Researchers have developed a software tool that optimizes a computer's functioning without compromising its safety features. Currently, computer programs are incorporating more and more safety features, but they can also slow the programs down by 1,000 per cent or more.
"These safety features or meta-functions can slow a program down so much that software developers will often leave them out entirely," said James Tuck, Assistant Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering North Carolina State University, who led the project.
The researchers have developed a tool that takes advantage of multi-core (or multi-processor) computer chips by running the safety features on a separate core in the same chip, according to a North Carolina statement.
Currently, chips contain between four and eight cores, allowing the main program to run at close-to-normal operating speed.
"To give you some idea of the problem, we saw the application we were testing being slowed down by approximately 580 per cent," Tuck added.
"Utilizing our software tool, we were able to incorporate safety meta-functions, while only slowing the program down by approximately 25 per cent. That is a huge difference," he further added.
See What’s Next in Tech With the Fast Forward Newsletter
Tweets From @varindiamag
Nothing to see here - yet
When they Tweet, their Tweets will show up here.
