CS267: Lecture 1, Jan 19 1999

Introduction to Parallel Computing

Abstract

We motivated high performance computing by showing that numerical experiments are becoming a third pillar of the scientific method, complementing theory (because many phenomena are too complicated to understand theoretically) and conventional experiments (because many phenomena or devices are too difficult, expensive, slow or dangerous to measure or prototype in the laboratory). Second, we motivated the need for parallelism, by showing that despite the exponentially increasing power of serial processors over time, using many of them in parallel is essential to solve very large problems. Third, we described the challenges in writing and understanding parallel programming, a more difficult activity than convential serial programming. Finally, we outlined the structure of the course.

Lecture Notes

Power Point version
PDF version (2 slides/page)

Readings

Notes from the Lecture 1 from CS267, Spring 1996

Assignments

Assignment 1 (due 1/26)