Japanese Computer Is World’s Fastest, as U.S. Falls Back

Japan recently unveiled a supercomputer so powerful that it would take the 20 fastest American supercomputers combined to rival it. The innovation has shocked U.S. computer scientists who have dominated the supercomputer-building scene for the last decade. Some believe the reason that the Japanese model was able to outstrip American models was the focus behind its production. The Japanese custom built the computer to process, simulate, and predict various effects of specific climate conditions on the island nation. In contrast, previous US models have been made for more general use, the overall goal to serve broad defense interests. In the future, the US will also probably narrow the focus of each supercomputer to improve computing speed. -YaleGlobal