The Centre for High Performance Computing (CHPC) is not only for highbrow academic and industrial research, but also holds great potential for small businesses, says CHPC technology research manager Johan Eksteen.
Speaking to ITWeb during the CHPC`s third annual conference, in Cape Town, yesterday, Eksteen said high-performance computing, or as some prefer to call it, super-computing, can help reduce the risk of doing businesses in many cases.
Eksteen cites examples of small business applications such as travel agent bookings, security, film animation and financial planning.
"A travel agent could, for example, use super-computing to work out extremely complex logistical requirements for a group of tourists who have to catch planes, trains and automobiles, each of which runs to its own schedule."
An example for a security application, according to Eksteen, is using complex algorithms to work out what is normal, as viewed through a security camera, and then when something happens that is considered abnormal, an alarm is raised.
"In this instance, a person`s privacy is ensured as a security guard doesn`t have to watch the monitor the whole time. The guard only views the monitor when there is a reason to do so."
Film interest
Eksteen says there has been a lot of interest from the film industry in the CHPC`s capabilities.
"We have had discussions with some companies located in Cape Town and Johannesburg about them using our facilities."
Three flagship projects have been in progress using the CHPC`s facilities, including one on accelerated charged particles by the Northwest University, one on weather patterns with University of Cape Town, and another on material sciences by the University of Limpopo.
Eksteen says the CHPC is also beginning to offer facilities for individual and collaborative projects that allow for specific time-based allocation of computing power and multi-disciplinary studies.
He says large companies have also expressed interest in the CHPC`s facilities.
"Company CTOs have indicated there is a use, with Sasol being one already taking advantage of our facilities and some of the banks are too."
Related story:
Academia gets high-performance computing
Share