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Magnetic Computing Takes a Step Forward
MaceyHW writes "PhysOrg.com reports a big step forward in the development of magnetic microchips. Since their initial creation of a magnetic logic gate in 2002, an international team of researchers from Durham University, Imperial College, London and the University of Sheffield 'team has created a number of further "logic gates" and created interconnecting structures using magnetic "nanowires," which can now reproduce the logic functions of a conventional computer.'"
The article sort of mumbled through why I should care. Does anyone know? Do these logic gates offer the promise of smaller, faster, cheaper, or lower-power CPUs? Some combination of the above? Do they allow the creation of computers of a type not practical before? Where's the beef?
High-speed Road Trip (18.000KPH)
"This would also imply that the computers being economical would become still more disposable. 'This means that they could be used for cheap and therefore disposable simple computers in the future.'"
Why is this a feature? We've already shown ourselves how wonderful "displosable" technology really is. Why do we think we need more useless broken garbage? How reclaimable is it? Can we just throw a bunch of these into a pot, separate the various metals and cook up new ones when the technology improves? Disposable != Economical. You have to have an economy before you can throw it in the garbage.
"Don't feel bad for me child; I'm the monster that hides under your bed."
Hmmmm, what if it is used to close to a harddrive, instant formats? Maybe we need those kind of fields soon to replace our magnetic earth field that shields us from the raging solar storms.... And if our magnetic field switches someday all zero's become one's and all one's become zero's, eat your heart out millenium bug!
I was a stranger for the thing, i wasn't facing the crowd, ive been riding on empty with my head in the clouds
Would storing these processors boxed and next to each other, stacked and so on... cause damage to them? what about other components? Any type of foil shield that would prevent this?
Just a thought
Or the kind that doesn't require power to hold the processor in one state but only power when its changing states.
Bringing us ever closer to a world full of disposable junk!
If you want a vision of the future, imagine a youtube comments section scrolling - forever.
This technology seems to me to open as many unique exciting possibilities as when semiconductor technology first emerged. First of all, if you actually RTFA, these microchips generate no heat, which also suggests that they are very low power. Remember, not every microchip in the world today is your over clocked dual core Athlon 64, but rather are useful things like stepper motor controllers and what not. The fact is, this may allow an alternative method to make some of the thousands of silicon based components used in devices today cheaper or more efficient for use. Any new approach is always good for the technological community assuming it even has the potential for any benefits.
Also, I fail to see where the susceptibility of such devices to external magnetic fields would be any more exaggerated than those of devices employing electrical circuits, and dare I say that these devices may not be susceptible to "unacceptable" issues with silicon devices like ESD? Try waving a magnet over some parts of your motherboard or power supply when its in use at close range, but do so at your own risk.
This comment is as useless as the article. It gives nothing of true relevance. Kinda reminds me of that character in Monkey Island who wanted "something that will atract attention, but have no real importance".
Now to be in the real spirit of Slashdot, mod me insightfull.
Seriously? Magnets?
What do you mean, "seriously"? Why is the idea of using positive and negative magnetic potentials to represent information any stranger than the idea of using positive and negative electrical potentials?
Downmodding is the refuge of the weak. Don't downmod, make a better argument!