Computational question

[Michael]

The quest for faster and faster computers usually all comes down to increasing the hardware speed. Does anyone know if any attempt has been made in the software departement at the fundamental level to make a new instruction formatt that doesn't rely on 1's and 0's but something different?

[Fletcher]

Quantum computing that uses cubits rather than binary. A more fuzy logic approach. Still in its infancy but has some promise from what I read.

[terry5732]

It's not really ones and zeros but on and off. If you had a partial on , say one half, that would be on. On off is only two dimensions but I don't see any degree in between being added. A semiconductor junction is either switched or it isn't.

[Michael]

Hmmm, I know about quantum computing but that gets into hardware. Of course this would still have to take into account hardware. I also know the 1's and 0's are on and off. What I am thinking of is more of a symmetrical gradient. Definite on and off would still be there, but there wouldn't necessarily have to be a long string of on and offs to generate a function.

[AgingYoung]

Terry,

A semiconductor junction is either switched or it isn't.

Transistors can be used for switches or also amplifiers. A signal at the base allows an identical yet larger signal across the transistor.

Gene

[racer270]

Way back when, I was Jonathan's age computers were 6 feet wide and 14 feet long they used analog systems. There was no such thing as a hand-held calculator just slide rules and the math would just fry your brain,
except if you're like Jonathan.......lol

They went to a digital system to get away from phase shifts that were caused by electronic components like transistors and capacitors .
What they are using is a digital signal, a square wave. A kind of gate. A half of volt is on and 0 volts is off.

What I hear is that they are going to evolve back to a analog platform.

We're still waiting for someone like "Scott" ........lol
to write the 64-bit platform programs to get the next step in the evolution of computers. Every step in the evolution of computers turns state-of-the-art into just a computer in a period of months not years.
But I've also been away from computers for over 30 years, I think someone like Scott, or tinhead could answer your questions. Frankly, I am amazed at what modern computers can do, and have you ever noticed the prices keep dropping.......$$

computers like Fletchers.......lol
were as good as it gets 20 years ago.......... build a new one with your son, listen to your friend Rainer.

But honestly I know we got some modern-day cutting edge computer guys right here.

Why don't we asked them,!

PS. Thanks Bill....... the things cool.....!!!

Gordy

[ken_behrendt]

I think I read somewhere that there is an "optical" computer processor in development that uses pulses of laser light. What the "software" for something like this might be is beyond me. Maybe they put entire gigabyte programs on a hologram and can then read it into a crystal memory in a nano second or two. Then when one clicks the right key to execute the program it is done in a few milliseconds.

Obviously, there will be many mind boggling developments in the field of computers that we will see in our lifetimes.

I fully expect to eventually (like in a decade or two) see such things as robots, 3D television, etc. Kind of gives an aging population something to look forward to...


ken

[rlortie]

development of a blue lazer was a long time in coming, but I now hear where a Japanese scientist has finaly come up with one.

What's so great about blue you may ask. Blue is the one of the shortest of short wave lengths. allowing information to be packed much tighter on a disk or optical reader system.

Ralph

[Michael]

I think blue light D.V.D players have been developed and will be on the market in a couple of years. It will greatly increase the storage capacity and, so the resolution of the images.

[ken_behrendt]

Ralph...

I think that way back in the early '70's when I was still in college, we had ultraviolet and x-ray lasers! Now one could really pack a lot of data into their beams.


Michael...

Your mention of Bluelight DVD's triggered a memory of something I heard mentioned on a fairly recent tv news science segment. Apparently, they will have DVD's out at the end of this year which will be able to pack enough information to allow for a 3D television picture! I do not know all of the details and am wondering if one will require a special system to view them or would they be viewable on a currently popular HDTV? Anybody know anything more about these 3D DVD's?


ken

[trevie]

I found this info on Blu-ray.

http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/blu-ray2.htm