FASTEST MACHINE
Researchers unveil computer for big data era
It uses light waves to transmit data instead of electrical impulse travelling over Silicon
Researchers from Hewlett-Packard Enterprise (HPE) have unveiled what they claim is a breakthrough in computing, with a new machine capable of handling vast amounts of data at supercomputing speeds. The prototype, named "the Machine", uses a new approach to computer architecture that the company says can be adapted for a range of big-data applications, handling tasks at thousands of times the speed of existing devices. The system is called "memory-driven computing" and uses light waves to transmit data instead of electrical impulses travelling over silicon, bypassing what engineers say is an obstacle to boosting speeds. Sharad Singhal, who heads machine applications for HPE, said previous efforts to boost computing power "were running into a brick wall into computation" because computing needs were increasing beyond the capacity of existing chips. Singhal said the project was an effort "to rethink computers from the ground up". This means that instead of a silicon chip at the heart o...
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