Since the publication of the first edition, parallel computing technology has gained considerable momentum. A large proportion of this has come from the improvement in VLSI techniques, offering one to two orders of magnitude more devices than previously possible. A second contributing factor in the fast development of the subject is commercialization. The supercomputer is no longer restricted to a few well-established research institutions and large companies. A new computer breed combining the architectural advantages of the supercomputer with the advance of VLSI technology is now available at very attractive prices. A pioneering device in this development is the transputer, a VLSI processor specifically designed to operate in large concurrent systems.
Parallel Computers 2: Architecture, Programming and Algorithms reflects the shift in emphasis of parallel computing and tracks the development of supercomputers in the years since the first edition was published. It looks at large-scale parallelism as found in transputer ensembles. This extensively rewritten second edition includes major new sections on the transputer and the OCCAM language. The book contains specific information on the various types of machines available, details of computer architecture and technologies, and descriptions of programming languages and algorithms. Aimed at an advanced undergraduate and postgraduate level, this handbook is also useful for research workers, machine designers, and programmers concerned with parallel computers. In addition, it will serve as a guide for potential parallel computer users, especially in disciplines where large amounts of computer time are regularly used.
Parallel Computers 2: Architecture, Programming and Algorithms reflects the shift in emphasis of parallel computing and tracks the development of supercomputers in the years since the first edition was published. It looks at large-scale parallelism as found in transputer ensembles. This extensively rewritten second edition includes major new sections on the transputer and the OCCAM language. The book contains specific information on the various types of machines available, details of computer architecture and technologies, and descriptions of programming languages and algorithms.
"? as a comprehensive and readable introduction, this edition is guaranteed as long a life as its predecessor. As all supercomputer manufacturers embrace parallel processing, it will be found more frequently on physicists' bookshelves."
-Contemporary Physics
"?This book continues to be the recommended introduction into parallel computers. It provides a wide view of the machines currently available and the way in which they are progressing. ? it represents a worthwhile investment for all interested in the field."
-BCS Parallel Processing Specialist Group
"Anyone interested in high end computing would do well to introduce themselves to the necessary software techniques sooner rather than later. With a bibliography containing over 500 references and a good index, this book is also a thorough reference work and in summary is a welcome addition to the technical computing literature."
-The Australian Physicist
