[Discover] Brain-Like Chip May Solve Computers' Big Problem: Energy - Overclock.net

Bluelightning · 2 Weeks Ago

Quote:

a new kind of computer, based not on the regimented order of traditional silicon chips but on the organized chaos of the human brain. Designing this machine will mean rejecting everything that we have learned over the past 50 years about building computers. But it might be exactly what we need to keep the information revolution going for another 50.

Source

Found this and I thought you guys might find it interesting. It's a bit long though. I'm always skeptical when the human brain and computers are compared, but time will tell I suppose.

Sm3gH3ad · 2 Weeks Ago

cool read

voice · 2 Weeks Ago

If only i found out about this last week! I could have used it in my coursework

0rion · 2 Weeks Ago

*waits for the inevitable flood of unoriginal "skynet" comments*

Tech-Boy · 2 Weeks Ago

Very good read, thanks for sharing!

Bluelightning · 2 Weeks Ago

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tech-Boy

I thought computers big problem was them not being fast enough for me?

Who cares about power! jok

Well, it's a comparative matter, ie compared to the brain. Current computers use a horrendous amount of energy. Also, they do seem to perform much better as well.

Quote:

The mathematical equations that Arthur and others are using to simulate the chip’s behavior and test its blueprint for flaws would quickly bog down a regular digital computer. At full speed, even the high-end Dell Quad-core computers in Boahen’s lab cannot simulate more than one of Neuro grid’s silicon neurons at a time—and the complete chip contains 65,536 neurons.

Quote:

Originally Posted by 0rion

*waits for the inevitable flood of unoriginal "skynet" comments*

Quote:

When the first of the Neurogrid chips was plugged in, its silicon neurons came to life, chattering back and forth with trains of milli second electric spikes, which were then relayed onto a computer monitor through a USB cable. Just as spikes ripple down the branching tendrils of a neuron, pulses of electricity cascaded like flash floods through the chip’s transistors and nanowires. This activity had no more to do with equations or programming than does water tumbling down Yosemite’s Bridal Veil Falls. It happened automatically, as a result of the basic physics of electricity and conductors.

It can already think on it's own! However, in reality, no it can't, that's just random electrical activity.
Also, the super computer they are planning on building based on neural computing will contain only 1 million "neurons". The human brain typically, IIRC, contains about 3 trillion. Not to mention these neurons are simplified replicas of them. However, all the same it's a scary advancement in that regard.

It seems that these would be a lot cheaper for fabs to make, as they have a much greater allowance for inconsistencies in the silicon. However it also seems that this wouldn't be applicable to every situation, specifically where precision is crucial.

macintristan · 2 Weeks Ago

I'm gonna have to agree with BlueLightning on this one. The key element that we have always used technology for is replication and accuracy, to the point that we expect a computer to be infallible for all intents and purposes. Even though we've created such things as ECC RAM etc. And this technology, while simply amazing for its theoretical applications, can't do double precision calculations or have total recall the same way a standard computer can yet, and it should prove difficult to do so. (IMO)

EDIT: also +rep, this is why I come here every day yet don't post much. I want to stay on the bleeding edge whenever possible. tyvm for the find!

dzalias · 2 Weeks Ago

Quote:

Originally Posted by macintristan

I'm gonna have to agree with BlueLightning on this one. The key element that we have always used technology for is replication and accuracy, to the point that we expect a computer to be infallible for all intents and purposes. Even though we've created such things as ECC RAM etc. And this technology, while simply amazing for its theoretical applications, can't do double precision calculations or have total recall the same way a standard computer can yet, and it should prove difficult to do so. (IMO)

EDIT: also +rep, this is why I come here every day yet don't post much. I want to stay on the bleeding edge whenever possible. tyvm for the find!

These computers will serve different purposes than "normal" computers.

**The Duke** · 2 Weeks Ago

Interesting read!
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Quote:

Originally Posted by 0rion

*waits for the inevitable flood of unoriginal "skynet" comments*

Only those seeking an infraction for trolling need reply!

SLeeZeY · 2 Weeks Ago

There won't be any proper brain-like 'chaotic' computers until the simple matter of remembering that a brain is analog, not digital. Build a huge logic array and leave it to its own devices, no pun.

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[Discover] Brain-Like Chip May Solve Computers' Big Problem: Energy

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