|
The Indo-US Shared Vision Workshop on Soft,
Quantum & Nano Computing (SQUAN-2007), sponsored by the Indo-US
Science and Technology Forum (IUSSTF), was hosted at the Dayalbagh
Educational Institute (Deemed University), Dayalbagh, Agra, from 22-25
February 2007, in collaboration with Bell Labs and University of
Louisville, USA, and the Indian Institutes of Technology, and Delhi
and Kanpur, India. The Principal Investigator of the Workshop was
Professor Satish Kumar, Dayalbagh Educational Institute, and Co-PI was
Dr. Lov Grover, Bell Labs.
USA. Dr.
Vishal Sahni was Convener for SQUAN-2007.
Welcome and Inauguration
Welcoming the delegates of the Workshop to
Dayalbagh - the Garden of the Merciful - Professor Satish Kumar
outlined the objectives of SQUAN 2007:
(i) Presentation of the present day status of the various
computing techniques;
(ii) Evaluation of areas where new developments are expected to
take place;
(iii) Identification of vistas for integration and convergence of
these broad computing paradigms; and
(iv) Spelling out a Strategic Plan to absorb these new emerging
computing paradigms to enable
India
become a major contributor in the research.
Inaugurating the workshop, Dr. Sunil Sherlekar,
Vice-President, Tata Consultancy Services, spoke about core
technologies and outlined a general framework for the development of
new paradigms. The inauguration also featured a talk on the Indo-US
Science and Technology Forum by Dr. Arabinda Mitra, Executive Director
of the Forum, who enunciated the extensive work being done by IUSSTF
in promoting joint collaborations between
India
and the US.
|
 |
|
 |
|
Inauguration of
SQUAN-2007
On the Dias (L->R):
Prof. Satish Kumar, Dr. Arabinda Mitra, Dr. Sunil Sherlekar, Prof.
V. G. Das, Dr. Lov Grover |
|
Dr.
Lov Grover, Bell Labs, presenting his Vision talk |
Vision Talks and Invited Presentations
The four day workshop involved twenty-three
invited presentations followed by a Panel Discussion on the final day.
Five Vision Talks provided a fairly comprehensive review of the
existing status of problems in soft, quantum and nano computing; and
the eighteen invited expert talks covered highly specialized areas
including interfaces for integration of the three technologies.
Dr. Lov Grover, Distinguished Member of
Technical Staff, Bell Labs, and originator of the famous "Grover's
algorithm" gave the first vision talk entitled "Quantum algorithms" (Abstract).
The other Vision talks were:
-
"Shedding a little
Light on the Vision of Quantum Computing," by Prof. Debabrata
Goswami, IIT Kanpur. (Abstract)
-
"Fuzzy rule based
systems: applications, design issues, solutions, and open problems -
where do we stand?," by Prof. Nikhil Pal, ISI Kolkata.
(Abstract)
-
"Nanomachines:
From Atomic Lattice Gears to Cystic Fibrosis," by Prof. Richard
Superfine,
University
of North Carolina Chapel Hill.
(Abstract)
-
"Evolutionary
Computing for Practical Optimization," by Prof. Kalyanmoy Deb, IIT
Kanpur. (Abstract)
|
 |
|
 |
|
Prof. Richard Superfine
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill |
|
Prof. Nikhil Pal
Indian Statistical
Institute, Kolkata |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
Prof. Debabrata Goswami
Indian Institute of
Technology, Kanpur |
|
Prof. Kalyanmoy Deb
Indian Institute of
Technology, Kanpur |
Other invited presentations by experts in the
three areas were as follows:
|
Resource Person |
Title of the talk |
Links to Abstracts |
|
Prof.
Anil Kumar, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore |
Implementation of Quantum Games by NMR |
Abstract |
|
Prof.
Satish Kumar,
Dr.
Vishal Sahni,
Dayalbagh Educational Institute |
An Integrated Approach to Computational
Intelligence; Envisioning a Unifying Paradigm for Soft, Quantum
and Nano Computing Systems |
Abstract |
|
Prof.
Ravi
Pandey,
Michigan Tech. University |
Molecular spintronic devices |
Abstract |
|
Prof.
Prabhat Hajela, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, USA |
Soft Computing Adaptations in System Analysis
and Design |
Abstract |
|
Prof.
K.R.
Parthasarthy,
Indian Statistical Institute,
Delhi |
An Invitation to Quantum Coding Theorems |
Abstract |
|
Prof. G. Ramanath,
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, USA |
Transmuting nanostructures for nanocomputing
technologies: Directed synthesis, assembly and accessing novel
properties of functional nanostructures |
Abstract |
|
Prof. Apoorva Patel, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore |
Towards Understanding the Origin of Genetic
Languages |
Abstract |
|
Prof.
V. Ravi Shankar,
Indian Institute of Technology,
Kanpur |
Probability distributions for characterising
Entanglement of mixed states |
Abstract |
|
Prof.
R.
Srikanth, Raman
Research
Institute,
Bangalore |
Noisy Phase Gates in Geometric Computation |
Abstract |
|
Prof.
S. P. Pal,
Indian Institute of Technology,
Kharagpur |
On the communication complexity of certain
hypergraph vertex-colouring games |
Abstract |
|
Prof.
Venu G. Achanta,
Tata Institute of Fundamental Research,
Mumbai |
Designing Photonic Crystal Microcavity for
Quantum Gate Application |
Abstract |
|
Prof.
Ravi Kothari, IBM India |
How Difficult is this Classification Task? |
Abstract |
|
Webcast: Prof. U. Vazirani, UC Berkeley |
The Nature of Quantum Computation |
|
|
Prof. Yoke Khin Yap, Michigan Tech. Univ. |
Nanomaterials and Nanocomputers: Promises and
Challenges |
Abstract |
|
Prof.
Paul Bergstrom, Michigan Tech. Univ. |
Multi-Scale Technologies for the Integration
of
Room Temperature Quantum Electronics |
Abstract |
|
Prof.
Arvind,
Indian Institute of Technology,
Chennai |
The hidden cost of computing with mixed
states |
Abstract |
|
Prof. L. Behera,
Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur |
Neural Computation - Naturalization of
Intelligence |
Abstract |
SQUAN 2007 also featured a web cast by
Professor Umesh Vazirani, University of California, Berkeley, USA, who
spoke on "The Nature of Quantum Computation."
|
 |
 |
 |
|
Prof.
Anil Kumar
IISc Bangalore |
Prof.
Paul
Bergstrom
Michigan Tech. University |
Prof.
Yoke Khin Yap
Michigan Tech. University |
|
 |
 |
 |
|
Prof. Apoorva Patel
IISc Bangalore |
Prof.
Arvind
IIT Chennai |
Prof. Satish Kumar
Dayalbagh Educational
Institute |
|
 |
 |
 |
|
Dr. Vishal Sahni
Dayalbagh Educational
Institute |
Prof. G Ramanath
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute |
Prof.
V. Ravi Shankar
IIT Kanpur |
|
 |
 |
 |
|
Prof.
Ravi Pandey
Michigan Tech. University |
Prof.
Prabhat Hajela
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute |
Prof.
K Parthasarthy
Indian Statistical Institute,
Delhi |
|
 |
 |
 |
|
Prof.
Venu G. Achanta
TIFR
Mumbai |
Prof. L. Behera
IIT Kanpur |
Prof.
Ravi Kothari
IBM India |
|
 |
 |
 |
|
Prof.
R Srikanth
RRI
Bangalore |
Prof. U. Vazirani
UC Berkeley |
Prof.
S. P. Pal
IIT
Kharagpur |
Besides the presentations, the occasion
provided a convenient platform to over 65 delegates and experts to
understand technologies, and to interact and forge collaborations.
Panel Discussion
|
The Panel Discussion, which marked the Grand
Finale of the workshop, was moderated jointly by Prof. Ashok
Agrawala,
University of Maryland, College Park, and Prof. Prem. K. Kalra,
Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur. Prof. Agrawala opened the
discussion by first summarizing the workshop objectives and
providing a clear cut synopsis of the status of current computing
technologies, before listing out five questions
for the panelists to address:
1.
When do you expect the ideas in this field are likely to become
practical or when their impact is likely to be felt?
2.
What do you see as major roadblocks for this goal to be achieved?
3.
In order to achieve this goal what should be some short term goals?
4.
What would be the impact of these developments on legacy systems?
5.
What other, related fields of computing are likely to be impacted
by these developments and what can be done to make the transitions
smooth?
|
|
 |
|
|
Panel Discussion: Sitting (L->R) Prof. Huzur Saran, Prof. Pankaj
Jalote, Prof. Prem K. Kalra (IIT Delhi), Prof. Prem K. Kalra (IIT
Kanpur), Prof. Ashok Agrawala, Prof. Gursaran Adhar, Prof. Richard
Superfine, Prof. Satish Kumar |
Intensive discussions followed amongst the
experts who were: Prof. Huzur Saran (IIT, Delhi), Prof. Pankaj Jalote
(IIT, Delhi), Prof. Richard Superfine (UNC, Chapel Hill), Prof. Satish
Kumar (D.E.I.), Prof. P.K. Kalra (IIT, Delhi), and Prof. Gur Saran
Adhar (UNC Wilmington). The general thinking trend was that in the
short run soft and nano computing techniques would see their
integration into real world devices geared towards improving the basic
quality of life, be it medical science, or hard core computing. In the
longer run, quantum computing would eventually take centre stage, and
its integration into a conventional computing framework would be the
major focus of research.
Statement of Professor P. S. Satsangi, Chairman Advisory Committee on
Education
|
Towards the end of the Panel Discussion,
Prof. P. S. Satsangi, Chief Patron of the Workshop and Chairman,
Advisory Committee on Education, Dayalbagh, who was in the
audience, presented his own 'outside' view on the possible
direction that Soft Computing might take. He conjectured that as
systems get softer, subtler, finer, in a way purer, they acquire
greater power and versatility, greater degree of freedom, variety
and therefore complexity, as was noticeable from real physical
systems to conceptual physical systems to those beyond the domain
of physical systems such as metaphysical systems. Therefore, the
natural way for computing to move forward into the future was to
make soft computing much softer. Accordingly, he suggested that
since all soft computing techniques have their own limitations by
way of achieving machine or computational intelligence rather than
the human intelligence, we might possibly consider constructing
something like an "intuition" or wisdom-based expert system. "As
you are probably aware most of the |
|
 |
|
|
Professor P. S. Satsangi
Chief Patron of the Workshop and Chairman, Advisory Committee on
Education, Dayalbagh |
|
scientists, engineers and everybody
occasionally have brilliant flashes of 'intuition' in solving
their own problems in their field without knowing how this
'intuition' comes about, but then I submit that the esoteric
systems of consciousness do provide clues how one can raise the
level of consciousness so as to acquire intuition, rather in a way
of learning, by practicing scientific technique of yoga."
Continuing in the same vein, he mentioned that... "I submit that
the spiritual force field is a quantum force field and similarly
the mind force field is a quantum force field and their
fundamental particles are individual spirit forces that are
resident in human body and individual mind forces that are also
resident in human body. These fundamental particles are
'zero'-dimensional ones physically and are far subtler entities to
be accessed by hardware instrumentation, but they can surely be
accessed, and this is a matter of experience, through meditational
practices. They are as real as the material world. Therefore
'intuition' can be cultivated, 'intuition' can be acquired, and it
can then be availed of as I mentioned earlier." |
Professor Satsangi's final statement provided
one possible scenario for the Vision of SQUAN 2007: "I therefore,
would like to make a foray in the future, and consider a scenario
in the very very long term future, where using the terminology of
Professor Sherlekar in the Inaugural Session, we not only have the
core field of science but also recognize the complementary science
of consciousness and even go beyond it to the day when this
complementary science of consciousness becomes part and parcel of
the core science. It is then that we can reap the full benefits of
both, i.e. what the physical/natural science and the science of
consciousness have to offer. Physicists, biologists, and
cosmologists have made astounding progress and discoveries in
their respective fields. But this can be multiplied several fold
if they would recognize this science of consciousness and use it
so that it develops to a degree where it becomes part and parcel
of the core science. It is then only that we will not only
successfully mimic the human brain but also mimic the human mind
and human spirit which transcend it, and thereby enable us to
solve problems for curing all the various ills and evils that
affect the society."
The full text of Professor P. S. Satsangi's statement has been
published in The Dayalbagh Herald (e-Herald Daily) Year 88 Tuesday
March 27, 2007 Week 13 Days 1-7.
|
Valedictory Function
|
|
|
|
The
Chief Guest at the Valedictory function was Prof. Bijendra N. Jain
from IIT Delhi. He remarked on how the two institutions, namely,
IIT, Delhi, and the Dayalbagh Educational Institute, could and
should further their relationship in teaching and research. Prof.
Satish Kumar wound up SQUAN 2007 with his Vote of Thanks.
The
workshop and environs of Dayalbagh impressed both resource persons
and delegates alike. Many wished that they could come back to
understand and imbibe the work culture, dedication, and the simple
and disciplined life at the University and Dayalbagh in general.
The
event received wide publicity in the media and was highly
acclaimed in the newspapers.
|
|
 |
|
Valedictory Function: Sitting (L->R) Director, DEI, Prof. V.G.
Das, Prof. Ashok Agrawala, Prof. B.N. Jain, Prof. Satish Kumar
|
|
SQUAN 2007
