Supercomputer Breaks Its Own Record

On Thursday, October 27, 2005, the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA) officially dedicated two supercomputers at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in California.

During the ceremony, officials announced that one of the machines—the BlueGene/L—had done what no other computer had done before: complete 280.6 trillion operations in one second.

The "old" version of this IBM machine became the fastest computer in the world last June, but since then its speed has doubled.

The BlueGene/L, along with its companion named the ASC Purple (which can perform 100 trillion operations per second), will run three-dimensional codes at lightning-fast speeds to ensure that the nation's nuclear weapons stockpile remains safe. Before now, such analyses were done through underground testing.

Such innovations in computing technologies are not only a boon to nuclear safety, however.

What those scientists and engineers have learned is bound to spread into technologies for other types of computers, including those used by the government, universities, commercial industries, and ultimately consumer grade electronics used for a variety of applications.

To start understanding how such an amazing computer processing speed was accomplished, you'll first need to know some basics about how computers work and how they have been developed over the last 60 years.

In this week's lesson you'll tour the inside of a computer, and then step back in time to meet some of the people who contributed to computing technology's development.

The Journey Inside

Intel was the first chip company to develop a microprocessor in 1971. Today, they invite web surfers to explore The Journey Inside a computer.

Begin with the Introduction to Computers section and read about The Digital World and How to Navigate This Site.

Along the way, you'll also get to watch videos and play games that help explain historical innovations and concepts. Click any underlined word for a glossary definition of that key term.

Move through the lessons, starting with History of Computers.

About how long ago was the abacus first used for complex calculations? What are the Four Components of a Computer and Which Does What? What exactly does the Motherboard do?

You've identified the four fundamental components, now examine each one more closely:

• How Computers Get Input
• How Computers Store Information
• How Computers Process Information
• How Computers Deliver Information

How is a computer similar and different from a toaster? How do the four components work together? How do you use these components on your own computer, hand-held calculator, cell phone, or other devices?

Lastly in this section, investigate Which is Smarter - Human Brain or Computer? Why does the answer depend on your definition of "smart"? In what way is computer intelligence directly related to human intelligence?

Next, check out the Circuits and Switches section. Here, you'll learn how electricity works and how people harness its properties for daily uses.

What is the difference between materials that resist and those that conduct electricity? What does this have to do with a working circuit? Compare Mechanical Switches and Non-mechanical Switches. Which ones do you rely on for different uses?

Your next stop is Digital Information. This section is especially important for understanding how computers transfer and process information, since it answers the question, What is Binary Code?

How does binary code compare to how circuits work? What is ASCII, and how exactly does it work? Can you explain how computers translate binary code into Pictures you can see on your screen?

Now that you understand how information is transmitted, discover how Microprocessors play a key role in getting a job done.

When you use your computer for various tasks, can you identify what your computer fetches, decodes and executes to fulfill your command?

What are chips made from and how are they put together? How does the use of chemistry and electricity fit into the picture?

Make sure to also explore The Internet—the world's largest computer network and one of modern pop culture's primary communication, information, education, and entertainment tools. What had to happen before the Internet became worldwide? In what ways has the Internet shaped today's culture?

Lastly, check out how computers have impacted Technology and Society.

Here you'll be Looking Back to See the Future, discover that Change is All Around Us, understand how technology has created A New Way to Work and sparked a Digital Revolution in Sports. You'll also get some insight into how The Accelerating Rate of Change will influence your own future.

The Computer Age Grows Up

In today's world we often rely on travel-sized computer devices with microchips, but during the early years computers were far from portable—in fact, they crowded entire rooms and were composed of huge vacuum tubes.

To uncover the mystery of how computers got better and smaller over the years, explore the Computer History Museum's Timeline.

You can begin your journey at either end of the timeline —either 1945 or 1990—and work your way to the other end. Doing this will show you each year's historic events under several topics.

Alternatively, you can explore the history of each topic: Computers, People & Pop Culture, Software and Languages, Components, Robots and AI ("Artificial Intelligence"), Networks, and Companies.

What specific innovations did you find most interesting? Can you make any connections between those historical events and uses in today's technologies? In what ways have today's electronic devices driven changes in our society—in office work, bill paying, entertainment, communication, etc.?

What kinds of factors do you think drive the development of new computer technologies?

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Newspaper Activities

Browse throughout The Salt Lake Tribune and pick out advertisements, classified ads, and news or feature stories that include a web address. How many advertisers or featured subjects (including commercial businesses, non-profits, schools, government agencies, etc.) depend on having a website address to promote their products, services, or events? How does that compare to the number of advertisers who don't include a web address?

Prepare for a Scavenger Hunt by picking three or more samples of each type and sorting them into two groups—one group includes URLs and the second does not. Choose five types of comparable information you would expect to find whether you phone them or visit their website. This may include their hours of operation, where they are located, prices for certain products, rates for services, the name of the manager or owner, etc. Create a survey sheet for each advertiser, listing each piece of information to get. Next, time how long it takes to complete each survey. For those that have a website, visit them online. For those without, telephone them. (You can also visit a third group of advertisers in person. If you do, disregard travel time and start your watch once you've walked through their door.) How do the surveys compare in time spent and quality of experience? Did you feel any different interacting with the computer compared with interacting with a human or answering machine? List situations in which you would prefer to interact or get information using computer technology, and which you would prefer doing either face-to-face or by telephone. Also, identify the specific components involved in both ways of getting the information: input, storage, processing, and output. Compare your survey results and component lists with others and discuss.