[1970]Some Comments from a Numerical Analyst

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1、SomeCommentsfromaNumericalAnalystJ.H.WILKINSONNationalPhysicalLaboratoryTeddington,Middlesex,EnglandAdescriptionisgivenoflifewithA.M.TuringattheNationalPhysicalLaboratoryintheearlydaysofthedevelopmentofelectroniccomputers(1946-1948).Thepresentmoodofpessimismamongnumeric

2、alanalystsresultingfromdifficultrelationshipswithcomputerscientistsandmathematiciansisdiscussed.Itissuggestedthatinlightofpastandpresentperformancethispessimismisunjustifiedandisthemainenemyofprogressinnumericalmathematics.Someachievementsinthefieldsofmatrixcomputations

3、anderroranalysisarediscussedandlikelychangesinthedirectionofresearchinnumericalanalysisaresketched.IntroductionWhenatlastIrecoveredfromthefeelingofshockedelationatbeinginvitedtogivethe1970TuringAwardLecture,IbecameawarethatImustindeedprepareanappropriatelecture.Thereapp

4、earstobeatraditionthataTuringLecturershoulddecideforhimselfwhatisexpectedfromhim,andprobablyforthisreasonpreviouslectureshavedifferedconsiderablyinstyleandcontent.However,itwasmadequiteclearthatIwastogiveanafter-luncheonspeechandthatIwouldnothavethebenefitofanoverheadpr

5、ojectororablackboard.Authordeceased,October1986.Addressatthattime:DepartmentofComputerScience,StanfordUniversity,Stanford,CA94305.243AlthoughIhavebeenassociatedwithhighspeedcomputerssincethepioneeringdays,mymainclaim,suchasitis,tothehonorofgivingthe1970lecturerestsonmyw

6、orkasanumericalanalyst,particularlyinthefieldoferroranalysis.Astudyoftheprogramforthismeetingrevealedthatnumericalanalysiswasconspicuousbyitsabsence,andaccordinglyIfeltthatitwouldbeinappropriatetopreparearatherheavydiscourseonroundingerrors;indeedIdoubtwhetheritwouldbea

7、suitabletopicforanafter-luncheonspeechinanyset-ting.Idecidedthereforetomakesomeratherpersonalcommentsbasedonmyexperienceasanumericalanalystoverthelasttwenty-fiveyears.ThereisoneimportantrespectinwhichitisreasonablyprobablethatIshalloccupyauniquepositionamongTuringLectur

8、ers.MauriceWilkes,givingthe1967'IhringLectureremarkedthatitwasunlikelythatmanyofthosewhofollowedhimwouldbepeop