Reed's Ruminations: The Past, Present, and Future
Reflections on science, technology, and computing — leavened by personal experience
Tag: Illinois
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On “Retirement,” Gratitude, and the Future
On August 1, 2024, I will become a Presidential Professor (emeritus) at the University of Utah, though my work and research will continue.
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Stored Program Computing: Ideas and Individuals Do Change the World
Johnny von Neumann’s draft report on EDVAC and the stored program concept transformed and codified modern digital computing
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Research: When There Are No Answers in the Back of the Book
Research is about the unknown. There are no answers in the back of the textbook, for there is no textbook
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Online Higher Education
I think this is time of profound change, of punctuated equilibrium when the confluence of technologies, social expectations and economic pressures will necessitate substantive change in our university structures and how we deliver educational materials. We must move carefully and thoughtfully, embracing opportunity while diligently preserving that which we cherish and value.
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Simple HPC Wins – Usually
You want to be the first person to design a successful, transistorized computer system, not the last person to design vacuum tube computer. As I frequently told my graduate students at Illinois, the great thing about parallel computing is the question never changes – “How can I increase performance?” – but the answers do. Babbage…
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Commencement: The Inside Story
Let’s clear up a few things about the history and functions of those strange hats and robes, the archaic academic regalia one wears at commencement ceremonies. A mortarboard, despite the name, should not be confused with bricklaying or a brick hod. It’s a hat, albeit a funny looking one.