CS267: Lecture 1, Jan 19 1999
Introduction to Parallel Computing
Abstract
We motivated high performance computing by showing that
numerical experiments are becoming a third pillar of the
scientific method, complementing theory (because many
phenomena are too complicated to understand theoretically)
and conventional experiments (because many phenomena
or devices are too difficult, expensive, slow or dangerous
to measure or prototype in the laboratory).
Second,
we motivated the need for parallelism, by showing that
despite the exponentially increasing power of serial
processors over time, using many of them in parallel is
essential to solve very large problems.
Third, we described the challenges in writing and understanding
parallel programming, a more difficult activity than
convential serial programming. Finally, we outlined the
structure of the course.
Lecture Notes
Power Point version
PDF version (2 slides/page)
Readings
Notes from the Lecture 1 from CS267, Spring 1996
Assignments
Assignment 1 (due 1/26)