Beyond Binary Computing?

daksis writes "Non base two computing is nothing new. But it is an idea that, for various reasons, never really caught on. Embedded.com is running an op/ed piece that asks if hardware and software engineers are ready to move to ternary or quaternary logic. A move to multi-valued logic provides more computational capability without the standard increase in die size or transistor count. Is the need to make do with the current fabrication technology enough to drive the move to multi-valued logic? Or will Moore's law continue without the need for doing more with less silica based real estate?"

Comments

Ternary system is the way to go

[a_ghostwheel]

It's been a long time since I read an article about that, but AFAIK ternary system is most efficient in storing information (basically if you want to store numbers 0..700, you need 28 states (8+10+10) for decimal system, 20 states (10*2) for binary and 18 for ternary (6*3). This has something to do with 3 being closest to the value of e (2.718...) but I dont remember what exactly. Any /.-ers to fill in?

Re:It's commonly assumed that people are base-10..

[Mr. Sketch]

We have 10 fingers, 10 toes, etc. We can handle base-10 math easily, but not base-2 math.

Maybe you only use your 10 fingers to count to 10, but any self-respecting geek will use those 10 fingers to count, in binary, up to 1023 by using both states of their fingers to represent a one or zero (up or down). A base-1 system on your fingers is just a waste of states. With some practice you can even handle the unusual states like 21 and 27 easily (I use my thumb as 2^0).