Another exciting day at the Summer Institute. To start the day, we had an introduction to the Ohio Supercomputer Center and the Supercomputers they utilize. Supercomputers are defined as computers that are exponentially faster than computers used at home. Initially, I thought that these supercomputers are one large computer with many processors, but they are actually many smaller nodes with fast interconnects. These nodes can communicate with the other nodes via a fast, low latency connection like Ethernet. We also discussed OARNet, originally created to connect researchers to the Supercomputer via phone lines. Currently, the system is used to connect many of the universities, schools, and public broadcasting networks, for example, our local PBS affiliates, with high speed internet. This system offers speeds about 5000 times faster than your home internet and most of the traffic that passes through is, not surprisingly, Netflix. I would be curious to know if the Hilliard City School District uses OARNet for their Internet.
We also toured the Ohio Supercomputer Center, where we were also shown some of the projects they have been working on. One of these projects was a simulator, using an Oculus Rift, of a home where one had to identify some of the hazards that medical staff might encounter when treating a patent at their home. Below is a video of myself while wearing this simulator. Sadly, I do not have a video of the environment I was in.
In the last half of the day, we discussed the five projects offered. I hope to be a part of the Networking Design and Engineering project where we will create our own miniature version of OARNet. Afterwards, we were given an introduction to UNIX, which, while I knew a lot about, I did learn some new topics.
I am very excited for tomorrow where we will have an introduction to MATLAB, then start on our training for our project.
Here is a link to our planned schedule for the next two weeks.