Researchers develop nanochip based on Babbage's difference engine

In a tidbit of news which will get avid Neal Stephenson readers all hot and bothered, researches have outlined a blueprint for a mechanical nanochip similar in design to Charles Babbage's difference engine. Using the massive, steam-driven Victorian computer as a model, scientists have begun work on new type of computing architecture which would be solely based on nano-mechanical elements. The researchers say that while the devices won't compete with high-speed silicon, they could be utilized for "mundane applications" where the processors can be "slow and cheap" -- and so-very-steampunk, we might add. Of course, the original steam-computer consisted of 25,000 parts and weighed 13 tons, but the developers are hoping to knock at least a few pounds off of that design.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 26th 2007 5:45AM]

Actually, The Difference Engine is a novel by William Gibson and Bruce Sterling, whose fans, I believe, will also feel quite warm inside...

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 26th 2007 6:00AM]

Babbage's difference engine was not steam driven. It was completely mechanical

[TIJH Posted Jul 26th 2007 7:40AM]

Although I suppose you could harness steam to turn the crank of the machine, which I think he had planned to do. (Not sure, though, and the replica in London is hand-operated). But you're right, the actual operation was mechanical. Not to mention that Babbage never built full versions of any of his designs. The Science Museum in London has built a replica based on Babbage's drawings, though, and Babbage had a smaller "demo" version made of his first difference engine.

Also, I wouldn't call difference engine a computer, as it was only doing one thing. Babbage had plans for an "analytical engine" which would have been partly programmable general-purpose machine, thus meriting the title of a predecessor of a computer.

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 26th 2007 6:09AM]

And one of the main future utilizations of such tech might be to aid construction of other complicated nanostructures and not as any kind of substitute to silicon chips for normal computation

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 26th 2007 6:17AM]

Yeah baby!, self-cleaning color-changing people-annoying impact-proof invisible-turning socks, underpants, g-strings and c-strings are coming to haunt your daydreams.

[stridermt2k Posted Jul 26th 2007 10:59AM]

Take THAT, Luddites!

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 26th 2007 11:27AM]

But will it run Lin^H^H^HDoom?

[(Unverified) Posted Jul 26th 2007 11:36PM]

or checks quest?