Concepts and Challenges of Parallel Computing

Michelle Hribar

Parallel computing is the use of multiple computing units to solve a single problem. Programming a single computing unit is difficult enough; adding multiple units creates much more complexity for solving the problem. First of all, the parallel program must generate correct results. Secondly, the program must experience an adequate reduction in execution time to justify the effort of running it in parallel. In this talk, I will describe what parallel computing is, what the challenges are, and illustrate the process of developing an effective parallel algorithm with an application taken from transportation engineering.