APPLICATIONS

BALTIMORE--The people, companies, and research centers that have made computing an integral part of communications, medicine, education, and business over the last two decades will converge on Baltimore next week, as SC2002, the world's largest high-performance computing and networking conference, meets at the Baltimore Convention Center Nov. 16 - 22. Among the highlights of the show will be: * The most advanced network in the history of the conference, put together by more than 50 volunteers representing at least 35 companies. Called SCinet, the SC network will be able to transmit 40 billion bits of data per second--enough bandwidth to download a DVD-quality, feature-length movie in less than a second. *Exhibits with stunning imagery from scientists who use high-performance computers to visualize research data related to human biology, environmental sciences, astronomy, and much more. *Exhibits by the world's leading technology companies--including IBM, Hewlett-Packard, Sun Microsystems, SGI, Intel, and Dell--the world's leading research universities, and government agencies, all sharing the same show floor. * Displays by the U.S. Defense Department that show how cutting-edge technology has been integrated into national defense systems. *A keynote address by Rita Colwell, director of the National Science Foundation, highlighting how powerful computers are helping transform deluges of data into knowledge that can better our world. *An Education Program aimed at helping high school and college teachers use computer modeling and other technological tools to improve classroom science education. *A talk by Raymond L. Orbach, director of the Department of Energy's Office of Science, on the role of high-end computing in scientific discovery. *A presentation by Tetsuya Sato of Japan's Earth Simulator Center on the world's fastest computer, the Earth Simulator System. *Two panel discussions on the role of technology in national security. *A demonstration of "smart" technology called IntelliBadge that will allow attendees to track people and events in real time.