Plenary Address 3: Heterogeneous Parallel Computing

Heterogeneous parallel computing (i.e., parallel computers where the processors are customized or tailored to efficiently execute specific.classes of algorithms) is the only practical way to solve many computationally intensive problems. In contrast to array computers constructed with identical general purpose processors, heterogeneous parallel computing achieves very high levels of throughput, small size, and low power. The improvement in the speed-size product is often in excess of two orders of magnitude. This talk reviews past endeavors in application specific processing (which can be viewed as the root of heterogeneous computing), current research in heterogeneous parallel computing, and offers the prediction that in the near future “system compilation” (analogous to “silicon compilation”) will greatly facilitate the development of heterogeneous parallel computers.