klik - Slashdot User

Submission + - New/Old Form of Nanomechanical Computing Proposed (bbc.co.uk)

Submitted by

eldavojohn

on Tuesday July 24, 2007 @10:25AM

eldavojohn writes: "The BBC is reporting on a newly proposed type of nanomechanical computer that mimics J. H. Müller & Charles Babbage's work on mechanical computational devices — just on a much smaller level. The paper is published today in the New Journal of Physics and cites three reasons to build a nanocomputer with nanomechanical transistors over bipolar junction transistors or field effect transistors: "(i) mechanical elements are more robust to electromagnetic shocks than current dynamic random access memory (DRAM) based purely on complimentary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) technology, (ii) the power dissipated can be orders of magnitude below CMOS and (iii) the operating temperature of such an NMC can be an order of magnitude above that of conventional CMOS." Perhaps the future of computing (the Difference Engine) has been sitting in a museum right under our noses for well over a hundred years?"

Submission + - Antique engines inspire nano chip

Submitted by

Klaidas

on Tuesday July 24, 2007 @09:53AM

Klaidas writes: "BBC's reporter Jonathan Fildes has posted an interesting article about nano computers:
"The energy-efficient nano computer is inspired by ideas about computing first put forward nearly 200 years ago", he writes. "What we are proposing is a new type of computing architecture that is only based on nano mechanical elements," said Professor Robert Blick of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and one of the authors of the paper."We are not going to compete with high-speed silicon, but where we are competitive is for all of those mundane applications where you need microprocessors which can be slow and cheap as well." In addition to high-temperature automotive applications, Professor Blick envisaged nano mechanical chips being used in everything from toys to domestic appliances.
The team's tiny, hypothetical number-cruncher could be built out of ultra-hard materials such as diamond or piezoelectric materials, which change shape when an electric current is applied. Unlike today's computers, which are based on the movement of electrons around circuits to do useful calculations, the nano mechanical computer would use the push and pull of each tiny part to carry out calculations. The researchers are currently building the first elements needed for the computer, focusing initially on transistors, the basic switches at the heart of all computers. "We have demonstrated that a single element of these transistors work," said Professor Blick."

Submission + - Is Taking a Computer Science Degree Online Viable?

Submitted by

Tourniquett

on Wednesday February 07, 2007 @02:52PM

Tourniquett writes: "Growing up I graduated high school using distance courses and prefer that method of learning. I would like to get a Bachelors or Masters Degree in Computer Science but don't want to have to attend a physical classroom. Do you feel that one can learn most of whats necessary for a computer science degree via distance/online learning? Is there anyone who is currently taking a distance course on computer science that has an opinion? Are there any schools with a particularly good/bad reputation for distance learning in computer science? Opinions on related degrees such as programing/database engineering etc.. are good as well."

Submission + - Google Steps Into Microsoft's Office

Submitted by

Russian Art Buyer

on Wednesday February 07, 2007 @02:40PM

Russian Art Buyer writes: "Business Week is reporting Google is encroaching on Micorosoft with full force. From the article:
"After months of dancing around with Web versions of e-mail, group calendars, and the like, Google is finally about to take a big leap onto Microsoft's turf. Since last August, the search leader has offered a test version of an online office productivity software suite, called Google Apps for Your Domain, that lets companies offload e-mail systems to Google while keeping their own e-mail addresses. Soon, it's expected to add word-processing and spreadsheet services to the suite, which includes an online calendar, chat service, and Web page builder. In coming weeks, Google Apps will turn into a real business as Google begins charging corporations a subscription fee amounting to a few dollars per person per month.""

Slashdot Top Deals