kkb@iesd.auc.dk (Kallol Kumar Bagchi) (08/28/90)
Iam following this conversation on algorithms for sometime--i just wonder why there is no discussion on parallel algorithm design. If we consider sorting only, there is a book on parallel sorting algorithms by S.G.Akl, Academic Press. We asked our students to design some of these algorithms, test and run it on a parallel hardware and compare the runtimes etc. Our students were divided into several groups and most of them finished designing the parallel versions.Some of them were able to run their programs and most of them agreed that they learned a no. of things in the process. Given that parallel systems are getting increasingly available, is it not proper to include discussions on parallel algorithm design in a traditional algorithm course. I suspect we need to have a separate course on it sooner or later--some of the institutes already offer that. Sincerely kallol Bagchi.