http://www.nodalpoint.org/2006/03/23/the_future_of_computing_science_in_2020 Comments for "The future of computing; science in 2020" en http://www.nodalpoint.org/2006/03/23/the_future_of_computing_science_in_2020#comment-2966 <p>The associated <a href="http://research.microsoft.com/ero/csp/cfp2006.aspx">call for proposals from Microsoft</a> makes an interesting read. Microsoft are inviting proposals which are aimed at creating prototypes of new kinds of conceptual and technological tools - tools that are motivated by a specific need in scientific research and with the potential to significantly advance science. </p> <p>Microsoft Research have been very active in whats called <a href="http://www.rcuk.ac.uk/escience/">e-science</a> in the UK, for example <a href="http://research.microsoft.com/~Gray/">Jim Gray</a> wrote the aforementioned <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/440413a" rel="review">2020 Computing: Science in an exponential world</a>. </p> <p>There is also <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bill_Gates">some bloke called Bill Gates</a> who works at Microsoft and likes to point out that <a href="http://www.microsoft.com/billgates/speeches/2005/11-15SuperComputing05.asp">computation is transforming the sciences</a>.</p> <br class="clear" /> Fri, 24 Mar 2006 07:45:46 -0500 Duncan comment 2966 at http://www.nodalpoint.org http://www.nodalpoint.org/2006/03/23/the_future_of_computing_science_in_2020#comment-2964 <p>I'd also point readers to <a href="http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v440/n7083/full/440383a.html">the editorial</a> (not free), which can be summarised as (1) computer science should be a basic research skill for all scientists and (2) we should be active community participants rather than passive users. A message that all Nodalpoint contributors have known for at least 5 years, but I guess we just have to keep pushing the agenda.<br /> Microsoft as an agent for the future of research just terrifies me beyond description.</p> <br class="clear" /> Thu, 23 Mar 2006 03:52:26 -0500 Neil comment 2964 at http://www.nodalpoint.org http://www.nodalpoint.org/2006/03/23/the_future_of_computing_science_in_2020 <p><a href="http://declanbutler.info/blog/?p=30">Declan Butler</a> gave me a heads-up on this weeks Nature Web focus: <a href="http://www.nature.com/nature/focus/futurecomputing/index.html">the future of computing</a>. All the articles are freely available on-line, curiously this is due to sponsorship from Microsoft. It appears that Microsoft maybe shifting some of their focus to scientific computing, the Nature web special came out of the Microsoft <a href="http://research.microsoft.com/towards2020science/background_overview.htm">2020 Science initiative</a>. I previously came across this Microsoft research paper: <a href="http://research.microsoft.com/research/pubs/view.aspx?tr_id=860">Scientific Data Management in the Coming Decade</a> which address many of the issues we confront with biological data management. Microsoft research has come up <a href="http://www.nodalpoint.org/node/1589">before</a> on nodalpoint.</p> <p>A couple of highlights from the special: <a href="http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v440/n7083/full/440416a.html">Can computers help explain biology?</a> and <a href="http://mindstalk.net/vinge/">Vernor Vinge</a>'s <a href="http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v440/n7083/full/440411a.html">The creativity machine</a>.</p> <br class="clear" /><p><a href="http://www.nodalpoint.org/2006/03/23/the_future_of_computing_science_in_2020">read more</a></p> http://www.nodalpoint.org/2006/03/23/the_future_of_computing_science_in_2020#comments Bioinformatics Thu, 23 Mar 2006 00:39:15 -0500 Greg 1807 at http://www.nodalpoint.org