CMSC 100 The Future of Computing: Grand Challenges and the Next Killer Apps Professor Marie desJardins Thursday, November 29, 2012 Thu 11/29/12 1 Future of Computing

2 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”? Thu 11/29/12Future of Computing

3 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” Thu 11/29/12Future of Computing

4 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, ,...) 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 Thu 11/29/12Future of Computing

5 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: 2 n states at once!  In effect, we can build massively parallel computers! SciAm Special: How Do Quantum Computers Work? d d Images: ams.org Thu 11/29/12Future of Computing

6 Self-Configuring Systems Quadrotors (University of Pennsylvania) More nifty self-configuring robots: Image: discovermagazine.com Thu 11/29/12Future of Computing

7 Nanotechnology “Nano” refers to the scale of these systems: 1nm = 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 Thu 11/29/12Future of Computing

8 Approaches to Nanotechnology Self-assembly Like the self-configuring systems we saw at the macro level! Top-down design of “molecular machines” We can program these nanomachines! Nanorobotics 3D printing Applications: manufacturing, environmental remediation, medical treatment... Thu 11/29/12Future of Computing

9 Killer App A “killer app” is a paradigm-shifting technology application Lots of things have been referred to as “killer apps”: Spreadsheets The Web Google Word processing Images: celecus.com, logic.stanford.edu, google.com Thu 11/29/12Future of Computing

10 What’s the Newest Killer App? A Google search on “Next Killer App” reveals the following “killer apps” from the last few years: Business Week 2007  Paperless maps (GPS)  Mashable.com 2010  Social media games  blogs.oracle.com 2011  NFC proximity-based phone payments  Mashable.com 2012: Killer Apps for Engineering and Science Majors  Knowledge modeling and visualization tools: MonsterAnatomyHD, GeneIndexHD, 3D Brain... Thu 11/29/12Future of Computing

11 What’s the Next Killer App? Here are some of the “next killer apps” as cited by 2012 sources: EETimes.com: Machines that see: embedded vision CNN: TV’s next killer app: instant weather reports Forbes: iWallet, “cloud lockers” (Dropbox), custom apps NPD Group: Apple Lightning connector Bloomberg: Maps and navigation Thu 11/29/12Future of Computing

12 The Next Killer App: Google Earth? Google Earth application: Security watch Google Earth 5 – 3D Mars! Google Earth Zooms Too Close video: Thu 11/29/12Future of Computing