Re: 1teraflops cell processor possible?

> 1) Let people keep dying by the millions from diseases like cancer,
> AIDS and malaria that we might be able to find improved treatments for
> if we know more about the molecular machinery involved.

> 2) Spend a few billion out of our civilization's vast economic surplus
> cranking more speed out of the algorithms we do have.

If you want to use "our civilization's vast economic surplus" to stop
people from dying from things like cancer, AIDS, malaria, I think
there's no need for faster computers or better molecular biology.
At least for AIDS and malaria, it has to do with hygiene and education,
which we know very well how to provide.  I.e. the problem is political.
Same thing with non-diseases like malnutrition, of course.

Technological progress only allows us to cure, not to prevent, but
prevention is generally the cheapest and most effective solution to
problems like diseases.


        Stefan