The uses of and demand for advanced computer networking funded in part by the HPCC Program 

 continue to expand. Progress and productivity in many fields of modern scientific and technical 

 research rely on the close interaction of people located at distant sites, sharing and accessing computa- 

 tional resources across high performance networks. Their use of networks has provided researchers 

 with unexpected and unique capabilities and collaborations. As a result, the scientific community is 

 demanding even higher performance from networks. This increased demand includes increasing num- 

 bers of users; increasing usage by individual users: the need to transmit more information at faster 

 rates; more sophisticated applications; and the need for increased security, privacy, and the protection 

 of intellectual property. 



The solution of "Grand Challenge" problems is a key part of the missions of many agencies in the 

 HPCC Program. Grand Challenges are fundamental problems in science and engineering with broad 

 economic and scientific impact whose solution can be advanced by applying high performance com- 

 puting techniques and resources. These problems have and will continue to tax any available compu- 

 tational and networking capabilities because of their demands for increased spatial and temporal reso- 

 lution and increased model complexity. The fundamental physical sciences, engineering, and mathe- 

 matical underpinnings are similar for many of these problems. To this end. a number of multiagency 

 collaborations are underway. (Examples of these problems are identified in Some Grand Challenge 

 Problems on page 5 and in HPCC Research Areas on page 14.) 



Although the U.S. remains the world leader in most of the critical areas of computing and computer 

 communications technology, this lead is being threatened by countries that recognize the strategic 

 nature of these technology developments. The HPCC Program leads the Federal investment in the 

 frontiers of computing and computer communications technologies, formulated to satisfy national 

 needs in science and technology, the economy, human resources, and technology transfer. 



The HPCC Program will help provide the technological foundation for the National Information 

 Infrastructure (Nil). The Nil will consist of computers and information appliances (including tele- 

 phones and video displays), all containing computerized information, linked by high speed telecom- 

 munication lines capable of transmitting billions of bits of information in a .second (an entire encyclo- 

 pedia in a few seconds). A Nation of users will be trained to use this technology. 



The computing and networking technology that will make the Nil possible is improving at an 

 unprecedented rate, expanding its effectiveness and even further stimulating our imaginations about 

 how it can be used. Using these technologies, a doctor who .seeks a second opinion could transmit a 

 patient's entire medical record - X-rays and ultrasound scans included - to a colleague thousands of 

 miles away, in less time that it takes to send a fax today. A school child in a small town could come 

 home and through a personal computer reach into an electronic Library of Congress or a great art 

 gallery or museum to view thousands of books, photographs, records, videos, and works of art. all 

 stored electronically. At home, viewers could use equivalent commercial services to choose at any 

 time to view one of thousands of films or segments of television programming. 



The Administration is committed to accelerating the development and deployment of the Nil. which 

 the U.S. will need to compete in the 21st century. This infrastructure of "information superhighways" 

 will revolutionize the way we work, learn, shop, and live, and will provide Americans the information 

 they need, when they need it, and where they need it - whether in the form of text, images, sound, or 

 video. It promises to have an even greater impact than the interstate highways or the telephone sys- 

 tem. The Nil will be as ubiquitous as the telephone system, but will be able to carry information at 

 least 1,000 times faster. It will be able to transmit not only voice and fax, but will also provide hun- 

 dreds of channels of interactive high-definition TV programming, teleconferencing, and access to 

 huge volumes of information. 



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