CMSC 100
The Future of Computing:
Grand Challenges and the Next Killer Apps
Professor Marie desJardins
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Future of Computing
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Thu 11/29/12
The Future of Computing
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What are the “grand challenges” of computing---our next generation
of big problems to solve?
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What are some technologies on the horizon that may be “gamechanging”?
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Quantum computing
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Self-configuring robotics and “smart matter”
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Nanotechnology
What is the next “killer app”?
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Grand Challenges:
CRA 2002
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1.
In 2002, the Computing Research Association held a conference to identify
Grand Challenges for computing
Systems You Can Count On
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2.
A Teacher for Every Learner
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3.
Disaster prediction, prevention, mitigation, and response
Conquering System Complexity
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5.
Scalable, learner-centered distance learning/collaboration
Ubiquitous Safety.net
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4.
Global, scalable, persistent, reliable, efficient networks
Self-configuring, -optimizing, -maintaining, -healing systems
Build a Team of Your Own
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Augmented cognition: human/machine “cognitive partnerships”
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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
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Quantum Computing
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Bits can’t get any smaller
But electrons can be in multiple
quantum states simultaneously
(“superpositioning”)
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qubit: can be in 2 states at once
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2 qubits: 4 states at once
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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=relate
d
Future of Computing
Images: ams.org
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Self-Configuring Systems
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Quadrotors (University of Pennsylvania)
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQIMGV5vtd4
More nifty self-configuring robots:
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SkvpEfAPXn4&feature=fvw
Future of Computing
Image: discovermagazine.com
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Thu 11/29/12
Nanotechnology
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“Nano” refers to the scale of these systems:
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“Nanotechnology”: Devices that are smaller than ~100nm
First mention of nanotechnology (not by that name):
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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
Richard Feynman, 1959 talk
First nanotechnology:
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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
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Approaches to
Nanotechnology
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Self-assembly
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Like the self-configuring systems we saw at the macro level!
Top-down design of “molecular machines”
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We can program these nanomachines!
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fkTXefpkXCQ
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Nanorobotics
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3D printing
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlq5R84TlVw&feature=related
Applications: manufacturing, environmental remediation, medical
treatment...
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Killer App
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A “killer app” is a paradigm-shifting technology application
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Lots of things have been referred to as “killer apps”:
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Spreadsheets
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Email
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The Web
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Google
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Word processing
Future of Computing
Images: celecus.com, logic.stanford.edu,
google.com
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What’s the Newest Killer
App?
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A Google search on “Next Killer App” reveals the following “killer
apps” from the last few years:
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Business Week 2007
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Mashable.com 2010
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Social media games
blogs.oracle.com 2011
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Paperless maps (GPS)
NFC proximity-based phone payments
Mashable.com 2012: Killer Apps for Engineering and Science Majors
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Knowledge modeling and visualization tools: MonsterAnatomyHD,
GeneIndexHD, 3D Brain...
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Thu 11/29/12
What’s the Next Killer
App?
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Here are some of the “next killer apps” as cited by 2012 sources:
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EETimes.com:
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CNN:
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iWallet, “cloud lockers” (Dropbox), custom apps
NPD Group:
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TV’s next killer app: instant weather reports
Forbes:
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Machines that see: embedded vision
Apple Lightning connector
Bloomberg:
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Maps and navigation
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The Next Killer App:
Google Earth?
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Google Earth application: Security watch
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Google Earth 5 – 3D Mars!
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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_J7qE6frzz8
http://goggleearthvideos.magnify.net/video/Google-Earth-5-3D-Mars
Google Earth Zooms Too Close video:
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http://www.break.com/index/google-earth-zooms-too-close.html
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