Guest Editors' Introduction: Top Picks from the 2008 Computer Architecture Conferences

......We are pleased to introduce IEEE Micro’s sixth annual Top Picks from Computer Architecture Conferences special issue. This issue has become an important tradition in the computer architecture community, and one of the most important forms of recognition of research excellence. It is also an opportunity for those who don’t follow the research conferences closely to get a quick snapshot of some of the most influential research in this field all in one place. Working with IEEE Micro Editor in Chief Dave Albonesi, we decided to make a subtle change to the selection criteria this year—we simply sought to identify highimpact publications. This was not so much intended to weaken the former emphasis on industry impact as much as to include publications that might have a deep impact on future research directions even when we don’t expect to see an industrial implementation in exactly the form proposed.