Storage / RAM is not the only application for memristors. As they can serve as single-element excitation counters, they enable extremely power-efficient neuromorphic chips, as described in this paper from Intel (PDF warning): Proposal For Neuromorphic Hardware Using Spin Devices
We present a design-scheme for ultra-low power neuromorphic hardware using emerging spin-devices. We propose device models for 'neuron', based on lateral spin valves and domain wall magnets that can operate at ultra-low terminal voltage of ~20 mV, resulting in small computation energy. Magnetic tunnel junctions are employed for interfacing the spin-neurons with charge-based devices like CMOS, for large-scale networks. Device-circuit co-simulation-framework is used for simulating such hybrid designs, in order to evaluate system-level performance. We present the design of different classes of neuromorphic architectures using the proposed scheme that can be suitable for different applications like, analog-data-sensing, data-conversion, cognitive-computing, associative memory, programmable-logic and analog and digital signal processing. We show that the spin-based neuromorphic designs can achieve 15X-300X lower computation energy for these applications; as compared to state of art CMOS designs.
I see many emerging technologies that promise further great progress in computing. Here are some of them. I wish some industry people here could post some updates about their way to the market. They may not literally prolong the Moore's Law in regards to the number of transistors, but they promise great performance gains, which is what really matters.
3D chips. As materials science and manufacturing precision advances, we will soon have multi-layered (starting at a few layers that Samsung already has, but up to 1000s) or even fully 3D chips with efficient heat dissipation. This would put the components closer together and streamline the close-range interconnects. Also, this increases "computation per rack unit volume", simplifying some space-related aspects of scaling.
Memristors. HP is ready to produce the first memristor chips but delays that for business reasons (how sad is that!) Others are also preparing products. Memristor technology enables a new approach to computing, combining memory and computation in one place. They are also quite fast (competitive with the current RAM) and energy-efficient, which means easier cooling and possible 3D layout.
Photonics. Optical buses are finding their ways into computers, and network hardware manufacturers are looking for ways to perform some basic switching directly with light. Some day these two trends may converge to produce an optical computer chip that would be free from the limitations of electric resistance/heat, EM interference, and could thus operate at a higher clock speed. Would be more energy efficient, too.
Spintronics. Probably further in the future, but potentially very high-density and low-power technology actively developed by IBM, Hynix and a bunch of others. This one would push our computation density and power efficiency limits to another level, as it allows performing some computation using magnetic fields, without electrons actually moving in electrical current (excuse me for my layman understanding).
Quantum computing. This could qualitatively speed up whole classes of tasks, potentially bringing AI and simulation applications to new levels of performance. The only commercial offer so far is Dwave, and it's not a classical QC, but so many labs are working on that, the results are bound to come soon.
3D chips, memristors, spintronics. I am surprised these are not mentioned prominently in this thread. I was hoping to hear about the latest advances in these areas from people in the industry.
3D chips. As materials science and manufacturing precision advances, we will soon have multi-layered (starting at a few layers that Samsung already has, but up to 1000s) or even fully 3D chips with efficient heat dissipation. This would put the components closer together and streamline the close-range interconnects. Also, this increases "computation per rack unit volume", simplifying some space-related aspects of scaling.
Memristors. HP is ready to produce the first memristor chips but delays that for business reasons (how sad is that!) Others are also preparing products. Memristor technology enables a new approach to computing, combining memory and computation in one place. They are also quite fast (competitive with the current RAM) and energy-efficient, which means easier cooling and possible 3D layout.
Spintronics. Probably further in the future, but potentially very high-density and low-power technology actively developed by IBM, Hynix and a bunch of others. This one would push our computation density and power efficiency limits to another level, as it allows performing some computation using magnetic fields, without electrons actually moving in electrical current (excuse me for my layman understanding).
I agree there is benefit in open solutions especially in open/standard file format support, but I don't think an OS choice makes sense as a #1 priority, which was GP's point.
Seconded. Compared to all the choices and expenses required for decent audio production, the OS choice is a non-issue. Use Linux for what you like; dual-boot, or even have a separate machine that runs a decent DAW for which you can find some help / training.
Producing plastic things that you can do with 3D printers has been no problem for decades. The machinery is expensive for home use, but quite affordable even for relatively small business. So no, I don't think this will change that much at inter-state trade level. It may change something in shopping patterns, but again - paper printers have been around for ages, and still it's not like everyone prints every printed item on them. Industrial scaling effects still apply.
There can still be some value in this for advancement of AI and hybrid systems. They decompose the problem of keeping up a conversation into nice simple subtasks with clear interfaces. Some of these subtasks (suggesting replies, evaluating them, keeping notes) can then be further automated or assisted independently to a varying degree, gradually reducing the use of human brainpower. Also, there can be uses for adding such crowdsourced conversation support into otherwise automated systems. Perhaps entertainment robots or something like that.
You remember correctly, people have been doing this for years. I have no idea why TFA calls this "world first bionic eye", perhaps there is something new about their particular method, although it doesn't sound very impressive compared to other options.
Here is a list of some companies producing retinal implants (incl. Bionic Vision from TFA): http://www.upgradeyourbody.com/catalog/bionics/eyes/ At least some of those are already past clinical trials and available commercially.
I wonder if Higgs field could serve as something to push against, spending only energy, and not having to carry the propellant mass with you in space travel? Just a wild guess by a complete layman. This could make sending probes to nearby stars a bit more realistic.
Besides, emigrating does not have to mean permanent residence on Mars. Once the settlement is populated, we can send components for a return rocket. With people on Mars the occupants can build, fuel and check the return rocket.
Given the public nature of the project, would you consider making all your software / hardware / construction / other plans open source? It could give you some additional publicity, free input / reviews, and a lot of 'cred' in communities like Slashdot, which seem to be your target audience. And you probably don't have to worry much about someone copying your designs.
Can you do something to recruit Elon Musk and Peter Diamandis as "ambassadors", as you call them, even if temporarily? They could do wonders to establish your credibility and popularity. And it's in their best interest to promote bold efforts like this, which can bring space industry to the new level. Teamed up together, you can gain much more publicity than each project on its own. And publicity helps to attract funding and influence the political choices.
Are you considering a mix of different funding sources, like Kickstarter, private donations / investors, government / corporate sponsorship? TV show alone may not be sufficient. Maybe accept free hardware / volunteer labor / services like rocket launches as donations, too?
On a related note, are you going to start the selection and training as soon as you have enough money for that first step? Or do you think it only makes sense if you have secured the funding for the actual trip? I personally think once this starts rolling, it will be easier to attract more funding.
I can't speak for GP, but for my home computer, NVidia drivers, VMWare, Flash and the fragile sound system are the worst offenders. On every kernel / core libraries update, there is a good chance some of these will break. So I'm sometimes reluctant about updating, too.
Yes, I was fooled by the slashdot summary (yeah, yeah), which said "EU bans the trade of used technology to Africa".
Some sources for those interested in the actual legislation:
Summaries of legislation: Waste electrical and electronic equipment "The European Union (EU) is taking measures to prevent the generation of electrical and electronic waste and to promote reuse, recycling and other forms of recovery in order to reduce the quantity of such waste to be eliminated, whilst also improving the environmental performance of economic operators involved in its management."
Business Link: Exporting WEEE "You should export waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) only if you are sure that it will be recovered or recycled safely in the receiving country."
So yes, exporting old hardware for reuse is okay. My apologies to EU.
Used hardware is excellent value when you are on a shoestring budget. I think a lot of school kids and students in Africa would find it attractive. Yes, there are new tablets and notebooks available today starting near $100. But even that is a lot of money to some, and used tech can often be had for free, or the cost of shipping. Also, arguably you can often get much better used hardware for the same money. And tinkering with it also trains people to be hackers and know their hardware well. So, overall I think such reuse is good.
A huge disadvantage is the environment damage when that hardware finally gets thrown away. Normal western schemes like including recycling in the price and handling it through dealers and agencies is hardly applicable here. There has to be direct financial incentive for both the old hardware owner and the recycling center to handle this properly. So maybe if EU really wants to help, they should try to organize a network of recycling shops. But this is probably more difficult than simply banning the export officially and ignoring the black market.
The New York Times took the unusual step of referring to him just as "bin Laden" rather than "Mr. bin Laden", which they reserve generally for the worst of the worst.
"Excuse me, mister, but I'm a mister, too -
And you're giving "Mister" a bad name, misters like you!
So I'm taking that "Mister" part out of your name,
'Cause it's misters like you who put the rest of us to shame."
(Ben Harper)
Slashdot Mirror
Storage / RAM is not the only application for memristors. As they can serve as single-element excitation counters, they enable extremely power-efficient neuromorphic chips, as described in this paper from Intel (PDF warning): Proposal For Neuromorphic Hardware Using Spin Devices
We present a design-scheme for ultra-low power neuromorphic hardware using emerging spin-devices. We propose device models for 'neuron', based on lateral spin valves and domain wall magnets that can operate at ultra-low terminal voltage of ~20 mV, resulting in small computation energy. Magnetic tunnel junctions are employed for interfacing the spin-neurons with charge-based devices like CMOS, for large-scale networks. Device-circuit co-simulation-framework is used for simulating such hybrid designs, in order to evaluate system-level performance. We present the design of different classes of neuromorphic architectures using the proposed scheme that can be suitable for different applications like, analog-data-sensing, data-conversion, cognitive-computing, associative memory, programmable-logic and analog and digital signal processing. We show that the spin-based neuromorphic designs can achieve 15X-300X lower computation energy for these applications; as compared to state of art CMOS designs.
I see many emerging technologies that promise further great progress in computing. Here are some of them. I wish some industry people here could post some updates about their way to the market. They may not literally prolong the Moore's Law in regards to the number of transistors, but they promise great performance gains, which is what really matters.
3D chips. As materials science and manufacturing precision advances, we will soon have multi-layered (starting at a few layers that Samsung already has, but up to 1000s) or even fully 3D chips with efficient heat dissipation. This would put the components closer together and streamline the close-range interconnects. Also, this increases "computation per rack unit volume", simplifying some space-related aspects of scaling.
Memristors. HP is ready to produce the first memristor chips but delays that for business reasons (how sad is that!) Others are also preparing products. Memristor technology enables a new approach to computing, combining memory and computation in one place. They are also quite fast (competitive with the current RAM) and energy-efficient, which means easier cooling and possible 3D layout.
Photonics. Optical buses are finding their ways into computers, and network hardware manufacturers are looking for ways to perform some basic switching directly with light. Some day these two trends may converge to produce an optical computer chip that would be free from the limitations of electric resistance/heat, EM interference, and could thus operate at a higher clock speed. Would be more energy efficient, too.
Spintronics. Probably further in the future, but potentially very high-density and low-power technology actively developed by IBM, Hynix and a bunch of others. This one would push our computation density and power efficiency limits to another level, as it allows performing some computation using magnetic fields, without electrons actually moving in electrical current (excuse me for my layman understanding).
Quantum computing. This could qualitatively speed up whole classes of tasks, potentially bringing AI and simulation applications to new levels of performance. The only commercial offer so far is Dwave, and it's not a classical QC, but so many labs are working on that, the results are bound to come soon.
3D chips, memristors, spintronics. I am surprised these are not mentioned prominently in this thread. I was hoping to hear about the latest advances in these areas from people in the industry.
3D chips. As materials science and manufacturing precision advances, we will soon have multi-layered (starting at a few layers that Samsung already has, but up to 1000s) or even fully 3D chips with efficient heat dissipation. This would put the components closer together and streamline the close-range interconnects. Also, this increases "computation per rack unit volume", simplifying some space-related aspects of scaling.
Memristors. HP is ready to produce the first memristor chips but delays that for business reasons (how sad is that!) Others are also preparing products. Memristor technology enables a new approach to computing, combining memory and computation in one place. They are also quite fast (competitive with the current RAM) and energy-efficient, which means easier cooling and possible 3D layout.
Spintronics. Probably further in the future, but potentially very high-density and low-power technology actively developed by IBM, Hynix and a bunch of others. This one would push our computation density and power efficiency limits to another level, as it allows performing some computation using magnetic fields, without electrons actually moving in electrical current (excuse me for my layman understanding).
Photonics was already mentioned by others here.
I agree there is benefit in open solutions especially in open/standard file format support, but I don't think an OS choice makes sense as a #1 priority, which was GP's point.
For a nice quick overview of top 15 candidates for a good modern DAW see http://www.musicradar.com/tuition/tech/the-15-best-daw-software-apps-in-the-world-today-238905/1
Choosing Linux as OS does limit your options here severely.
Seconded. Compared to all the choices and expenses required for decent audio production, the OS choice is a non-issue. Use Linux for what you like; dual-boot, or even have a separate machine that runs a decent DAW for which you can find some help / training.
Cost of living is high in Moscow. Price of life, not so much.
Producing plastic things that you can do with 3D printers has been no problem for decades. The machinery is expensive for home use, but quite affordable even for relatively small business. So no, I don't think this will change that much at inter-state trade level. It may change something in shopping patterns, but again - paper printers have been around for ages, and still it's not like everyone prints every printed item on them. Industrial scaling effects still apply.
Good description of the different RoboCup leagues; too bad parent posted as AC.
1. Amplify Plutonium-Gamma Shield
2. Deharmonize Neptunium Impeller
3. Calibrate Uranium-Rod Driver
4. Set Voltage on Saturn-Class Capacitor
5. Test Jupiter Wave Complier
There can still be some value in this for advancement of AI and hybrid systems. They decompose the problem of keeping up a conversation into nice simple subtasks with clear interfaces. Some of these subtasks (suggesting replies, evaluating them, keeping notes) can then be further automated or assisted independently to a varying degree, gradually reducing the use of human brainpower. Also, there can be uses for adding such crowdsourced conversation support into otherwise automated systems. Perhaps entertainment robots or something like that.
You remember correctly, people have been doing this for years. I have no idea why TFA calls this "world first bionic eye", perhaps there is something new about their particular method, although it doesn't sound very impressive compared to other options.
Here is a list of some companies producing retinal implants (incl. Bionic Vision from TFA): http://www.upgradeyourbody.com/catalog/bionics/eyes/ At least some of those are already past clinical trials and available commercially.
The latest, greatest breakthrough:
Scientists reverse engineer eye-brain signaling, enabling next generation of implants
More links on retinal implants:
Wikipedia - Retinal implant
1000-electrode implant developed in Stanford
Long-term trials started in Oxford in 2010
Phase II trials of 1500-electrode implant by Retina Implant AG (2011)
Argus II implant goes to market
Bio-Retina 576-pixel implant to start trials in 2013
(the most abused word on Slashdot)
Not sure about NASA, but for Russians, a "road" is whatever place you plan to drive through.
I wonder if Higgs field could serve as something to push against, spending only energy, and not having to carry the propellant mass with you in space travel? Just a wild guess by a complete layman. This could make sending probes to nearby stars a bit more realistic.
Besides, emigrating does not have to mean permanent residence on Mars. Once the settlement is populated, we can send components for a return rocket. With people on Mars the occupants can build, fuel and check the return rocket.
Given the public nature of the project, would you consider making all your software / hardware / construction / other plans open source? It could give you some additional publicity, free input / reviews, and a lot of 'cred' in communities like Slashdot, which seem to be your target audience. And you probably don't have to worry much about someone copying your designs.
Can you do something to recruit Elon Musk and Peter Diamandis as "ambassadors", as you call them, even if temporarily? They could do wonders to establish your credibility and popularity. And it's in their best interest to promote bold efforts like this, which can bring space industry to the new level. Teamed up together, you can gain much more publicity than each project on its own. And publicity helps to attract funding and influence the political choices.
Are you considering a mix of different funding sources, like Kickstarter, private donations / investors, government / corporate sponsorship? TV show alone may not be sufficient. Maybe accept free hardware / volunteer labor / services like rocket launches as donations, too?
On a related note, are you going to start the selection and training as soon as you have enough money for that first step? Or do you think it only makes sense if you have secured the funding for the actual trip? I personally think once this starts rolling, it will be easier to attract more funding.
Maybe it's just some local corporate espionage using Chinese mailboxes to cover their tracks.
It is always a good idea to put off a laptop purchase.
I can't speak for GP, but for my home computer, NVidia drivers, VMWare, Flash and the fragile sound system are the worst offenders. On every kernel / core libraries update, there is a good chance some of these will break. So I'm sometimes reluctant about updating, too.
Yes, I was fooled by the slashdot summary (yeah, yeah), which said "EU bans the trade of used technology to Africa".
Some sources for those interested in the actual legislation:
Summaries of legislation: Waste electrical and electronic equipment
"The European Union (EU) is taking measures to prevent the generation of electrical and electronic waste and to promote reuse, recycling and other forms of recovery in order to reduce the quantity of such waste to be eliminated, whilst also improving the environmental performance of economic operators involved in its management."
Business Link: Exporting WEEE
"You should export waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) only if you are sure that it will be recovered or recycled safely in the receiving country."
So yes, exporting old hardware for reuse is okay. My apologies to EU.
Used hardware is excellent value when you are on a shoestring budget. I think a lot of school kids and students in Africa would find it attractive. Yes, there are new tablets and notebooks available today starting near $100. But even that is a lot of money to some, and used tech can often be had for free, or the cost of shipping. Also, arguably you can often get much better used hardware for the same money. And tinkering with it also trains people to be hackers and know their hardware well. So, overall I think such reuse is good.
A huge disadvantage is the environment damage when that hardware finally gets thrown away. Normal western schemes like including recycling in the price and handling it through dealers and agencies is hardly applicable here. There has to be direct financial incentive for both the old hardware owner and the recycling center to handle this properly. So maybe if EU really wants to help, they should try to organize a network of recycling shops. But this is probably more difficult than simply banning the export officially and ignoring the black market.
You can try http://www.google.com/m - not exactly what you want, but might be useful in some cases, like old computers or slow connection perhaps.
The New York Times took the unusual step of referring to him just as "bin Laden" rather than "Mr. bin Laden", which they reserve generally for the worst of the worst.
"Excuse me, mister, but I'm a mister, too -
And you're giving "Mister" a bad name, misters like you!
So I'm taking that "Mister" part out of your name,
'Cause it's misters like you who put the rest of us to shame."
(Ben Harper)