Reed's Ruminations: The Past, Present, and Future
Reflections on science, technology, and computing — leavened by personal experience
Category: Technology
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In Vivo, In Vitro, In Silico
The wide dynamic range of temporal and spatial scales of systems biology models, from picosecond first principles molecular dynamics to the geological timescales of environmental shifts, is a full employment act for computational scientists. In many ways, we are attempting to come full circle, from in vivo observations to in vitro experiments to holistic, in…
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Spectrum Future Shock
Several studies have shown that large parts of the available spectrum are unused most of the time at most locations, within a reasonable detection threshold.With the rise inexpensive, high-performance microprocessors and radio frequency (RF) system-on-a-chip (SoC) designs, more nimble, cognitive radio designs are now possible that can operate across wide portions of the spectrum.
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Modeling the World
Today, Microsoft publicly launched a new technical computing vision, Modeling the World. The web site contains vignettes about computing from a variety of technical computing leaders, both inside Microsoft and across the broader community.
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Research and Innovation
As a lifelong researcher (at least my professional life), I periodically remind myself that the return on investment for basic research is sometimes long, but the payoff can be dramatic.
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Jaron Lanier: Time’s Thinker
Time magazine annually publishes a list of its 100 Most Influential People in the World. This year, my Microsoft XCG colleague, Jaron Lanier, was named to this list in the thinker category.
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Checkers, Chess and Go
It is the unexpected, the new game, that disrupts and changes. It is that point when you suddenly and terrifyingly realize that your opponent is playing a deep and subtle game of Go, while you have been contemplating your next checkers jump with the wild eyed naiveté of a nine year old neophyte. Careers are…