Intervals: the connection between computing and the world

Floating-point arithmetic per se is fundamentally disconnected from computing in science and engineering, and from mathematics, itself. With interval data types, floating-point numbers can be used to establish the required connection. This connection is becoming increasingly important as computers are used to produce answers to fundamentally new questions. Intrinsic compiler support for interval data types from Sun Microsystems Inc. provide the first support for intervals with which commercial interval applications can be developed. The following topics are briefly discussed: Innovations introduced in compiler support for intervals; open questions; and the outlook for computing with intervals.