Antiquated engineering spawns new nano computer

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By Stevie Smith Jul 26, 2007, 13:22 GMT

Shattering the notion that modern technology constantly drives its own progression, a new energy-efficient nano computer proposed by scientists takes its inspiration from computing ideas initially made in the early 1800s.According to an article appearing the New Journal of Physics – and co-written by Professor Robert Blick of the University of Wisconsin-Madison – the tiny computer would be constructed from nanometre components measuring billionths of a metre in size. "What we are proposing is a new type of computing architecture that is only based on nano-mechanical elements," commented Professor Blick, while also outlining that the technology would not compete with high-speed silicon, but would rather cater for "mundane applications where you need microprocessors which can be slow and cheap as well." It is believed that microchips built using the envisaged nano technology would be utilised in delicate high-temperature environments such as automotive engines, where existing silicon technology is often deemed to be vulnerable. The proposed nano chips could also eventually be introduced into the consumer electronic market in products ranging from children’s toys through to domestic household devices.From a historical perspective, the US-based scientists say that inspiration for the nano computing technology was drawn from various steam-powered mechanical computers designed by English mathematician and engineer Charles Babbage in the early 19th Century. "It's inspired by Babbage's ideas but these days we can scale it down," Professor Blick told the BBC in reference to Babbage’s complex and extremely heavy designs, which have recently been reconstructed by the Science Museum in London and found to be capable of performing elaborate calculations. "Now, we are able to process devices on the nano scale."While modern computers are powered by microchips where the movement of electrons across circuitry performs necessary calculations, the new nano technology would be constructed using diamond or piezoelectric materials that actually change physical shape under the influence of electric current. More pointedly, the nano-mechanical computer would utilise the shifting movement of its miniscule components to perform required tasks.Professor Blick confirmed that the team has already "demonstrated that a single element of these transistors works" and that research simulations indicate that working circuitry is a possibility. "We are quite confident that in a couple of years this work will lead to commercial applications," he added.

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