Transitions between generations in computer technology are hard to
define, especially as they are taking place. Some changes, such as
the switch from vacuum tubes to
transistors, are immediately apparent as fundamental changes, but others are clear
only in retrospect. Many of the developments in computer systems since 1990
reflect gradual improvements over established systems, and thus it is hard to
claim they represent a transition to a new ``generation'', but other
developments will prove to be significant changes.
In this section we offer some assessments about recent developments and current trends that we think will have a significant impact on computational science.
Table 2: Network Speeds.
This generation is beginning with many gains in parallel computing, both in the hardware area and in improved understanding of how to develop algorithms to exploit diverse, massively parallel architectures. Parallel systems now compete with vector processors in terms of total computing power and most expect parallel systems to dominate the future.
