It's All About the Silicon
A few jobs ago, I covered the use of IT in manufacturing, and when I moved over to financial technology, I thought that I would never have to write another story about field programmable logic devices (FPLDs), supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) platforms or real-time operating systems. How wrong I was.
It seems that the IT needs of the two industries are actually converging, but from different directions. Where manufacturing controls are evolving to add more intelligence to their performance-focused missions, the financial services industry is stripping down the functionality of general performance computing environments to get the best performance out of its systems.
I doubt that financial technologists will ever tweak their smart order-routers or low-latency gateways with screwdrivers and voltmeters, as it's done on the factory floor, but compute appliances for purpose-built functions are becoming more and more popular.
Take, for example, an announcement this week from co-location service provider Fitnetix about its iX-ecute programmable logic device (PLD), which is supposed to provide pre-trade risk checks in less than 8 microseconds, according to press reports.
To get single-digit microsecond performance, the process can't be done in software anymore—it has to be burned into silicon.
While the trend in general computing has been moving toward higher levels of abstraction in programming, performance computing is moving directly in the opposite direction, and knowledge of chip design and low-level programming will be the major skill sets in demand.
Only users who have a paid subscription or are part of a corporate subscription are able to print or copy content.
To access these options, along with all other subscription benefits, please contact info@waterstechnology.com or view our subscription options here: http://subscriptions.waterstechnology.com/subscribe
You are currently unable to print this content. Please contact info@waterstechnology.com to find out more.
You are currently unable to copy this content. Please contact info@waterstechnology.com to find out more.
Copyright Infopro Digital Limited. All rights reserved.
You may share this content using our article tools. Printing this content is for the sole use of the Authorised User (named subscriber), as outlined in our terms and conditions - https://www.infopro-insight.com/terms-conditions/insight-subscriptions/
If you would like to purchase additional rights please email info@waterstechnology.com
Copyright Infopro Digital Limited. All rights reserved.
You may share this content using our article tools. Copying this content is for the sole use of the Authorised User (named subscriber), as outlined in our terms and conditions - https://www.infopro-insight.com/terms-conditions/insight-subscriptions/
If you would like to purchase additional rights please email info@waterstechnology.com
More on Trading Tech
Getting aggressive: Overbond uses AI to assess dealer axes
The fixed-income analytics specialist has developed a new tool to help buy-side firms decide if they’re getting a good price from their dealers.
TS Imagine integrates LTX’s pre-trade analytics tool
Users of the fixed-income EMS will now have access to LTX’s Liquidity Cloud tool, which provides a pre-trade score for the likelihood of trading success.
European exchanges turn to dark trading in battle for flow
The EU’s two biggest exchanges are launching dark pools this year. The apparent change in their stances on dark trading reflects a profound shift in equities markets.
After contentious Opra upgrades, vendors brace for a faster future
Upgrades to the datafeed widely used to gauge the current market price for options contracts went into effect in February after three separate delays, which market participants say were caused by persistent bandwidth issues at some important recipients.
The IMD Wrap: No more turf wars, or why CDOs should heed the Voice of the CTO
Max reviews how our recent Voice of the CTO series has implications for those beyond a firm’s technology function, and how communication and collaboration between tech, data, and leadership will deliver better results.
Dark horse: Deutsche Börse building dark pool
New functionality allowing exchange members to execute sweep trades comes hot on the heels of European rival Euronext launching its own dark pool.
Waters Wrap: The tough climb for startups
Anthony speaks with two seasoned technologists to better understand why startups have such a tough time getting banks and asset managers to sign on the dotted line.
European firms prime for lopsided settlement in North America and at home
With T+1 imminent in North America and increasingly likely to traverse the Atlantic, operations and trading professionals in Europe are fighting on two fronts.
Most read
- Women in Technology & Data Awards 2024: All the winners and why they won
- Witad Awards 2024: Above and beyond award (vendor)—Susan Bennett, Tradeweb
- Fighting FAIRR: Inside the bill aiming to keep AI and algos honest