SUPER COMPUTING CONTEST 2008
The IOI2009 team from Suankularb Wittayalai School developed the fastest parallel computing application on a virtual supercomputer to be announced the winners of the National Super Computing Contest (SCC) 2008, held by the Thai National Grid Centre (TNGC) in cooperation with Hewlett-Packard (Thailand) and Kasetsart University.
According to the rules of the contest, each team, comprising three students and one professor, had to develop a program to address a specific problem. The accuracy of their results and the speed of execution of their program were the main criteria in determining the winners.
The problem set for the contest, known as "N-body simulation," requires simulation of the interactions between some 100,000 particles. In practice, this means that contestants had to make up to 10 billion calculations.
A standard desktop PC would not be up to the job, which needed the use of parallel programming techniques and grid technology, according to TNGC director Dr Putchong Uthayopas.
Grid computing is a type of distributed computing where a group of computers can be connected to form a virtual supercomputer.
Dr Putchong noted that the contest called for the use of both parallel programming and grid technology, and this kind of nationwide activity would promote programming skills and support and strengthen the Thai IT industry.
Prof Yuen Poovarawan, Kasetsart University vice-president for information management technology, noted that new programming techniques were very beneficial, and helped overcome limited hardware capabilities.
The objective of the contest was to build awareness and educate a new generation of students about the importance of grid computing and parallel programming technologies.
The contest involved 374 students across the country in pre-competition training on parallel programming and grid technology, and 73 teams from 40 schools - a total of 217 students - applied to compete in the competition.
Dr Putchong noted the success of this year's competition, and said the committee planned to hold the contest again next year. HP Thailand managing director Sanpat Sopon was very pleased to support initiatives that benefit the Thai IT industry, and which help students to gain a better understanding of grid technology, and how to best use it.
The IOI2009 team received the first prize of 50,000 baht, while the runners-up, the Beyond Blue Sky team from Phuket Wittayalai School, received 30,000 baht. Third prize-winners, the Look Chao Por team from Bunyawat Witthayalai School, Lampang, won 15,000 baht.
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