Juggling Molecules with Linux

An anonymous reader writes "This article at LinuxDevices.com describes an interesting project at the University of Vermont in which researchers use real-time Linux to build a laser trap that manipulates individual molecules by means of a computer-controlled laser beam. The project makes use of RTLinux, a real-time enhanced version of Linux that allows the system to process interrupts every 50 microsecond, sample new data, and timeshare the laser beam position. 'If the computer failed to respond, for even a millisecond, then we would drop the balls,' explained one of the researchers. Gives a whole new meaning to BSOD, eh?"

Comments

Re:Realtime Linux on the desktop.

[digidave]

"What? Users like fast systems? What a breakthrough study!"

No, it turns out that users actually prefer trading off calculation speed for a quicker GUI. So even if doing a major spreadsheet export takes a few seconds longer, it's the speed of the menu, resizing windows, etc that makes a difference to them.