What are the world’s fastest computers used for? For one, these powerful machines have helped teach us more about the universe than we could ever have imagined. The record-breaking computers have also improved your ability to search online, learn new things at school, and communicate with friends and family across the globe. This article will explore the top five ways that the world’s fastest computers have changed your life—without you even realizing it!
Faster GPS Systems
Thanks, computers! In 1997, scientists and engineers launched Deep Blue, a computer that beat a chess grandmaster. The same technology is now used to run location services like Foursquare and Apple Maps, which have become an integral part of everyday life for most Americans. Rather than waiting for human-driven GPS systems to work out their inconsistencies, these services use millions of points generated by Deep Blue’s successors (the world’s fastest computers) to get you where you want to go as quickly as possible.
Cloud Computing
The cloud allows users to access large amounts of information on demand and make data accessible in a way that would not have been possible before. Cloud computing has made it easy for people to get their hands on some of the world’s fastest computers without needing money or space. It also allows companies to expand quickly without needing any more hardware than they need at that particular moment. This makes cloud computing incredibly valuable for education, allowing universities access to thousands of computers worldwide at no cost while making it accessible through different devices and applications.
3D Animation/Modeling
3D animation and modeling have significantly changed how we think about education. Now, students can view complex data from every angle in 3D before being asked to make important decisions with that information. In addition, many teachers are now using educational software that allows them to create lessons that mimic real-world experiences, like designing an apartment or exploring human anatomy without a scalpel. As computers continue to evolve and process information faster than ever before, they’ll bring changes we can’t even begin to imagine, making it even more important for us to understand how technology is impacting our lives right now.
Video Games
Under their speed, supercomputers are uniquely positioned to act as dedicated number-crunchers for video games. As a result, developers can design games with more realistic physics and features that couldn’t run on regular computers (and wouldn’t be particularly fun to play if they did). It doesn’t matter how fast your personal computer is—there’s no way it could handle something like Grand Theft Auto V, which simulates an entire city. Perhaps you enjoy high-fidelity gaming without realizing that it wouldn’t be possible without some of history’s fastest computers crunching away behind the scenes.
Image Compression/Advanced Algorithms
Years ago, as a geeky teenager with no social life, you might have stayed up all night playing old text-based adventure games. You didn’t have high-speed internet access or HD monitors; you were lucky if your home computer could play audio. The only way to take those games on a trip was to haul around huge stacks of 5.25 floppy disks (with about 256KB of storage each) to hold your whole game library! If someone had told you that all video would be compressed using advanced algorithms running on insanely fast computers one day, would you have believed them? Thanks to these algorithms, we can store videos and movies on our phones and laptops; we can stream video over high-speed internet and instantly watch it.
Conclusion
The fastest computers have changed how we think about our planet and universe. They’ve influenced how we educate our children and sped up research in every industry. The world’s fastest supercomputers are nothing short of life-changing—so here’s a look at five ways they’ve influenced your life, for better or worse.
