HP Develops Technology to Replace Transistor

Posted by Andru Edwards Categories: Misc. Tech, PC / Laptop

Researchers at Hewlett-Packard have invented a new type of microcomputing technology known as the crossbar latch that could potentially replace the transistor used in computers today. Transistors, which are the basic element of computing, have reached the limit on size that can be fit on a single chip. This new crossbar latch would be mere nanometers in size. If computers are going to get any smaller while still getting faster, new ways such as this need to be found. These new relays could potentially allow computers to be thousands of times faster than today’s computers. “This could someday replace transistors in computers, just as transistors replaced vacuum tubes and vacuum tubes replaced electromagnetic relays before them.” As a student studying Electrical Engineering, it kinda makes me wonder why I’m still taking all these Analog Electronics classes! Luckily, HP says that transistors will still be used for decades to come in silicon embedded chips.

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