STAC leads latency discussions at TradeTech Architecture 2008

Hosts two key latency events at inaugural conference. LONDON - 18 March 2008 - Peter Lankford, Director of STAC, was invited to host two latency events at the first-ever TradeTech Architecture conference in London. Peter hosted the pre-conference latency workshop on 4 March and the latency panel in the general conference session on 5 March. The workshop included approximately 25 firms from Europe, Asia, and the US and covered many hot topics, including approaches to reducing latency, challenges in measuring latency, and the importance of evidence-based technology evaluation. It was an interactive session, with a lively exchange of perspectives on topics as pragmatic as how to achieve predictable low latency with Java and as forward-looking as STAC's provocative claim that trading could reach nanosecond levels within the next two decades. Click here for the presentation. Following suit the next day, the latency panel was a lively mix of customers, vendors and exchanges. After describing how the latest competitive forces in Europe are sharpening firms' focus on latency, the panel debated such topics as whether we are close to a point of diminishing returns on latency investment, whether it is necessary to sacrifice functionality and flexibility to reduce latency, and what the latency race does for the greater good of mankind (hey, it was the end of the day and people were getting punchy).