Japanese Researchers Create A Crab-Based Computer

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Japanese Researchers Create A Crab-Based Computer

Posted by samzenpus on Sunday April 15, 2012 @04:01AM from the 8gb-of-pincer dept.

mikejuk writes "You can build a computer out of all sorts of things — mechanical components, vacuum tubes, transistors, fluids and ... crabs. Researchers at Kobe University in Japan have discovered that soldier crabs have behaviors suitable for implementing simple logic and hence — with enough crabs — you can achieve a complete computer. The Soldier crab Mictyris guinotae has a swarming behavior that is just right for simple logic gates (PDF). When two crab swarms collide they fuse to make a single swarm — and this is enough to build an OR gate."

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Overheat by simtel · 2012-04-15 04:04 · Score: 5, Funny

And just think: if it overheats, your computer becomes delicious
1. Re:Overheat by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-15 04:09 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  Yeah, but then you'll have to shell out for a new one. It might be nice in a pinch, but in the end I'll bet you'd just spend all your time trying to claw back some sort of function.
2. Re:Overheat by ericloewe · 2012-04-15 04:23 · Score: 0, Offtopic
  
  You Sir, should have posted with an account.
3. Re:Overheat by sidthegeek · 2012-04-15 04:35 · Score: 1
  
  And that would be quite ex-pincer-ve.
4. Re:Overheat by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-15 04:40 · Score: 0
  
  You forgot "quant-yummy" computing.
5. Re:Overheat by rubycodez · 2012-04-15 06:29 · Score: 1
  
  clearly the Apple iPod is inferior to the Lemon (and buttered) Arthro-pod
6. Re:Overheat by quintus_horatius · 2012-04-15 07:59 · Score: 1
  
  First programming language: Rangoon
7. Re:Overheat by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-15 09:10 · Score: 1
  
  Oh stop trying to butter him up.
8. Re:Overheat by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-15 15:14 · Score: 0
  
  Lmfao that is such a good point.
seafood cooling? cooking your CPU? by neurocutie · 2012-04-15 04:04 · Score: 1

Bring new meaning to running so hot you cook your CPU. Wheres the soy sauce?
who? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-15 04:05 · Score: 0

So, who will be the first to welcome our crab swarm overlords?
One day by avandesande · 2012-04-15 04:07 · Score: 5, Funny

My crotch will become sentient!

--
love is just extroverted narcissism
1. Re:One day by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-15 04:10 · Score: 0
  
  I'm itching just thinking about it. Or maybe they're thinking.
2. Re:One day by Concerned+Onlooker · 2012-04-15 04:15 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  I wanted to mod this but there is no "ew, gross" option.
  
  --
  http://www.rootstrikers.org/
3. Re:One day by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-15 04:50 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  Mine already does most of my thinking.
4. Re:One day by binarylarry · 2012-04-15 04:51 · Score: 1
  
  Sometimes I think mine already is.
  
  --
  Mod me down, my New Earth Global Warmingist friends!
5. Re:One day by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-15 05:27 · Score: 0
  
  We already knew you're a dickhead.
6. Re:One day by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-15 05:37 · Score: 0
  
  My itchy 1 bit analog trouser computer can now actually perform simple logic!
You're a long way from a proof, buddy by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-15 04:09 · Score: 2, Interesting

One of the hardest things about proving emergent automata to be equivalent to, for instance, Turing mahines, is not showing that specific operations can be duplicated. The hardest part is showing that the thing doesn't degenerate when more complex interactions are necessary.
If they could build more than just a simple gate -- say, a flip flop, I would be more impressed.
1. Re:You're a long way from a proof, buddy by Reality+Master+301 · 2012-04-15 04:26 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  You're just being shellfish
2. Re:You're a long way from a proof, buddy by queazocotal · 2012-04-15 06:25 · Score: 1
  
  To a degree.
  It's more complex than this.
  Mainstream computers basically assume error-free operation - because it's cheaper to run the devices a little slower - or to use more area or ... than to add the extra complexity required for error tolerant computing.
  You can construct computers with gates that are 99% reliable quite easily.
  90% requires a lot more check logic.
  By the time you hit something like 66%, the design is many times the size of the 'error free' one.
So, the next SONY VAIO... by Quarters · 2012-04-15 04:09 · Score: 5, Funny

...will be able to be hit in its weak spot for MASSIVE DAMAGE!
I knew that.. by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-15 04:09 · Score: 0

Hail dr Zoidberg !
I'd like to see.. by boaworm · 2012-04-15 04:10 · Score: 4, Funny

I'd really like to see what they wrote on their research grant application...

--
Probable impossibilities are to be preferred to improbable possibilities.
Aristotele
1. Re:I'd like to see.. by oldhack · 2012-04-15 05:12 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  They are Japanese - I hear they're pretty open-minded about these sorta things, you know, claws and tentacles and stuff.
  
  --
  Fuck systemd. Fuck Redhat. Fuck Soylent, too. Wait, scratch the last one.
2. Re:I'd like to see.. by b4dc0d3r · 2012-04-15 08:20 · Score: 1
  
  The article ends with: "The results closely matched the simulation, suggesting that crab-powered computers could indeed be possible."
  I translated that to: "We have seen enough hentai to know where this is going."
  Also known as, "The summary doesn't match the article" because they only predicted the possibility, they didn't actually create a crab based computer.
3. Re:I'd like to see.. by uninformedLuddite · 2012-04-16 11:23 · Score: 1
  
  I read that as crab paste computer. God knows why. I think my brain broke.
  
  --
  The new right fascists are bilingual. They speak English and Bullshit.
I broke my NIC! by bistromath007 · 2012-04-15 04:10 · Score: 1

Crab BIOS!!!
1. Re:I broke my NIC! by Aranykai · 2012-04-15 15:22 · Score: 1
  
  Are you insane? A NIC is useless against those massive claws.
  
  --
  If sharing a song makes you a pirate, what do I have to share to be a ninja?
2. Re:I broke my NIC! by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-18 15:43 · Score: 0
  
  Realtek disagrees
Research > science fiction by fleeped · 2012-04-15 04:10 · Score: 2

Seriously, in terms of imaginative ways to accomplish stuff, researchers beat the shit out of everybody.
Who needs an Ipad3? by GoodNewsJimDotCom · 2012-04-15 04:11 · Score: 5, Funny

Why not Zoidberg?

--
God spoke to me
1. Re:Who needs an Ipad3? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-16 11:27 · Score: 0
  
  Why do I have the image of Zoidberg amongst all those crabs saying, 'Look, now I have friends. Woo wooo woo!' ???
Maybe by multicoregeneral · 2012-04-15 04:11 · Score: 1

But if they start using crabs for computers, what am I going to do for dinner on payday?

--
This signature intentionally left blank.
1. Re:Maybe by chromas · 2012-04-15 07:00 · Score: 1
  
  Fermi Bakin' Bits and chopped Celeron.
2. Re:Maybe by multicoregeneral · 2012-04-15 07:27 · Score: 1
  
  I'm sorry. I generally only eat Xeons, and that's more of a breakfast food.
  
  --
  This signature intentionally left blank.
3. Re:Maybe by VoidCrow · 2012-04-15 09:15 · Score: 1
  
  Chips with everything?
Try Explaining That One To Airport Security by bschorr · 2012-04-15 04:23 · Score: 4, Funny

I can't wait to see the laptop version...

--
-B-
1. Re:Try Explaining That One To Airport Security by JosephTX · 2012-04-15 04:58 · Score: 5, Funny
  
  you can get that version in most shady motels and bars.
2. Re:Try Explaining That One To Airport Security by Errol+backfiring · 2012-04-15 20:57 · Score: 1
  
  Well, HEX (read the Discworld books by Terry Pratchett if you don't know it) runs on ants. But it is still a bit big. And off course, I doubt that you want ants on your lap.
  
  --
  Nae king! Nae laird! Nae yurrupiean pressedent! We willna be fooled again!
Terry Pratchett's big mistake by Kupfernigk · 2012-04-15 04:23 · Score: 3, Funny

Instead of writing about an ant-powered computer (slogan: "Anthill inside") he should have taken out a US patent on it.
Method and implementation of a digital computer in which binary digits are living beings [..]
Claim 36: A computer as described in Claims 1-30 in which the digits are members of the phylum Arthropoda
Claim 37: A computer in which the members of Claim 36 are further members of sub-phylum Crustacea
Claim 38: A computer in which the members of Claim 36 are further members of sub-phylum Insecta
Claim 39: A read only memory in which storage is by means of members of the Phylum Arthropoda which have both a motile and a sessile stage, such as barnacles.

--
From scarped cliff or quarried stone she cries "A thousand types are gone, I care for nothing, no not one."
1. Re:Terry Pratchett's big mistake by AnotherAnonymousUser · 2012-04-15 05:38 · Score: 1
  
  That sounds like an awesome idea for a sci-fi biological computer.
2. Re:Terry Pratchett's big mistake by RodBee · 2012-04-15 07:42 · Score: 1
  
  Well, there's still time for him to patent his computational druidism. I don't think people made computers with cairn stones yet.
3. Re:Terry Pratchett's big mistake by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-15 09:33 · Score: 0
  
  I guess that depends on what Stonehenge is really for.
4. Re:Terry Pratchett's big mistake by Errol+backfiring · 2012-04-15 21:02 · Score: 1
  
  And if the time has run out, just go through L-space and fix it.
  
  --
  Nae king! Nae laird! Nae yurrupiean pressedent! We willna be fooled again!
5. Re:Terry Pratchett's big mistake by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-16 04:55 · Score: 0
  
  Sorry, already been done on XKCD:
  http://xkcd.com/505/
6. Re:Terry Pratchett's big mistake by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-16 05:45 · Score: 0
  
  like to see SimAnt implemented on a crab computer
Funny by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-15 04:31 · Score: 0

Wow, Sounds like a throw back to terminal days if "Shell" replaces the UI...
This sounds a lot like... by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-15 04:36 · Score: 1

Hex.
Ponder Stibbons is real!
While not quite lobsters... by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-15 04:41 · Score: 0

... did anyone else immediately think Accelerando?
1. Re:While not quite lobsters... by fjanss · 2012-04-15 09:49 · Score: 1
  
  yes
2. Re:While not quite lobsters... by Thuktun · 2012-04-17 04:29 · Score: 1
  
  Yes...yes I did.
How do you get an inverter? by dbc · 2012-04-15 04:45 · Score: 1

And what is the memory density? How many crabs does it take to make a JK flip-flop?
1. Re:How do you get an inverter? by zAPPzAPP · 2012-04-15 07:39 · Score: 1
  
  An inverter would be a swarm of crabs channeled in from outside through the VDD line, that run down the OUT line, as long as there are no crabs on the IN line.
  As soon as crabs come down the IN line, they would merge with the crabs from the VDD line and the path of the combined swarm would be altered such, that they run down a third line instead of OUT, which I'd call GND.
2. Re:How do you get an inverter? by anonymov · 2012-04-15 08:25 · Score: 1
  
  No need for special element, their AND gate is basically a 2-to-4 decoder (without 0 output line) - it has (NOT a AND b), (a AND b) and (a AND NOT b) outputs.
  Just send a synchronized stream of crabs (damn, that's a nice combination of words) down one input and use corresponding output as NOT.
interesting by circletimessquare · 2012-04-15 04:46 · Score: 2

because norwegian researchers already have implemented the natural communication protocol for these sorts of computers:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IP_over_Avian_Carriers

--
intellectual property law is philosophically incoherent. it is your moral duty to ignore it or sabotage it
1. Re:interesting by PaddyM · 2012-04-15 05:02 · Score: 1
  
  And of course, the Matrix explained how we'd power such a computing device and network.
2. Re:interesting by circletimessquare · 2012-04-15 06:01 · Score: 1
  
  you mean powered by kitsch and ponderous explication?
  
  --
  intellectual property law is philosophically incoherent. it is your moral duty to ignore it or sabotage it
3. Re:interesting by rubycodez · 2012-04-15 06:34 · Score: 1
  
  firmly undergirded by the lackluster and limited emotional range of Reeves' acting
4. Re:interesting by chromas · 2012-04-15 07:06 · Score: 1
  
  He was actually in the movie? I thought they just used a plank with a paper cutout stapled on..
5. Re:interesting by VoidCrow · 2012-04-15 09:18 · Score: 1
  
  grrr... Keany Reeves is *hot*!
6. Re:interesting by rubycodez · 2012-04-15 12:17 · Score: 1
  
  if you were looking for a mostly emotionless and non-emotive partner to lie there and "just take it", I suppose there is some merit in thinking so....
Not Logically Complete by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-15 04:46 · Score: 1

They've got AND and OR gates, but no inverters. You can't really build a computer with that.
1. Re:Not Logically Complete by mikejuk · 2012-04-15 05:06 · Score: 1
  
  The AND gate also produces NOT X AND Y and X AND NOT Y outputs. All you have to do is hold Y high and you have a NOT X gate.
2. Re:Not Logically Complete by lvxferre · 2012-04-15 05:30 · Score: 1
  
  Want a NOT gate? Show the crabs your cookware.
  
  And a Linux crab machine would have a nice shell.
  
  --
  Nerdy news for your nerdy needs? http://www.soylentnews.org Soylent News is people!
3. Re:Not Logically Complete by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-15 05:48 · Score: 1
  
  > All you have to do is hold Y high and you have a NOT X gate.
  That's a NAND gate, not an AND gate. You can do complete logic with NAND or XNOR. No other single gate is capable of it.
4. Re:Not Logically Complete by zAPPzAPP · 2012-04-15 07:47 · Score: 1
  
  Inverters are easy with crab-tech.
  See some posts above.
5. Re:Not Logically Complete by masterme120 · 2012-04-15 08:10 · Score: 1
  
  You forgot NOR.
6. Re:Not Logically Complete by mikejuk · 2012-04-16 05:01 · Score: 1
  
  Once you have a NOT gate you simply put it after an OR and you have a NOR.
7. Re:Not Logically Complete by masterme120 · 2012-04-22 04:08 · Score: 1
  
  I meant you can do complete logic with just NOR.
Obligatory... by cigawoot · 2012-04-15 05:02 · Score: 3, Funny

But will it play Doom?
1. Re:Obligatory... by MaskedSlacker · 2012-04-15 08:09 · Score: 1
  
  No, but Farcry might be in the cards.
2. Re:Obligatory... by Hillgiant · 2012-04-16 01:33 · Score: 1
  
  If you use head crabs, you can play Half-Life.
  
  --
  -
So that's the secret.. by msobkow · 2012-04-15 05:11 · Score: 1

... to Dr. Blowhole's crab army in The Penguins of Madagascar. They're not just his fighting force, they're his compute core. :P

--
I do not fail; I succeed at finding out what does not work.
Human computer by thereitis · 2012-04-15 05:37 · Score: 2

Get your tin foil hat ready. What computer program are *we* running? Make the rich richer 2.0?
1. Re:Human computer by allo · 2012-04-15 07:10 · Score: 1
  
  computing the question.
2. Re:Human computer by ZarelTgr · 2012-04-15 16:21 · Score: 1
  
  Well... there goes another 7.5 million years...
3. Re:Human computer by metaforest · 2012-04-16 19:31 · Score: 1
  
  Get your tin foil hat ready. What computer program are *we* running? Make the rich richer 2.0?
  I'm thinking the USians are running Collapse of the Republic - Release 2 revision 3 build 118
  (build 119 is due out in Nov, and may have a new Executive Module)
  On a related note, someone at my local post office posted a rather clever graphic hack on the community bulletin board (in meatspace). The graphic depicts the sinking of the Titanic, nosing down into the ocean. The superstructure of the ship has been replaced by an image of the US Capitol building. In the foreground two longboats are depicted. One of them is from the painting. "Washington Crossing the Delaware"
  ~Metaforest
4. Re:Human computer by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-17 08:05 · Score: 0
  
  Sounds about right, unfortunately!
Same with corporate managers by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-15 05:48 · Score: 0

I once managed to setup a process which was working on a similar way using our company managers. I was looking for a process where managers could act in a structured logical manner instead of simply farming the programmers. Everybody was happy as it's working until today very well.
ps. We have seen an octopus being an oracle, maybe now it's time for cats to predict the stock market?
Douglas Adams predicted this by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-15 06:05 · Score: 0

I think this is clear proof that Douglas Adams got it right, the Earth is just a big experimental computer.
First thought after reading... by cg88 · 2012-04-15 07:20 · Score: 1

...was Realtek. I mean come on, their logo ( http://www.realtek.com.tw/ ) is a freaking crab anyway. How long before we see cheap network or sound cards based on _actual_ crab technology!?
1. Re:First thought after reading... by anonymov · 2012-04-15 08:29 · Score: 1
  
  Misread it as "cheap network or sound crabs"
  Could be done, electrically stimulate a crab to snap its pincers, employ good old pulse-width modulation and add some output filters.
  Then get a bunch of them and make a polyphonic sound crab.
We all knew it was coming by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-15 07:49 · Score: 0

I, for one, welcome our new crab overlords:
http://www.weebls-stuff.com/games/Obey+the+crab/
performance is described by steve.cri · 2012-04-15 08:24 · Score: 1

as crabby
He gets a lot right by burdickjp · 2012-04-15 08:42 · Score: 1

I've read this one before... O! That's right! Here it is: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamond_Age
How many crabs? by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-15 08:54 · Score: 0

Serious question, but I couldn't find anything in the article specifying exactly (or even roughly) how many crabs were used in this experiment. I mean, it would take a whole bunch of them to do anything notable, right?
I for one, by excelsior_gr · 2012-04-15 09:01 · Score: 2

welcome our supercomputing, sidewise crawling crab overlords.
1. Re:I for one, by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-16 06:02 · Score: 0
  
  welcome our supercomputing, sidewise crawling crab overlords.
  And unfortunately by being sidewise that gives them the disadvantage of not being very forward-thinking.
Re:Research science fiction by VoidCrow · 2012-04-15 09:13 · Score: 1

Check out Accelerando, by Charles Stross.
Creepy! by Asgerix · 2012-04-15 09:19 · Score: 1

That is genuinely creepy!

--
Life is wet, then you dry.
I'll won't believe it until... by Faulkner39 · 2012-04-15 11:03 · Score: 1

...someone makes this in Minecraft.
Doesn't sound kosher... by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-15 15:28 · Score: 0

I don't think this would be kosher, but it would give a new meaning to the term "wetware". Also, since they're shelled, wouldn't they also be hardware? Their innards are soft, so maybe they're a hardware and a software solution, too!
Take over the world by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-15 18:00 · Score: 1

With a Beowulf cluster of these, (and a few sharks with lasers, I could take over the world.
Re:Research science fiction by zombie_monkey · 2012-04-16 00:12 · Score: 1

Ahem: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accelerando_(novel)#Plot_summary_and_breakdown_by_story/
HHGTTG by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-16 03:18 · Score: 0

Seems like there might be some weight to the idea of our planet being a giant super computer dedicated to determining which important question is answered by "42"
But with enough monkeys ... by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-16 04:31 · Score: 0

you can get the correct answer eventually, even without crabs
Going organic by Anonymous Coward · 2012-04-16 04:52 · Score: 0

Looking forward to getting my first CrabTop computer - yippeee
Important questions by StikyPad · 2012-04-16 05:07 · Score: 1

These are the more pressing questions I didn't see answered in the article:
Will these crab-based computers play tentacle-based porn?
Will these computers be sold by weight or by volume?
Is there anything Japan *won't* do with seafood?

--
https://www.eff.org/https-everywhere
Crabs or Crayfish Based. . . by jeffrlamb · 2012-04-16 05:55 · Score: 1

Cray(fish)-based has existed for decades. Cray(fish)