Emerging applications for multi/many-core processors

There has always been a strong relationship between computer applications and computer architectures. Advances in computer architecture enable new usage models; new usage models challenge new architectures. For many decades, the interplays between applications and architectures have resulted in significant progress in the computer technologies. Recently, the computer industry adopts the multi/many-core architecture for better performance, energy efficiency and reliability. This industry-wide movement towards multi/many-core architectures opens up many opportunities for developing new classes of applications. This paper uses a few emerging applications as examples to illustrate the interplay between applications and architecture. It further discusses the key characteristics of emerging applications and how multi/many-core architecture addresses the needs of the new applications. The paper closes with recommendations for new application developers to allow better utilization of new multi/many-core processors.