Transcript Slides

The Future of Computing:
Grand Challenges and the
Next Killer Apps
CMSC 100
Tuesday, 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
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Global, scalable, persistent, reliable, efficient networks
2. A Teacher for Every Learner
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Scalable, learner-centered distance learning/collaboration
3. Ubiquitous Safety.net
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Disaster prediction, prevention, mitigation, and response
4. Conquering System Complexity
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Self-configuring, -optimizing, -maintaining, -healing systems
5. Build a Team of Your Own
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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
Nanotechnology
 “Nano” refers to the scale of these systems:
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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
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”:
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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 2007
Paperless 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 retrieval
VoIP
Identity 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