IT is a sector whose only constant is change, and success often hinges on staying one step ahead of the technology.

A New Zealand-based company called Open Parallel is putting its money on multi-core processors, and in particular the ‘parallel programming’ software which is vital for maximising their power potential.

Nicolas Erdody, director of Open Parallel, says multi-core processors arose when vendors found they were unable to put more power into their single-core chips without overheating them.

The problem now, Erdody says, is that software is still being written with single-core chips in mind.

This is also the opportunity.

Open Parallel has been working on parallel programming in conjunction with Intel since 2010, and is hosting a global conference in Wellington next year, called Multicore World 2012, as part of its efforts to establish New Zealand as a centre of excellence in multi-core and parallel computing.

The keynote speaker at the conference will be James Reinders, chief evangelist for Intel and parallel programming spokesperson.

Erdody and Reinders are to deliver a presentation on multicore technology at a media event tomorrow. Both will also speak at the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) Rutherford Innovation Showcase event taking place at Te Papa on Thursday and Friday.

Multicore World 2012 will take place on March 27 and 28 next year. Go here for more info, or here for more on the SKA workshop.