What is Advanced Computing?

Advanced computing is a broad term used to describe either a specific type of high-end computer and the processes undertaken on it, or a set of skills used on personal computers. Both meanings are quite different, and there is no strict definition of the phrase, so that what one person means when they say advanced computing might be very different than what another person says. Generally, if a course is offered in advanced computing it is referring to advanced computer skills, while an agency that promotes advanced computing is likely talking about high-end computing. High-performance computing, or HPC, is one meaning of advanced computing. In this sense, it refers to the use of supercomputers, or computer clusters functioning as a supercomputer, to undertake massive projects. Even though modern computers have a great deal of processing power, all but the most powerful still can take long periods of time to undertake the most complex functions. Generally, this type of advanced computin ... more