Transcript Slides
The Future of Computing:
Grand Challenges and the
Next Killer Apps
CMSC 100
Tuesday, December 1, 2011
Adapted from slides provided by 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
Images: ams.org
Encrypting the Message 10111
Recall:
n=pq, phi(n)=(p-1)(q-1), 1<e<phi(n), de = 1 (mod phi(n))
encrypted = messagee mod n
message = encrypedd mod n
12-6
Public keys: n = 91 and e = 5
Message: 10111
10111two = 23ten
23e = 235 = 6,436,343
6,436,343 ÷ 91 has a remainder of 4
4ten = 100two
Thus, encrypted version of 10111 is 100.
Decrypting the Message 100
Recall: n=pq, phi(n)=(p-1)(q-1), 1<e<phi(n), de = 1 (mod phi(n))
12-7
Decrypting keys: d = 29, n = 91
100two = 4ten
4d = 429 = 288,230,376,151,711,744
288,230,376,151,711,744 ÷ 91 has a remainder of 23
23ten = 10111two
Therefore, decrypted version of 100 is 10111.
Cracking RSA
Public key can be made freely available – does not need to
be kept secret
RSA can only be classically “broken” in one of three ways:
Get the private key
Factor the very large number, n (typically 1024-2048 bits) –
computationally too hard
21024 is about 1 with 300 zeros
2512 potential factors/ test 1015 per second > 20 years
Solve the RSA problem (invert exponentiation and modulus) – also
too hard
How would a quantum computer be used to crack RSA?
Shor’s Algorithm
http://www.doc.ic.ac.uk/~nd/surprise_97/journal/vol4/spb3/#ShorExample
http://www.dhushara.com/book/quantcos/qcompu/shor/s.htm
Shor’s Algorithm – factoring 15
Create two registers big enough to factor N (15)
Choose X that is than some value less than N
Perform quantum calculation for
B
each possible value of A (using X=2):A
Calculate the period of B (in
this case, 4) and assign to f
A
B
0
1
8
1
1
2
9
2
2
4
10
4
3
8
11
8
4
1
12
1
5
2
13
2
6
4
14
4
7
8
15
8
Source: http://www.doc.ic.ac.uk/~nd/surprise_97/journal/vol4/spb3/#ShorExample
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:
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”:
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