APPLICATIONS

It’s no secret that over the years, the speed and capability of computers has increased tremendously. The days of a simple computer taking up an entire room and using so much power it would cause the lights to dim are history. The problem is that even the high-speed, compact computers of today use a lot of energy. In turn, as we become more reliant on technology, the amount of electricity used by computers increases. On Wednesday, Oct. 15, the University of Maine Computer Science Department is teaming up with SiCortex Inc. of Maynard, Mass. to demonstrate the first green supercomputer in Maine. SiCortex’s technology allows the company to deliver performance and productivity using minimal space and electricity, making its compact, energy-efficient design accessible right in the lab where researchers work instead of being in a separate data center. "We at UMaine are focused on responsible computing: achieving more with fewer resources," said George Markowsky, acting chairman of the UMaine Computer Science Department. "It’s easy to overlook the fact that for every watt of electricity used to run these large computers, up to another watt is required to cool the system. By choosing the most energy-efficient supercomputer available, we are providing state-of-the-art computing to our students and faculty, while minimizing our energy requirements." The SiCortex computer will be powered during next week’s demonstration by a team of bicyclists from the UMaine Cycling Club. "The fact that a team of bicyclists could power the system underscores the energy efficiency of the UMaine Supercomputer," James Bailey, marketing director of SiCortex, said. Computer scientists consistently are trying to reduce the amount of energy it takes to operate the machinery we’ve come to rely on. The SiCortex SC072 Personal Development System is a 72-processor machine packaged in a quiet, low-powered deskside cabinet using less than 300 watts of power and is compatible with the world’s largest supercomputers, according to the company. In most cases, a single processor uses about 100 watts of power, while a processor in a SiCortex machine uses ½ watt of power. "Over nearly six decades, the speed of computers has continued to increase dramatically, but at the expense of ever-greater power consumption," said Markowsky. "We’re trying to lead the way in energy-saving computation by doing more with less. We are very pleased that the department was able to acquire this computer because of funding obtained by assistant professor of computer science Phillip Dickens." Dickens's laboratory houses the computer. "Beyond being an innovator in green computing, the University of Maine is at the head of the class in recognizing the future of computing and preparing its students for leadership," Bailey said. "Dr. Dickens is paving the way for the students and faculty at the University of Maine to both advance the state of computer science and to achieve more results using less power." The purpose of next week’s event is to get people thinking differently about power and energy as a whole, and show them that things they previously thought were impossible now are feasible. "That’s sort of what the University of Maine is in business to do," Bailey said. "That’s what a great university does." The green supercomputer demonstration begins at 11:30 a.m., followed by lunch and additional technical sessions for those interested in SiCortex’s energy-saving, computing technology. If you are interested in attending, please contact George Markowsky as soon as possible at (207) 581-3940, or e-mail him at markov@cs.umaine.edu.