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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."

3 of 133 comments (clear)

  1. No more Van-Eck security risks by cyberbob2351 · · Score: 5, Interesting
    I for one would embrace such a revolution.

    Modern photonics, if it works within a computer, will make it impossible to eavesdrop on a computer with a van-eck style of a attack. Granted, van eck phreaking a VGA cable may be doable (barely), and performing similar snoops on a motherboard may seem incredibly difficult even by today's standards, it is within the realm of possibility. Take a look at the field of acoustic cryptanalysis and its potential.

    Now extend that into the electromagnetic spectrum, give yourself a very powerful broadband software defined radio and a good isolated faraday cage, and could it be possible to mount a similar attack electronically?

    If photonics take over, we will for once be in a safe-zone of knowing once and for all that no overly powerful overseeing entity will be able to eavesdrop on any kind of electromagnetic emissions, so long as you don't have any light leaks.

    --
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  2. Oh fuck by joto · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Researchers in England are attempting to build a desktop computer that runs on light rather than electronics.

    No, they aren't! The article didn't mention desktop computers at all. As expected, this is basic research on photonics. The researchers are nowhere closer to build a desktop computer that run on light, than they are to build a desktop computer that runs on steam and valves. Whether it is the submitters or editors who are idiots is hard to tell, but my guess is that both of them would score pretty well on that scale! Maybe we should build desktop computers of them?

  3. 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.