 2003:

RSS (Rich Site Summary) – news feeds for the masses Popular Mechanics 2005:

VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol): Skype, etc.WiMAX (next-generation WiFi: has a range of a couple of miles)“Freecycling” (give away your junk online)Desktop search

Business Week 2007Paperless maps (GPS)

What’s the Next Killer App?

Here are some of the “next killer apps” as cited by 2009 sources: Dave Winer (tech blogger):

A better twitter (more bloggy?) TheNextWeb.com

Voice twitter David Warlick (blogger):

eportfolios for students Info Week reader poll:

Search/data retrievalVoIPIdentity management

The Next Killer App: Google Earth?

[Google Earth demo] 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