1. The Future of Computing: Grand Challenges and the Next Killer Apps
CMSC 100 Tuesday, December 1, 2009 Prof. Marie desJardins

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”?

3. Grand Challenges: CRA 2002
In 2002, the Computing Research Association held a conference to identify Grand Challenges for computing
Systems You Can Count On
Global, scalable, persistent, reliable, efficient networks
A Teacher for Every Learner
Scalable, learner-centered distance learning/collaboration
Ubiquitous Safety.net
Disaster prediction, prevention, mitigation, and response
Conquering System Complexity
Self-configuring, -optimizing, -maintaining, -healing systems
Build a Team of Your Own
Augmented cognition: human/machine “cognitive partnerships”

4. Grand Challenges: UKCRC 2009
The UK Computing Research Committee has identified eight Grand Challenges for computer science
In Vivo  In Silico (virtual organisms)
Science for Ubiquitous Global Computing
Memories for Life (storing/searching pictures, video, , ...)
Architecture of Brain and Mind
Dependable Systems Evolution
Journeys In Non-Classical Computing (biological/natural)
Learning for Life
Bringing the Past to Life for the Citizen

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: 2n states at once!
 In effect, we can build massively parallel computers!
SciAm Special: How Do Quantum Computers Work?
Images: ams.org

6. Self-Configuring Systems
ckBot (University of Pennsylvania)
More nifty self-configuring robots:
Image: discovermagazine.com

7. Images: godunov.com, answers.com
Nanotechnology
“Nano” refers to the scale of these systems:
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
“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

8. Approaches to Nanotechnology
Self-assembly
Like the self-configuring systems we saw at the macro level!
Top-down design of “molecular machines”
We could theoretically program these nanomachines!
Nanorobotics
Programmable matter
Claytronics:
Applications: manufacturing, environmental remediation, medical treatment...

9. Images: celecus.com, logic.stanford.edu, google.com
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

10. What’s the Newest Killer App?
A Google search on “Next Killer App” reveals the following “killer apps” from the last few years:
Technology Source 2003:
RSS (Rich Site Summary) – news feeds for the masses
Popular Mechanics 2005:
VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol): Skype, etc.
WiMAX (next-generation WiFi: has a range of a couple of miles)
“Freecycling” (give away your junk online)
Desktop search
Business Week 2007
Paperless maps (GPS)

11. What’s the Next Killer App?
Here are some of the “next killer apps” as cited by 2009 sources:
Dave Winer (tech blogger):
A better twitter (more bloggy?)
TheNextWeb.com
Voice twitter
David Warlick (blogger):
eportfolios for students
Info Week reader poll:
Search/data retrieval
VoIP
Identity management

12. The Next Killer App: Google Earth?
[Google Earth demo]
Google Earth application: Security watch
Google Earth 5 – 3D Mars!
Google Earth Zooms Too Close video: