On-demand supercomputing

Definition
On-demand supercomputing is only one of many names for the idea of high-performance computing programs linking supercomputer systems across broadband networks.

Overview
This technology, currently under development in many research programs, includes grid computing, autonomic computing, adaptable computing, cluster computing and utility computing. The intention is to make computational power accessible in the same way that electricity is available from the electric grid &mdash; users simply plug into it without worrying about where the power is coming from or how it got there. In this method of computing, if more computing power is required, spare cycles on other computers are used. This means that the power of supercomputing is accessible without the huge costs of supercomputing, and that central processing unit cycles that would otherwise be wasted are put to good use.

Source

 * Technology and Innovation Futures, at 33.