PAVE: parallel algorithms visually explored, a prototype tool for the investigation of data structures in parallel numerical iterative algorithms

It is commonly acknowledged that since the advent of supercomputing, the ability of computer scientists to efficiently interpret the large masses of data produced has been significantly reduced. By transforming the masses of numbers produced into intuitive and instructive pictures visualization offers the scientist a way of seeing the unseen. In this paper a prototype algorithm investigation tool is introduced and two specific representations of the tool are discussed in detail. Subsequently, an iterative algorithm is investigated using the tool and data extracted from the algorithm is analysed using visual representations. The hypothesis proposed as a direct consequence of the visualization of the data is implemented on an array processor and experimental results are presented for a variety of test cases