Chips and processor hardware

Can Arm stay strong under Nvidia?

In this week’s Computer Weekly, we examine the implications of the controversial acquisition of UK chip leader Arm by US rival Nvidia. Black Lives Matter has raised awareness of social inequalities, but is the tech sector becoming more diverse? And we ask if business software can learn from the addictive nature of social apps. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

IBM targets Goldeneye to keep its qubits chilled

IBM has ambitions to build a million-plus quantum computer. To get there, it is building a fridge bigger than anything commercially available Continue Reading

Can Nvidia expand software business through £31bn Arm deal?

Nvidia is to buy rival chip designer Arm for £31bn in a deal it hopes will put it at the forefront of artificial intelligence for edge computing Continue Reading

How low-cost computing gets kids into tech

We speak to a teenager about the joys of programming a Raspberry Pi and the startup he has formed around a Pi-based medical device Continue Reading

HPE sees IT spending increase – expect server prices to rise

Organisations are buying more tech to keep operations running, but DRAM shortages will lead to server price increases Continue Reading

My first computer: Making the leap into an IT career

The IT sector has always struggled to attract enough young talent from different backgrounds. We look at how people gained their first tech experience Continue Reading

Intel’s DAOS tops the IO500 speed challenge for HPC storage

Following on from Lustre, Intel’s DAOS is an object storage-based system with that is designed specifically for use with Optane for metadata and SSD for bulk storage in HPC environments Continue Reading

First computers that led to a career in IT

The UK’s GCSE results show a strong pass rate in STEM subjects, which is good news for the IT industry. We find out how Computer Weekly readers got into IT Continue Reading

Preview of The National Museum of Computing’s virtual tour

We preview a new exhibition running at The National Museum of Computing Continue Reading

Atos signs £5m supercomputing deal to support Oxford University-led AI research push

University-led push to accelerate the pace of machine learning and artificial intelligence research in UK enters new phase with the deployment of a second supercomputer Continue Reading

Why we must prepare for a quantum impact

If the experts are to be believed, quantum computers will radically change problem solving. IBM recently held  an event to explore the skills gap that exists between the education system and ... Continue Reading

Inside Intel’s transition into an enterprise tech company

Computing giant Intel is pushing deeper into the enterprise with investments in data-centric and emerging technologies along with partnerships with local firms to develop new solutions Continue Reading

NUS develops e-skin system in neuromorphic computing breakthrough

The National University of Singapore has developed an electronic skin system that could give robots and prosthetic devices a sense of touch Continue Reading

Is digital art coming of age during lockdown?

In this week’s Computer Weekly, as the pandemic forces many sectors into a business rethink, digital art is hoping to capitalise on changing times. Chinese supplier Lenovo is dominating the supercomputer market – we examine how it got there. And as datacentre engineers become key workers, we look at the health and safety issues. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

Lenovo, top-of-the-world Chinese supercomputer supplier, sweeps all markets

Supercomputers are not just about computing power, they are a symbol of political ambition. Chinese supercomputer supplier Lenovo is now the dominant supplier across the world Continue Reading

Microsoft wants developers to be Quantum-inspired

Some problems cannot be solved on binary computers. With a new set of tools, Microsoft hopes to entice developers to swap bits for QuBits Continue Reading

UK quantum technology projects get a £70m boost

Government is funding 38 projects, one-third of which are focused on quantum computing Continue Reading

How hard is a robot?

Earlier this month Ocado Technology and a consortium of academic institutes announced Armar-6, the culmination of the five years EU-funded SecondHands project. The premise behind the project was to ... Continue Reading

IBM celebrates quantum cloud fourth anniversary with coding challenge

IBM has set four tasks for programmers to try out on its cloud-based quantum computer, in a bid to widen quantum coding skills Continue Reading

Intel clean rooms work through lockdown

Intel has reported an increase in PC and datacentre processor sales, reflecting the shift to online and home schooling and working Continue Reading

Folding@home invites people to share processors to combat coronavirus

In the 1990s, people could donate their spare computing in a distributed project to find aliens. Now distributed simulations are tackling the Covid-19 pandemic Continue Reading

Australian open source project to expand global reach

Data61’s open source seL4 microkernel project will be supported by a new foundation created under the auspices of the Linux Foundation Continue Reading

Singapore researchers get priority access to HPC resources

Singapore’s National Supercomputing Centre is fast-tracking access to its high-performance computing resources for researchers working on Covid-19-related projects Continue Reading

Huawei to boost Kunpeng ecosystem in cloud play

Chinese tech giant will shell out $200m this year to build an ecosystem around its Arm-based processor to bolster its position in the cloud computing market Continue Reading

Coronavirus: iFixit builds resource to support medical technicians

Mobile phone DIY repair site is building on the work of Frank’s Hospital Workshop to help medtechs repair ventilators Continue Reading

Computational storage: What is it and what are its key use cases?

Computational storage brings the CPU to the storage and so boosts system performance by tackling processing tasks, such as near the edge or in AI/machine learning workloads Continue Reading

A beginner’s guide to quantum computer programming

Quantum computing takes a radically different approach to programming. IBM’s education head discusses how to get started Continue Reading

Upcoming conflict minerals regulation does not cover major technology companies

A forthcoming regulation designed to stem the flow of conflict minerals is unlikely to change the behaviour of technology companies because loopholes in the new rules mean they are not covered Continue Reading

The AI accelerator chip can make AI accessible to all

Specialized AI chips released by companies like Amazon, Intel and Google tackle model training efficiently and generally make AI solutions more accessible. Continue Reading

China’s tech sector to shrink by 10% in Q1 amid virus outbreak

Hardware makers will be hit more badly than software houses, but the decline in China’s ICT market will be limited to the first quarter Continue Reading

From Pixar to GovTech: The inside story of Singapore’s AI whizz

After nearly a decade at Pixar, GovTech’s Chong Jiayi is leading a team of experts to solve hard problems in robotics and artificial intelligence Continue Reading

Met Office gets a decade of funding to update supercomputers

As the UK goes through another storm battering, the Met Office has received a £1.2bn investment to power the next decade of weather forecasts Continue Reading

Formulus Black Forsa turns memory into block storage

Forsa allows customers to bring application data into memory, by provisioning DRAM or persistent memory as block access storage with latency several times better than NVMe flash Continue Reading

Secure data erasure is needed to ensure more people recycle their tech

A dedicated team of IT recycling experts offers free data erasure to give people confidence that their old tech can be safely disposed of Continue Reading

Edge computing could fail, if you only pay attention to the tail

In its obsession with software development, all too often at the expense of other disciplines, the IT industry has let the tail wag the proverbial dog for more than ten years. Now, with the rise of ... Continue Reading

CES 2020: IBM grows Q network collaborators

ExxonMobil hopes quantum computing will enable it to model processes at the atomic scale – something that cannot be achieved today Continue Reading

CES 2020: Chipmakers bet on new designs to boost PC market

The roulette wheels are certainly spinning in Las Vegas, with chipmakers vying for attention to show off their latest hardware innovations Continue Reading

Digital fashion for sustainable consumption

In this week’s Computer Weekly, we look at fashion for online personas, report on a programme to get more young women into cyber security, and examine edge computing as the new data frontier and how cloud-native platforms and AI might transform the datacentre. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

Life on the edge: A new world for data

Edge computing is regarded as the next frontier for data, with rapid growth expected in the market. We assess the prospects Continue Reading

Processors re-imagined: Will cloud and AI lead mean all change in the datacentre?

We look at the changes cloud-native platforms and artificial intelligence could bring about in the datacentre. Continue Reading

Top 10 end-user computing stories of 2019

The Windows desktop and laptop are not going away, but desktop IT is changing. Computer Weekly looks at the top trends in end-user computing Continue Reading

How data analytics is improving the world’s greatest tennis players

In this week’s Computer Weekly, we talk to the organisation that runs men’s tennis worldwide to find out how data analytics is transforming the sport. Intel processors delays will affect Windows 10 upgrades – we examine the implications. And we ask if AI is living up to the hype in enterprise IT. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

Stanford University finds that AI is outpacing Moore’s Law

Every three months, the speed of artificial intelligence computation doubles, according to Stanford University’s 2019 AI Index report Continue Reading

Intel delay: Update an old Windows 7 PC, or buy AMD

The shortage of Intel processors is having a knock-on effect on IT’s ability to upgrade whatever legacy Windows 7 PCs still remain in the organisation onto new Windows 10 hardware. At the time of ... Continue Reading

Rapid evolution of quantum computing a concern for CISOs

With the race to achieve so-called quantum supremacy hotting up, security pros are concerned that it will outpace the development of appropriate safeguards, according to a report Continue Reading

China bans foreign computing kit from government contracts

All government offices and public institutions must eliminate foreign hardware and software within three years, according to a leaked directive dubbed 3-5-2 Continue Reading

AWS Outposts debuts in Australia

Amazon Web Services rolls out Outposts in Australia, enabling enterprises to run a consistent version of the AWS platform at locations that require low latency Continue Reading

AWS VP of engineering on the cloud giant's first major quantum computing push

Amazon Web Services (AWS) has used the first day of its annual Re:Invent conference in Las Vegas to set out its plans to democratise quantum computing, while also firming up the enterprise use cases for the technology Continue Reading

Intel delays means Windows 7 support deadline needs extending

In the last few days Hewlett Packard Inc and Dell have posted results, in which their respective chief financial officers have spoken about the issues their businesses face with the supply of Intel ... Continue Reading

Is NVMe flash the right choice for you?

NVMe flash storage boosts performance for I/O-hungry operations, but how does it work, where can organisations best deploy it, and what are the key uses cases where it can make a difference? Continue Reading

Why Singapore’s GovTech is building an IoT technology stack

Government Technology Agency has built an internet of things technology stack to level the playing field for smaller firms and drive innovation in public sector IoT projects Continue Reading

BEIS launches multimillion-pound security investment package

Government is making available more than £50m to support a range of new cyber security initiatives and collaborations, including the latest phase of its Digital Security by Design programme Continue Reading

Barclays demonstrates proof-of-concept quantum clearing algorithm

Barclays and IBM researchers publish paper on a quantum computing algorithm for securities transaction trading Continue Reading

Intel makes Pivot towards 5G with Smart Edge acquisition

Chip giant Intel has signed a definitive agreement to buy the Smart Edge intelligent-edge platform business from infrastructure and service provider Pivot Technology Solutions Continue Reading

Intel previews Optane persistent memory, QLC SSD and even PLC

Intel sets out roadmap for second-generation Optane persistent memory – between SSD and DRAM – as well as QLC SSD, with talk of PLC (penta-level cell) after that Continue Reading

How Graphcore is putting AI on steroids

UK chipmaker Graphcore’s intelligence processing unit may just hold the key to unlocking the full potential of artificial intelligence Continue Reading

Why quantum needs a classic approach for supremacy

Google claims it has developed an algorithm for a quantum computer that would take a traditional “classical” computer 10,000 years to run. We investigate Continue Reading

AWS G4 aims to lower cost of GPU-powered AI inference

Amazon Web Services seeks to cut the cost of running artificial intelligence inference engines with the introduction of a Nvida V100 GPU-based instance Continue Reading

The perfect storm for silicon photonics

By packaging optics with silicon chips, silicon photonics will enable datacentres to keep up with the exponential growth in demand for bandwidth Continue Reading

Assessing China’s machine learning platforms

In a new market research report, technology analyst firm IDC offers insights on key suppliers of machine learning platforms in China Continue Reading

Choosing the right chip foundation for AI-optimized hardware

Every enterprise is trying to implement AI and machine learning. But, before AI, before clean data and before platform comparison, enterprises need to find the best hardware to support AI. Continue Reading

IBM Power chip instruction set now open source

IBM opened up its Power server Instruction Set Architecture allowing the open source community to develop more innovative hardware components for IBM's Power servers. Continue Reading

Startup unveils trillion-transistor AI accelerator chip

The AI chip has 10,000 times more bandwidth to accelerate artificial intelligence training Continue Reading

Cray to support US Department of Energy El Capitan exascale programme

Shasta platform will be used to expand traditional supercomputing to support complex workflows Continue Reading

Industry collaborates to patch SwapGS CPU vulnerability

Newly disclosed SwapGS vulnerability in modern processors has been patched in Windows, Linux and ChromeOS, underlining the importance of keeping systems up to date Continue Reading

Podcast: The Computer Weekly Downtime Upload – Episode 25

In this week’s episode of the Computer Weekly Downtime Upload podcast, Brian McKenna, and Clare McDonald are joined by Cliff Saran to discuss the 50th anniversary of the Moon landing, including the technology involved, and how it compares with today’s technology Continue Reading

How Apollo 11 influenced modern computer software and hardware

On 16 July 1969, Apollo 11 began its historic journey to send man to the Moon. We look at the pioneering computer technology developed by Nasa Continue Reading

Apollo 11: From one small step to interplanetary computing

Neil Armstrong stepped onto the lunar surface on July 20, 1969. Computers in space have come a long way since then Continue Reading

Alan Turing to be face of new £50 note

Computing pioneer and code-breaker Alan Turing is to be featured on the new polymer £50 note Continue Reading

How Apollo 11 influenced modern computer software and hardware

On 16 July 1969, Apollo 11 began its historic journey to send man to the Moon. We look at the pioneering computer technology developed by Nasa Continue Reading

IT pros see a role for high-performance computing in business

New application areas are pushing the limits of current computing architecture, leading to HPC moving out of research facilities Continue Reading

Airbus works with Microsoft to trial HoloLens in aircraft manufacturing

Aircraft company Airbus believes mixed reality systems, powered using headsets such as HoloLens, will drive its digital manufacturing strategy Continue Reading

How computer vision powered by Nvidia helped Winnow tackle food waste

Winnow has developed a biologically inspired machine learning algorithm to identify what foods are being thrown away Continue Reading

Computer scientist Frank Land receives OBE

Frank Land, known for his work on the world's first business computer LEO, has received an OBE Continue Reading

Enterprise HPC: Why HPE is buying Cray

HPE’s decision to acquire supercomputing pioneer Cray for $1.3bn serves to highlight the growing importance of high-performance computing (HPC) deployments in the enterprise market Continue Reading

How Amadeus used FPGAs to break Moore’s Law threshold

The innovation team at Amadeus worked with technology university ETH in Zurich to test how FPGAs can be used in artificial intelligence Continue Reading

Autonomous vehicle tech is too costly and unreliable for production

Level 5, fully autonomous vehicles are a decade away. By then, the tech will be so expensive, that it will only be available on high-end vehicles Continue Reading

Apple and Qualcomm settle up as Intel quits 5G chip business

Apple and Qualcomm have set aside their ongoing litigation and struck a deal to work together on future 5G iPhones, leaving Intel in the lurch Continue Reading

Why are we serving up chips?

Custom hardware is usually the only option available to organisations that need to achieve the ultimate level of performance for AI applications. But Nvidia has taken massive strides in flipping ... Continue Reading

Prepare to deploy custom hardware to speed up AI

Latest forecasts suggest spending on artificial intelligence is ramping up, and organisations that need raw machine learning performance are turning to custom hardware Continue Reading

Singapore invests S$200m to upgrade supercomputing capabilities

The investment will shore up Singapore’s supercomputing prowess to facilitate research collaboration, as well as address national and business challenges Continue Reading

How the immersive VR film Tree was created

New Reality Company worked across games development and video effects to bring about a virtual reality immersive experience Continue Reading

Businesses still figuring out digital transformation have already lost

Accenture is calling it a post-digital era, one where businesses are already looking beyond digitisation to capitalise on new tech-driven opportunities Continue Reading

Compute strategies for AI applications

Devising compute strategies for AI applications can be challenging. Find out about the hardware, network and software frameworks available Continue Reading

Government to pump £70m into ‘designing out’ cyber threats

Industrial Strategy Challenge Fund cash to be used for designing and developing more secure hardware in a bid to eradicate cyber threats Continue Reading

NHS plans for a digital future

In this week’s Computer Weekly, we look at the NHS Long-Term Plan and examine how it intends to transform UK healthcare for a digital age over the next 10 years. We analyse the latest chip developments from Intel and AMD to see what will change in the datacentre in 2019. And we ask the experts if cloud giant Amazon Web Services can continue its impressive growth trajectory. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

Mercedes-Benz collaborates with Nvidia on in-car supercomputer

Partners plan to work on an in-car computer for autonomous driving, and to replace existing in-car systems Continue Reading

Exxon joins IBM’s quantum committee as Q System One goes commercial

The Q System One is said to be the world’s first commercial quantum computer. ExxonMobil and CERN hope to exploit IBM’s latest tech Continue Reading

Huawei debuts Arm-based chip, eyes broader server market

Huawei’s Kunpeng 920 processor is geared towards big data and infrastructure applications, marking its foray into Arm-based servers that are set to change the dynamics of the datacentre market Continue Reading

Intel admits chip security has a long way to go

A year ago, the world came to realise how a side-loading attack could compromise a microprocessor. Intel has been working hard to make fixes easier Continue Reading

Douglas Engelbart, the forgotten hero of modern computing

Half a century ago, Douglas Engelbart demonstrated an experimental computer that laid the foundations for modern computing. His vision to use computing power to solve complex problems in all areas of human activity has become reality, but not in the way that he imagined Continue Reading

How do L1TF vulnerabilities compare to Spectre?

Foreshadow, a set of newly discovered L1TF vulnerabilities, exploits Intel processors via side-channel attacks. Learn about L1TF and its variations from expert Michael Cobb. Continue Reading

Tackling legacy systems by making IT evergreen

In this week’s Computer Weekly, we assess strategies for continuous IT improvement to help evergreen IT replace the difficulties caused by legacy tech. Our new buyer’s guide examines next-generation networking technologies such as SD-WAN. And we hear about digital transformation in the charity sector in an interview with the IT leader at Parkinson’s UK. Read the issue now. Continue Reading

HPE shows off first fruits of $4bn edge computing investment

Tech supplier has beefed up its Edgeline portfolio with new hardware and software offerings to make it easier to manage edge devices, applications and data Continue Reading

China leapfrogs US in supercomputer deployments

China has more than twice the number of supercomputers than the US, and it is finding a ready market for its Lenovo supercomputers among US tech companies in Ireland, the latest top 500 supercomputer list reveals Continue Reading

OpenStack Foundation will tackle infrastructure barriers to enterprise AI adoption

OpenStack supporting community will help enterprises to overcome infrastructure barriers to adopting artificial intelligence technologies in 2019 as demand for GPU and FPGA-based set-ups grows Continue Reading

Thailand’s Democrat Party holds election with blockchain

The Zcoin blockchain was used to store file hashes of voting data and identities of voting members of Thailand’s main opposition party Continue Reading

Post-quantum cryptography a major challenge, says expert

The crypto wars are just beginning and open systems are key to improved security in future, says cryptography expert Continue Reading

APAC SMEs still hanging on to older PCs

A majority of small and medium-sized business in Asia-Pacific are still using PCs older than four years out of cost and application compatibility concerns Continue Reading

Motorola turns 90

The company's 90 year history has seen it broadcast messages from the Moon, power FM military transmitters and launch the first commercial mobile phone Continue Reading