mjb (01/24/83)
The following is reprinted in full from the Providence Journal (1/18/83). Anybody know anything more? -------- ORGANIC COMPUTER CHIP UNDER DEVELOPMENT NEW YORK (UPI) -- A research firm in Rockville, MD., is developing a revolutionary new computer "biochip" that will supposedly require no electricity and be more than a billion times more powerful than today's computer circuits. James McAlear, founder of EMV Associates, Inc., says the biochip could be fabricated within five years. One biochip computer could conceivably contain "all the data stored in all the world's computers," according to McAlear. Biochip switching times would also be 100 million times faster than the 64K random access memory chips now used. A typical biochip would measure just .01 micron. --------
wapd (01/26/83)
I have always thought that "biological computing" was a really great idea, and I'm sure that it will be done some day, but I am skeptical of claims that "it will be done in 5 years" and "it will be 100 million times faster than existing computers". Seems to me that the most feasible development is a large, SLOW memory. I don't see where the incredible speed would come from, and since biological systems use a lot of chemical reactions wouldn't signal propagation be fairly slow ? A memory would be the first product because its structure is very regular and simple. The benefits of biology for memories are : they can be incredibly large (depends on how much nutrient you want to pour in) and they can be self-replicating (self-repairing). A small benefit is that you can easily configure your memory to fit your needs (you can meet peak loads). That is, when you don't use the computer for a week, just have enough nutrient dribbled in to keep a handful of cells alive. When a big load comes through, shovel in some food and watch it grow ! The next product after a memory would probably be a huge array processor, with all of the configurability and self-repairing advantages that the memory exhibited. Fascinating area to speculate about. Something may come of it eventually. Bill Dietrich houxj!wapd
bcw (01/27/83)
From: Bruce C. Wright @ Duke University Re: Biochips This story was going around about a year ago and that paper apparently just managed to dig it up. What the device (projected device might be more accurate) is is a chip in which the components are molecular, like in an organic cell (i. e., each component like a gate or whatever is a separate, discrete molecule rather than a collection of molecules/atoms as in a normal device). I think that the components were made of bio- logical-like material (carbon compounds?). The last I heard it was considered rather a long time away (10-15 years or so) even by its own developers; it's not even clear that all of the quantum mechanical/ fabrication problems can be solved. They're quite serious, but it's not yet clear that it is practical. Bruce C. Wright @ Duke University
jwb (01/28/83)
E Associates does exist and has done some interesting things. The US
Navy is funding a lot of this stuff. The Naval Research Laboratory (I
think Office of Naval Research is a more accurate title) is funding a
symposium in March in Washington. The North Carolina Biotechnology
Center held a local symposium on biomolecular electronics in September
of last year. To me this stuff is interesting but has a long way to
go before it is practicle. The name to associate with this when looking
in the scientific literature is Dr. Forrest L. Carter.
I have found the brocure on the Navy thing. It is: 2nd International
workshop on "molecular" electronic devices (their quotes). For
information:
Dr. Forrest L. Carter
Chemistry Division, Code 6175
Naval Research Laboratory
Washington, DC 20375
Phone (202) 767-2100
The workshop is to be held 13-15 April 1983 at the Naval Research
Laboratory. Abstracts were due 15 Jan.
Jack Buchanan
Biomedical Microelectronics Program
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
919 967 5126