Self Aware Computing Project Angstrom Is 'A World Changing Idea'

Computing has undergone some radical changes in previous decades. With being just a rudimentary device serving the purpose of calculations, computers have taken control of the industrial processes too. Even after the computer revolution, there is one more dimension in which the industry can grow. It is the idea of making computers self-aware. The Project Angstrom initiated by MIT has been selected as one of the "World Changing Ideas" by Scientific American in the December 2011 issue.
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The initiative is funded by U.S. Defense Department’s Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency and involves scientists from multiple organizations working for this cause. Those related with the project directly include Home - RLE at MITRLE at MIT, #-Link-Snipped-# and the #-Link-Snipped-#.

The project is aimed at making the computer adaptive of the needs of user and to improve its performance accordingly. The basic idea of this project is to design Hardware and Software that will make the future generation of computers. One of the aspects in this regard is the introduction of multicore processor computing environments. The team believes that it will be smart if a computer performs a specific task using many more cores-may be dozens or even thousands than what is the technological scenario today. The coordination between different cores, if made tangible and simple, can pave way to superior outputs. This also means of developing systems which are energy efficient.

Let us take a look at some facts and figures of energy efficiency. The video below shows why and how the #-Link-Snipped-# will be able to deliver good output with minimum wastage of energy.



Above video is divided in two parts, for the same video has been encoded with SEEC (right) and the one that isn't (left) and having the resources allocated for the worst case scenario timing, compares the performance of the two. The corresponding graphs of power consumption per frame are plotted below the respective videos. Both the graphs depict the power of SEEC when it is running on Linux/x86.

Well, there is more to it. You are also able to fix the performance of your computer. For example, if you are playing some video and want it to yield clarity of 30 frames per second then you are able to adjust it. The system will make arrangements that will enable you to set this speed. It might skip some slides but if it is unable to achieve the expected target, then the system will recruit more number of cores to do the job. This is the beauty of the system. The thumb rule that the system follows is to 'adapt'.

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Such adapting systems are the need of the day and many companies might also be working to achieve it. The place that Scientific American has given to the project is an indication of its potential. We have to wait and watch the course that the project takes with time. However, looking at the prospects, do you think that self aware computing will be the next big thing in future?