The future of many core processors: A Tale of Two Processors
Tim Mattson is an applications programmer (Ph.D. Chemistry, UCSC, 1985). He does linear algebra, finds oil, shakes molecules, solves differential equations, and models electrons in simple atomic systems. He has spent his career working with computer scientists to make sure the needs of parallel applications programmers are met.
Tim has had the good fortune to work with brilliant people on truly great projects. Among these are (1) the first TFLOP computer (ASCI Red), (2) the OpenMP API for shared memory programming, (3) the OpenCL programming language for heterogeneous platforms, (4) programming Intel's first TFLOP chip (the 80 core research chip), and (5) the design and software architecture of Intel’s 48 core research chip.
Dr. Mattson is also engaged in a long term research program with UC Berkeley's ParLab on abstractions that bridge across parallel system design, parallel programming environments, and application software. This work builds on his book "Design Patterns in Parallel Programming" (written with Professors Beverly Sanders and Berna Massingill and published by Addison Wesley). The patterns provide the "human angle" and help keep his research focused on technologies that help general programmers solve real problems.