Researchers take aim at terahertz computing
By Donald Melanson 
posted Apr 16th 2008 1:56PM
posted Apr 16th 2008 1:56PM
It's not everyday that researchers make some progress towards terahertz computing, but a team from the University of Utah led by Ajay Nahata appear to have done just that, with them announcing that they've "taken a first step to making circuits that can harness or guide terahertz radiation." That, they say, could allow for the development of "superfast circuits, computers and communications," and "in a minimum of 10 years," no less. The key to this latest development, it seems, is the use of some sheets of stainless steel foil perforated with tiny holes, which can be arranged in different patterns to effectively form "wires" to carry the terahertz radiation. In their tests, the researchers were able to do so at a level of 300Ghz (or 0.3 terahertz), although they admit that they still have a long way to go, saying that "all we've done is made the wires" for terahertz circuits, and adding that there still needs to be devices like switches, transistors and modulators developed at terahertz frequencies in order for anything practical to become possible.
[Via TG Daily]
[Via TG Daily]
Its all about the bottlenecked bus speeds, baby.
I cant wait for $1000+ motherboards
"I cant wait for $1000+ motherboards."
By the time this technology is available you'll probably be downloading information directly into your brain tissue. I wouldn't worry about $1,000 motherboards.
As long as it can play Crysis.
Enough with these over used gamer-trying-to-be-funny statements!!!
It's actually an over used person-who-has-never-played-the-game-mentioned-trying-to-be-funny statement.
Yes, but can it play Doom?
HA!
Doing it just to be an ass, but yes, this is a very cool prospect. Although I think it's a conspiracy by the sociologist to put more SpyWare on our computers and us not notice that we are being watched. *dons Faraday cage hat*
Mr Epic Hero? More like Mr Epic Fail.
here comes the faildozer
Can your brain blend?
You see zomg0t, bl0nde, andres, and Jordan? Bandwagons are fun.
Cheers
in 10 years eh?
oh the excitement .. I can't wait.
@Mark
Of course you can't wait. That's why there's Engadget!
I think its cool that their modest about it as it deserves a level of modesty, though what they are doing is really cool indeed. Most people would have acted like they split the atom.
i split an atom once
Terahertz.
Hmmm...
So if you have one of these guys in your airport, you can discard the X-ray machines?
Oh - I see. No, if you have one of these you can get rid of your tanning bed.
Nope. X-rays range from about 30 PHz (Thats P for peta) to 30 Ehz (thats E for exa). These babies are a few orders of magnitude behind, and can't fulfill the same purpose.
Theres all kinds of cool applications for this type of radiation though (it exists between the "photon/light" kind of electromagnetic radiation and the "radio/microwave" kind). Unfortunately, generating the stuff is exceedingly difficult, and controlling it is pretty impressive. Very cutting edge.
"researchers were able to do so at a level of 300Ghz (or 0.3 terahertz)"
I want one of those... now... I'm ok with a 300Ghz puter. Imagine how well Crysis would run on that!
@#&% off!
The tumors will be instant.
And, when its used in a laptop, you'll become as sterile as a safety worker from sector 7G.
I checked with them and, no it won't run Crysis with everything cranked up.
On a real note is anyone really surprised that we could have sub-300Ghz computers in ten years? I think a Thz might be pushing it but, hey I have been wrong before...
You guys and Crysis... it's like you finger banged some chick once in juior high and won't shut up about it now that your 30.
no. one. cares.
That is, without a doubt, the strangest analogy I have ever seen. =)
1 tb is nice, but how much ram do you need? 500gb?
Jebus! Is that the guy from law & order?
http://www.imdb.com/media/rm3165887744/nm0000973
I believe it says on the very first line that his name is NOT Benjamin Bratt.
I swear that's the guy from Law & Order's illegitimate son.
Which means that the capacitors connected to the transistors will have to charge/discharge a lot more per second making it consume more power!
But hey, who cares about power! SPEED!!! SPEED!!! YAY!!!
No, no, no.
First off, there will be little to no electronics involved in this type of computing. It's all done with light, which by the way will not cause tumors, as someone said up above. Plus, the light being transferred between LASER diodes will be fully insulated. They would not put a product like that on the market without the proper safety measures.
And with this type of computing, buses will be obsolete because they will no longer be using wires or tracers of a circuit to transfer information. All light, that's it. There will be no such thing as bus speeds anymore.
I'm not trying to run anyone over or anything, but just offering some corrective commentary.
And THz-scale computing is entirely possible within a decade. Many companies are already taking the steps to revoltionize the industry. The government is even involved. A computer with hundreds of cores, all operating with frequencies 150X times today's standards, and all operating at distinct chromatic wavelengths of light, is not too far away. Basically, everyone out there will be able to have a supercomputer the size of a laptop. OLPC, eat your heart out.
you can bet yer ass that the windows OS of the time will use up most of that speed on needless background processes :P
But man will that window switching gimmick be amazing or what!
just to make sure,
will i be able to play Crysis and Doom?
I played Cyrsis on YoMomma last night.
FINALLY! A computer that might actually run Windows Vista!