PARALLEL COMPUTING Meaning and
Definition
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Parallel computing is a computational approach that involves the simultaneous execution of multiple instructions or processes to solve a problem. It is characterized by dividing a problem into smaller sub-tasks or data segments which can be processed independently or concurrently. By doing so, parallel computing aims to achieve significant speedup and improve overall performance compared to sequential computing.
In parallel computing, multiple processors or computing units work together to solve a problem, which can be achieved through various techniques such as task parallelism or data parallelism. Task parallelism involves dividing the problem into distinct tasks or sub-problems, assigning each task to a separate processor or computing unit, and executing them simultaneously. Data parallelism, on the other hand, focuses on dividing the data associated with the problem and processing the portions concurrently.
Parallel computing is primarily driven by the need to handle large-scale, complex problems that cannot be efficiently solved using a single processor or sequential methods. It is commonly employed in areas such as scientific simulations, data analysis, machine learning, and image processing, where massive amounts of data and computation are involved.
The benefits of parallel computing include reduced execution time, increased computational power, and scalability. However, it also introduces challenges such as communication overhead, load balancing, and synchronization between different processors or computing units. Efficient parallel computing often requires careful algorithm design, task decomposition, and optimization strategies to ensure that the workload is effectively distributed and processed in parallel.
Etymology of PARALLEL COMPUTING
The word "parallel" in "parallel computing" has its roots in the Latin word "parallelos", which means "parallel" or "equally distant". The term "parallel" refers to multiple tasks or processes being executed simultaneously or in parallel rather than sequentially or one after another. "Computing" comes from the verb "compute", which means to calculate or determine. So, the etymology of "parallel computing" essentially refers to the simultaneous execution of multiple calculations or tasks.
