How is a flashmob supercomputer different from an ordinary supercomputer?
A traditional supercomputer is a computer with tightly connected processors, memory, and disks. They’re built in buildings specifically constructed to house supercomputers. They have large complex cooling systems. And, most important, they are very expensive. Technically speaking, a flashmob computer is a distributed memory machine. It’s set up in a gym or warehouse, and it is temporary. It has no permanent infrastructure and mostly costs the time and energy of the participants.
