The World's Smallest Computer Can Fit on the Tip of a Grain of Rice (vice.com)

Engineers at the University of Michigan have created the world's smallest computer -- again. From a report: The University held the record for the smallest computer after it created its 2x2x4mm Michigan Micro Mote in 2014. The Micro Mote (or M3) is fully functional and able to retain its programming and data even when it loses power. But after IBM debuted an even tinier "computer" in February, a 1mm x 1mm chip with "several hundred thousand" transistors.

Engineers at the University of Michigan were not about to be one-upped, and quickly created an even smaller computer, so small it could fit on the tip of a grain of rice. However, the engineers quibbled over whether IBM's machine and the new Michigan design could really be called computers, since the data gets wiped as soon as it's turned off. You can find more details on the university's website.

Comments

how is it not computer?

[Anonymous Coward]

When was persistent storage a requirement of a computer?

Re:how is it not computer?

[squiggleslash]

Yeah, I assume you're talking ENIACs and stuff, but even in the relatively modern age persistent storage wasn't really a feature of most home computers for several years. Many hobbyists bought disk drives, but there was no storage built in to computers like the VIC 20/Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum, and so on. Many (oddly, not including the 6502 Commodore home computers - I'm not counting the PET as the latter) came with the ability to hook up to a cassette recorder, but that was it - anything more advanced required buying additional hardware.

It seems to be that if the thing at least includes RAM and the ability to execute programs from RAM, is Turing complete, and has the ability to communicate in both directions with a user, it ought to be classed as a computer given the common usage of the term.