Supercomputing Origins

The journey of supercomputers began in the mid-eighties when the National Science Foundation sought to establish national centers. Ohio's faculty, undeterred by a lack of federal funding, successfully lobbied the state for support, leading to the creation of a state-funded supercomputer center in 1987. This center not only serves academic purposes but also supports private industry, showcasing the evolving landscape of computing power from the first $20 million supercomputer to today's powerful devices.