10/26/2009
Written by
Kenichi Miura (MS 1971, PhD 1973, Computer Science) a professor at the National Institute of Informatics, is the 2009 winner of the IEEE Computer Society's prestigious Seymour Cray Computer Engineering Award.
Miura, a professor in NII's Information Systems Architecture Science Research Division, is also director of the Center for Grid Research and Development and a Fellow of Fujitsu Laboratories Ltd. He was cited for leading the groundbreaking development of the Fujitsu vector processors, hardware, and software. Miura was recognized for his unique contributions to the field of computer engineering by bringing a strong background in numerical algorithms and applications to the task of designing systems that deliver high performance on real scientific applications.
The 1983 introduction of the Fujitsu VP-100/200 Vector Processing Systems was a major milestone in the history of supercomputer design. Miura made seminal contributions to the Fujitsu supercomputer design, showing how effective vectorizing compilers could exploit architectural features. One unique feature of VP Series Systems was the capability to trade vector length for number of vector registers. He was the first to vectorize Monte Carlo radiation transport using the techniques, something that has profoundly affected important applications such as computational crash analysis for automobile safety design. The ease of program development and the delivered performance caused a significant reexamination of supercomputer research, performance and approaches, influencing the worldwide market for high-performance computing technologies. The resulting designs and products were, at the time, the fastest machines in the world, largely based on Miura's work.
"The IEEE Computer Society is honored to recognize Dr. Miura's ingenuity in developing supercomputer software and hardware that advanced the state-of-the art in technical computing," noted President Susan K. (Kathy) Land.
Cray Award Selection Chair Daniel Reed wrote that "Dr. Miura was one of the key leaders of the Japanese supercomputing designs, which were the only peers of the pioneering designs created by Seymour Cray."
Miura holds a BS in physics from the University of Tokyo, an MSEE and a PhD in computer science from Illinois. He has authored many technical publications and was the 2008 recipient of the SC Cornerstone Award.
Established in 1998 by the IEEE Computer Society Board of Governors, the Seymour Cray Award is given each year to individuals whose innovative contributions to high-performance computing systems best exemplify the creative spirit demonstrated by the late Seymour Cray. The award includes a crystal model, certificate, and US $10,000 honorarium. Next month, Miura will accept the award during the SC09 Conference in Portland, Oregon.
Industry notable and Convey Computer co-founder Steven Wallach was the winner of the 2008 Seymour Cray award. Previous recipients of the Seymour Cray Award include John Cocke, Glen Culler, John L. Hennessy, Monty Denneau, Burton J. Smith, William J. Dally, Steven L. Scott, Tadashi Watanabe, and Ken Batcher.