The Smallest Computer In The World
The Smallest Computer In The World
The Smallest Computer in the World Fits On a Grain of Rice. Researchers at the University of Michigan just created the world's smallest computer (again).
After all, it's unclear if the IBM computer even counts as an actual microcomputer. The IBM device lost all its programming and data as soon as it turns off, unlike the Michigan Micro Mote, which retained its programming even when it wasn’t externally powered. “It’s more of a matter of opinion whether they have the minimum functionality required,” said David Blaauw, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at University of Michigan who helped develop the University of Michigan's newest tiny device. If the IBM machine constituted a computer, then University of Michigan would work to gain back their title: their latest micro device measures 0.3mm per side (1/10th the size of IBM’s computer), and is smaller than a grain of rice.
The device was designed to be a precision temperature sensor that can report temperatures in clusters of cells with an error of about 0.1 degrees Celsius. “When we first made our millimetre system, we actually didn’t know exactly all the things it would be useful for. But once we published it, we started receiving dozens and dozens and dozens of inquiries,” Blaauw said. It could, for instance, measure the temperature of tumours and conduct other cancer studies, monitor oil reservoirs, conduct audio or visual surveillance, or help in “tiny snail studies.”
Their previous micro-computer, the Michigan Micro Mote, measured 2x2x4mm. It was a complete, functioning system powered by solar cell batteries. Blaauw invented the system along with Dennis Sylvester, also a professor of electronics and communication engineering at the university, and Jamie Phillips, an Arthur F. Thurnau professor. The Michigan Micro Mote has processors and wireless transmitters and receives and transmits data with visible light.
Today, the transistors used in a typical computer are size of 20- or 22-nanometer. An international team of researchers at the University of New South Wales, Purdue University, the University of Melbourne, and the University of Sydney were able to develop a single-atom transistor, only 0.1 nm in size.
IBM has released the world's smallest computer. The 1mm x 1mm chip was unveiled at the IBM Think 2018 conference yesterday. The microscopic computer is roughly the size of a grain of sand but has enough computing power to handle basic AI tasks and work with block chain.
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