Written by Gina Cielo
For one computer science class, this semester has been devoted to nothing more than constructing a unique computer that runs on parallel programming.According to Stephen Baber, professor of computer science, parallel programming is the process of writing a program that runs on multiple computers simultaneously, cutting down the time in which a task is performed.Thirteen Harding students are currently in the process of designing this computer, which runs on 64 central processing units, as opposed to the two found in most computers. There are numerous advantages to a computer that has parallel programming, Baber said.”You can work on more difficult problems that would be intractable for the standard computer,” Baber said.Baber gave the example of applying a filter to a large picture to demonstrate the fast speed of the new computer. Trying to apply a filter to a large picture with only one program would take a long time on a standard computer. However, if one splits the picture into pieces and gives a different program each piece, the process would happen in seconds, rather than minutes, Baber said.The computer that the students are programming is a combination of eight computers with one acting as the go-between for the outside world and the other seven computers. The eight computers are all connected through one network that can be accessed anywhere through the Internet.”Instead of acting as eight different computers, it acts as one,” Baber said. “In other words, instead of getting a faster horse, we are getting more horses.”The eight computers are referred to as a cluster, earning the name Pleiades, a star cluster appropriate for the creation, Baber said.According to Baber, this new programming will help people approach problems very differently. Mathematic, scientific and astronomic problems are now much easier, and results are obtained quicker.Baber used Pixar to illustrate parallel programming in today’s world. All of Pixar’s movies are rendered in parallel programming, using hundreds of thousands of CPUs. This makes Pleiades look small in comparison, but it is still bigger than what most people are used to, Baber said.Baber said he chose to purchase the equipment this year because he feels like he needs to prepare students for their future.”I have heard it quoted if you are not familiar with parallel programming in the next five years, then you are not a programmer,” Baber said. “This is definitely the way for the future.”
