Project

The Future of Collaborative Distributed Processing

In the constant cycling between centralized and distributed processing in which the centralized VAX gave way to the distributed PC now giving way to the virtually centralized YouTube, the notion of tiny networked processors is still a new idea. Imagine an orchestra of virtual instruments that are sufficiently sensitive to each other as to induce the excitement we get from seeing a live orchestra trying to play together. Now suppose the audience is also free to jump up on stage and get involved. The susceptible processors might be $100 laptops or acoustically enhanced mobiles, or they may be greeting cards that have brought you all to a party in which all the voices of "Happy Birthday" are heard only if everyone comes.