X-Message-Number: 26923
From: "John de Rivaz" <>
Subject: serial vs parallel
Date: Sat, 3 Sep 2005 12:54:41 +0100

I think the problem may be that a parallel system would be better if it has
to interact with another system, but if serial and parallel systems were
just set to solve a problem that did not involve controlling any
peripherals, then there would be no difference between a serial computer
whose processor had speed equal to the sum of the speeds of each parallel
processor in the competing system.

If a system has to interact with the outside world, and had to wait for
internal serial computations to finish before reacting to an external event,
then it would clearly be slower or even useless.

Imagine a "computer" using human beings as processors, such as a telephone
call centre. If there was only one operator, it could do the job of ten but
take 10 times longer. But several of the customers would have ceased
waiting, and have taken their custom elsewhere.

-- 
Sincerely, John de Rivaz:  http://John.deRivaz.com for websites including
Cryonics Europe, Longevity Report, The Venturists, Porthtowan, Alec Harley
Reeves - inventor, Arthur Bowker - potter, de Rivaz genealogy,  Nomad .. and
more

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