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During the past decade development work for extremely powerful and cost-effective computers has concentrated on new architectures. In place of “scalar” processors, the emphasis moved towards “vector” and “parallel” processors, commonly referred to as “supercomputers”. These machines are now in widespread use in many branches of science. Vectorization of quark field calculations in particle physics has improved performance by factors of ten or twenty compared with the traditional scalar algorithms. Computers must still be programmed for every action they take which is a great limitation. How quickly the programmer can tell it what to do becomes a major drag on computer speeds. The time lag can be shortened by linking up different computers and designing more efficient ways to jam information in and pull it out of the machine, but the basic limitation of the step-by-step program remains. The incredibly rapid speeds we are approaching will be of little value without a corresponding increase in the speed with which we can get at the computer-generated information. A new approach, called graphics, uses the cathode-ray tube – the picture tube of your TV set – to display the information pictorially. A light pen – actually an electronic pointer – can be touched to the screen, and conversation between man and machine can be accomplished. For example, the computer can flash a series of options on its screen. The scientist selects the one he wants by touching it with a light pen. The great advantage of these so-called graphic computers is in solving design problems and in coping with any trial-and-error situation. The graphic computer offers the most flexible means of communication between man and machine yet developed. For example, the designer can draw a car roof on the screen with his light pen. The computer will do the mathematics required to straighten out the lines and, in effect, present a draftsman’s version of the designer’s idea. The computer will then offer a variety of options to the designer – “front view”, “cross section”, and so on. All the designer needs to do is to touch his light pen to the appropriate choice, and the computer does the rest.


Notes
Vectorization of quark field calculations in particle physics has improved performance by factors of ten or twenty – векторизация вычислений кваркового поля в квантовой физике повысило качество и результативность научных исследований в 10 или 20 раз. To jam information in and pull it out of the machine – чтобы сжать информацию при вводе и выводе ее из машины; in coping with any trial-and-error situation – при воспроизведении любой ситуации методом подбора.