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Money for Nothing, Chicks for Free

By Clay Breshears (Intel) (124 posts) on February 5, 2007 at 11:25 pm

I was reading about contests between mathematicians in the 16th Century. Specifically, I was reading about a public problem-solving contest in 1535 where Antonio Maria Fiore challenged NiccolಠTartaglia to solve 30 problems (each devised the problems to be solved by the other contestant) within 40-50 days. Tartaglia solved all 30 problems in two hours while Fiore was never able to solve any of the problems he had been given. Fiore had posed all cubic equations to be solved by Tartaglia since Fiore knew how to solve these, but was certain that no one else (at that time in history) had found the general formula to solve such problems. Tartaglia had independently discovered this general formula eight days before the contest commenced.

Why don't we have things like that nowadays?

This idea came to me from reading The Equation That Couldn't Be Solved by Mario Livio. You may be asking yourself, why would mathemeticians engage in such contests, sometimes wagering large sums of their own money on the outcome? Livio quotes a "nineteenth-century historian of mathematics" that explains this type of contest being sponsored by the nobility because they "esteemed it an honor to count among their retinue scholars skilled ... [in] difficult and rare mathematical problems."

Parallel and concurrent programming has been and remains a "difficult and rare" skill. Why can't I get someone to pay me for showing off my multithreading skills (besides Intel, that is)? The ACM sponsors an annual programming contest and there are several others scattered across the web. That's fine for personal glory in a limited social circle, but I'm looking for screaming fans, unquestioning disciples, sycophants, and other groupies along with a tidy chunk of change.

Without a feudal system to support them, there's no noble class to sponsor such contests. The closest thing we might have today is venture capitalists. When they're in the mood, they vie for the next big idea from competing proposals. This is nice, but the money is hit or miss depending on the product that gets financed. You can't always have the next Google, Second Life, or YouTube; you're more likely to put out one more failed dot.com. No groupies for that.

It may sound dull to watch two programmers trying to parallelize a CFD application. But, if you put those programmers in brightly colored tights and masks, have them throw insults at each other, and surround themselves with scantily clad eye-candy, then you've got a ratings winner, in my book.

Categories: Parallel Programming

Comments (9)

February 7, 2007 4:09 AM PST Michael Molin

Hello Clay, I heard in the news (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/5274040.stm) about a similar contest for mathematicians - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Millennium_Prize_Problems As for me, I have also been solving one math problem for a year and half (till this Monday exactly) - how to optimally fold the US keyboard layout into 4x8 matrix for letters and control keys with an integrated 3x7 matrix for numbers and symbols. The solution is a hexagonal net with dimensions 46x58 mm and each key is a hexagon with a diameter of the corresponding circle 8 mm that allows to type comfortably on the touch-screen display. And this solution is the base for the Cell Computer Platform - http://geocities.com/gene_technics/ Regards,

February 8, 2007 3:30 PM PST Clay Breshears (Intel) Total Points: 15,225 Status Points: 15,225 Black Belt

There always seems to be a prize for solving some mathematics problem being awarded every year or two. They usually have stumped everyone for decades (and the proofs then take a few years to review and verify). There are still 3 open questions from Hilbert's Problems (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hilbert%27s_problems). I guess Mathematicians are making up for being spurned by Nobel. Congratulations on solving your keyboard problem. I looked at the pictures for the Cell. I like the hexagonal keyboard design. I couldn't see the letter mapping, but looking at my standard QWERTY keys as I type this, I realize I'm going to have to relearn touch typing for this platform.

February 8, 2007 4:59 PM PST Michael Molin

Thanks. The most important thing is that this compact keyboard has became the key to the new operating system for multiple connected user interfaces and standard hardware platform that allows to make effective, for example, Web browsing by navigation using a site map or mobile advertising by displaying context-sensitive (for search results on the main display) text advertisements on the second display. The Internet is a drive for the computer industry so the Cell Computer Platform is the solution for everyone to work with Web 2.0 applications - you will always have everything you need for business and entertainment using the cell computer. Regards,

February 12, 2007 10:08 AM PST Robyn Tippins

I haven't read Livio's book, but it sounds fascinating. Math is not my strong point, but history is, so I'm intrigued. Thanks for the heads up.

January 10, 2008 8:08 AM PST hedaya

When I've been learning at university (MSU that is) we had two courses for parallel programming and we actually had contests similar to which you described. They were semi-official and were drivin by a cool young professor. It was fun to watch them, though I have never had enough skill to participate.

February 8, 2008 8:12 AM PST Clay Breshears (Intel) Total Points: 15,225 Status Points: 15,225 Black Belt

Did they have all the bright lights and smoke and flash bombs and trash talk and compile girls (like boxing ring girls announcing the next round but to distract us during compilation and linking)?

May 5, 2008 7:52 AM PDT Martiny-trust

Once I've been learning at university I had three courses for parallel programming and we actually had contests similar to which you described. They were drivin by a cool young professor(girl). It was fun to watch her, though I have never had enough skill to participate.

May 6, 2008 12:41 PM PDT Clay Breshears (Intel) Total Points: 15,225 Status Points: 15,225 Black Belt

I'm pleased to hear that you had a female professor. The field (Computer Science) needs more women involved. Sorry to hear that you couldn't participate in the programming contests. I think the spark of competition can easily lead to better learnings. We're trying to do this with the Intel Threading Challenge Contest (http://softwarecontests.intel.com/threadingchallenge/) by posting the winning entry's code for everyone to examine. If your skills have improved since your university days, you might want to try your hand at one of the problems in the upcoming months.

December 26, 2008 10:38 PM PST harsha

I am pour man place give me a laptop

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