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Researchers Building Computers That Run on Light

Posted by samzenpus on from the heliotropic-machines dept.

An anonymous reader writes "Researchers in England are attempting to build a desktop computer that runs on light rather than electronics. A $1.6 million research project starting in June at the University of Bath is focused on developing attosecond technology, which refers to continuously emitting light pulses that last just a billion-billionth of a second."

21 of 133 comments (clear)

  1. Attosecond pulses of light? by Tackhead · · Score: 4, Funny

    Nothing to see here... Brilliant!

    1. Re:Attosecond pulses of light? by mypalmike · · Score: 3, Funny

      (Just reminded me of that old commercial... )

      Look fast! The hands on this watch are about to... disappear! That's because they aren't hands at all! They're Electronic!... Pulses!... of Light!

      --
      There are 0x40000000 types of people: those who understand 32-bit IEEE 754 floating point, and those who don't.
  2. Light bulb by Atario · · Score: 3, Funny

    I can give you all the attosecond pulses of light you want -- as long as they're all ones.

    --
    "A great democracy must be progressive or it will soon cease to be a great democracy." --Theodore Roosevelt
    1. Re:Light bulb by omeomi · · Score: 2, Funny

      I can give you all the attosecond pulses of light you want -- as long as they're all ones.

      or all zeros...

      --
      ZuluPad, the wiki notepad on crack
  3. Perfect! by DJCacophony · · Score: 3, Funny

    now all those case modders will have their lights built in!

    --
    Slow Down, Cowboy! It's been 60 minutes since you last successfully posted a comment.
  4. For you folks in the US by wilsonthecat · · Score: 3, Funny

    That is England, Europe.

    1. Re:For you folks in the US by fred+fleenblat · · Score: 4, Funny

      Land of Eng? WTF is an Eng?

    2. Re:For you folks in the US by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      Actually, it is a little known fact that England is actually recursive.

      Therefore, the Eng in England actually means "England."

      - Brinceton Chilchurch

  5. They're All Wet by moehoward · · Score: 4, Funny


    They're all wet. The University of Shower has already disproven most of this. Even the lesser known School of Sponge Bath has taken a "dim" view.

    I know, I know. "Light"en up...

    Stop me now before my Karma takes a Bath.

    --
    "If you want to improve, be content to be thought foolish and stupid." - Epictetus
    1. Re:They're All Wet by dsanfte · · Score: 3, Funny

      His lucky is what, now?

      --
      occultae nullus est respectus musicae - originally a Greek proverb
  6. Consumable resource by Ikyaat · · Score: 3, Funny
    So if it runs on light would it make light a consumable resource?

    What happens when we run out of light and have to look for alternative sources of lightergy?

    --
    "Luck is a tag given by the mediocre to account for the accomplishments of genius." -Heinlein
  7. This is the first I've heard of this. by Seumas · · Score: 3, Funny

    I had not heard of this before. I guess I must have been in the dark.

    Thanks, I'll be here all week.

  8. Re:Oh fuck by cyberbob2351 · · Score: 2, Funny
    My desktop computer runs on steam, and has several valve products installed.

    You insensitive clod!

    --
    for sale
    I'm a self-modifying sig virus
  9. Re:gghz by mastershake_phd · · Score: 2, Funny

    Wouldn't a billion-billionth of a second be one second? I would have said billionth of a billionth if I didn't want to use an uncommonly large prefix.

    A billion-billionths of a second = 1 second.

    --
    Libertarian Leaning Political Discussion Forum.
  10. No Electronics???? by dunc78 · · Score: 5, Funny

    I didn't RTFA, but hey, this is slashdot, it wouldn't be the same if I did. It is great to see that people can process light without the use of electronics.

    1. Re:No Electronics???? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

      It is great to see that people can process light without the use of electronics.

      The irony

  11. Re:Yeah... by ArcherB · · Score: 2, Funny

    But does it run Linux?

    Or Quake?

    --
    There is no "I disagree" mod for a reason. Flamebait, Troll, and Overrated are not substitutes.
  12. Re:Oh fuck by Philotic · · Score: 2, Funny

    Imagine a beowolf cluster of idiots! Actually, on second thought... don't...

  13. The beginning of the end by Monk+Who+Says+Ni · · Score: 3, Funny

    Light? In my IT dungeon?

    Surely this is an act of war against pasty code monkeys.

    --
    Its the amazing technicolor cheese wedge!
  14. Re:No more Van-Eck security risks by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Funny

    That'd be easy to fix, just reverse the polarity!

  15. Re:Oh fuck by Sobrique · · Score: 2, Funny

    Didn't you hear? They made one. Called it 'The Internet'.