IBM’s DNA Chip
If you know anything about the computer industry, you know there’s a big race going on to produce smaller and more efficient microchips. It looks like IBM may be in first place with news of their new DNA-like chip.
According to InformationWeek, “IBM researchers, along with scientists at the California Institute of Technology, have discovered that the tiny components that run along a chip’s silicone surface will self-adhere to previously laid down DNA patterns.” What this means is IBM has found ways to create microchips that use DNA as a framework to control the flow of electricity across a microchip.
The race to make chips smaller has caused IBM to look for newer ways to not only improve microchip speed but also allow for heavier “power” processing in smaller chips. This may be the breakthrough in the PC industry as well as automobiles and even mobile communications – all things that use the microchip in day to day operations.
@Information Security – I think the market will partially determine how small things get and how fast. If it is not commercially viable, big companies would stop their research quick enough. And the need for more processing power had not reached it’s limit I think.
Regarding the other components, even those are getting smaller and smaller at the same time. 5.25″ disks against 2.5″ disks now for example.
This is a good article and i just love the innovation in this space. But how much extra will smaller technology cost to produce? Being smaller isn’t always the be all and end all. When you look an average PC the chips are hardly the largest parts!