I-Slate's probabilistic chip-powered tablet PC for the OLPC set

Researchers have developed a solar-powered, WiFi, stylus-controlled tablet PC called I-Slate, which makes use of the probabilistic CMOS technology designed by Dr. Krishna Palem and his team at Rice University. Introduced to the world this week at the IEEE's 125th Anniversary event, the machine is designed to replace the old chalk slates apparently still used in some parts of the world (and on re-runs of Little House On The Prairie) with something that can download lesson plans and help children with their math, among other things. But this is just the beginning -- Dr. Palem and the gang are looking forward to the day when the chips find a home in all sorts of gadgets, from cellphones to televisions and beyond. Prototype slates should start making the rounds in India this spring.

[Shinigami @ Mar 12th 2009 1:08PM]

3+5? Integer? Probably 7... Maybe 8...
For developing countries so they will not know what is exact number? xD

[EI8HT @ Mar 12th 2009 1:19PM]

nice...thanks to this "solar-powered, WiFi, stylus-controlled tablet PC" i'll finally be able to learn basic math.


isn't technology wonderful?

[Arnie @ Mar 12th 2009 1:28PM]

Hey jackass, dont talk about your own ignorant self. Most third world country kids are considered smarter than First World countries with the exception of maybe Japan.
So please gimme a break. Calculus is taught in the 10th grade in a developing country. Most Americans dont ever have to learn it. So please, do us a favor and do not broadcast your ignorance to the Internet.

[EI8HT @ Mar 12th 2009 1:32PM]

@ arnie...

how correct you are, by the way, i love your avatar...patapon rocks!

[John @ Mar 12th 2009 1:33PM]

i think the joke was that it shows "options" and it's "probabilistic" so it's saying that it's not sure which one it is.... and the next joke was that it's stupidly advanced technology to just teach basic math. but I'm sure you like having something to feel self righteous about so go right ahead.

[Shinigami @ Mar 12th 2009 1:36PM]

@John
The joke is about PCMOS giving you the "probably correct" answer. You never know when its going to give you that "probably incorrect" answer... and giving that to teach kids math is a destructive force, IMO.

[bandigolo @ Mar 12th 2009 4:28PM]

@ Arnie

I'm neither doubting you nor provoking you, but I would like to see some empirical evidence to back up your claim. That stuff interests me.

[Dan Fruzzetti @ Mar 12th 2009 1:12PM]

Did I read that correctly? The IEEE is 125 years old? Wow. I didn't know the world had begun getting so much smaller even before the airplane or intercontinental telephone...

[John @ Mar 12th 2009 1:36PM]

No, IEEE was formed in 1963 - there weren't any "electronics" to speak of back in 1884. But, it was formed by two groups of people, one of which i can't recall and doesn't matter, and the other was the AIEE, American Institute of Electrical Engineers, which WAS formed in 1884.

[Psyco @ Mar 12th 2009 1:28PM]

that is a great PC and Solar powered?? Amazing. I want one too. ;P

[e-mail]

[Chavez @ Mar 12th 2009 1:29PM]

Who is this targeted to? They slap solar power which make me think it's for third world countries, but the solar panels are going to jack up the price, making it unaffordable for most of these countries.

It's good that there's a push to get tablets into schools, however I think Asus is poised to dominate the education market with its upcoming Eee tablet. Its small form factor, aggressive pricing (for a tablet), and upcoming windows 7 is going to win a lot of people over.

[mike @ Mar 12th 2009 1:34PM]

Did you say it's got a probability drive, Zaphod?
I want one!
Crap, where's my towel!?

- m