Pretty amazing stuff

[Aranor]

Found this article on our internal web at work. Not quite Control medal technology but getting there.

Atomic computing

Nanotech breakthroughs pave the way for the ultra-small

If an 80GB iPod can store up to 100 hours of video, imagine the possibility of a similar device able to hold 30,000 feature length films. IBM has taken a couple of steps in that direction with results featured in two research papers being published in the same issue of Science; a rare occurrence that highlights the significance of these breakthroughs.

Building on IBM's rich nanotech past Research continues to break new ground with two major scientific achievements that could permanently alter the way computing works.

The first paper focuses on our milestone in understanding atomic magnetism, bringing single-atom data storage closer to reality. The second paper sheds light on single-molecule switching, which could lead to molecular computers. What does this mean? It means that storing enormous amounts of information on a single atom and the idea of a computer comprised of just a few molecules is no longer just the stuff of science fiction.

While this type of work still falls squarely in the realm of exploratory science, it will enable scientists at IBM and elsewhere to continue moving forward in the field of nanotechnology – the exploration of building structures and devices out of ultra-tiny components as small as a few atoms or molecules. Such devices might be used as future computer chips, storage devices, sensors and for applications nobody has imagined yet.

"One of the beauties of doing exploratory science is that by researching one area, you sometimes stumble upon other areas of major significance," said Gerhard Meyer, senior researcher in the nanoscale science group at the IBM Zurich lab, commenting on the discovery of two hydrogen atoms inside a naphthalocyanine molecule that can do switching. "Although the discovery of this breakthrough was accidental, it may prove to be significant for building the computers of the future."

The most exciting phrase to hear in science, the one that heralds new discoveries, is not 'Eureka!', but 'That's funny...' - Isaac Asimov This "accidental" discovery happened while the Research team had been screening various molecules for their suitability in molecular switches, the tests were not to observe switching, but rather to examine molecular vibrations and how those would affect devices operating at the atomic level. During those tests, the team observed results that were intriguing for switching at the molecular scale, and they shifted their focus from studying vibrations to studying switching, leading to this breakthrough.

How does it work?

In the first report out of the Almaden Research Lab, the scientists describe major progress in probing a property called magnetic anisotropy in individual atoms. This fundamental measurement has important technological consequences because it determines an atom’s ability to store information. Previously, nobody had been able to measure the magnetic anisotropy of a single atom.

With further work it may be possible to build structures consisting of small clusters of atoms, or even individual atoms, which could reliably store magnetic information. Perhaps more importantly, the breakthrough could lead to new kinds of structures and devices that are so small they could be applied to entirely new fields and disciplines beyond traditional computing.

In the second report, out of the Zurich Research Lab, the scientists unveiled the first single-molecule switch that can operate flawlessly without disrupting the molecule's outer frame -- a significant step toward building computing elements at the molecular scale that are vastly smaller, faster and use less energy than today's computer chips and memory devices.

In addition to switching within a single molecule, the researchers also demonstrated that atoms inside one molecule can be used to switch atoms in an adjacent molecule, representing a rudimentary logic element. This is possible partly because the molecular framework is not disturbed.

Article published by Research.

[McAvoy]

So they'll be able to create a super duper iPod with a memory of 24 Terabytes? Memory seems to be jumping up quite fast. Obviously this is years and years into the future before practical application of course.

[Aranor]

Indeed. If one has troubles finding their keys in the morning can you imagine looking for your molecular diamond digital music player?

[McAvoy]

I have trouble looking for the bathroom in the morning let alone my keys.

[guyverfanatic]

So they'll be able to create a super duper iPod with a memory of 24 Terabytes? Memory seems to be jumping up quite fast. Obviously this is years and years into the future before practical application of course.

That would hold a rediculous amount of music!

[McAvoy]

Yeah, that is about 5 to 8 million songs or 30,000 full length videos.

[guyverfanatic]

Yeah, that is about 5 to 8 million songs or 30,000 full length videos.

Can anyone even like that much music?! I only have 939 songs on my iTunes!

[W'Kar]

You know long ago people were complaining that the casette held so much music that no one would ever need that much. Then CD's came with huge amounts of storage. MP3's, Ipods. Your 900+ tunes would seem ridiculous. When this stuff comes out I doubt it'll be used for straight MP3 storage, or any other file type. With that much data storage I'm thinking Augmented Reality. Sit down at the park and enjoy a private concert via holographic Frank Sinatra.

[Aranor]

Or perhaps a fully rendered 3D environment allowing you to physically interact with. Kind of like Star Trek's Holodeck.

[W'Kar]

Or perhaps a fully rendered 3D environment allowing you to physically interact with. Kind of like Star Trek's Holodeck.

Let's trying walking before we run.

[Aranor]

Perhaps not to the point of being able to feel the hologram however an interactable hologram is not that far fetched. We do have this little gadget on the market http://www.virtual-laser-keyboard.com/?an=google

Granted it measurs distance of the blocked light in order to guess which key your are supposed to be hitting but it is stil interacting with light.

[McAvoy]

Or perhaps a fully rendered 3D environment allowing you to physically interact with. Kind of like Star Trek's Holodeck.

..then no one will ever leave their houses. The world would come to a complete stop. I know exactly what I would be doing in those... which brings another point, with that available, no one will get a girlfriend or a boyfriend...

Memeory storage has been going up directly in relation to the storage of first music then movies. It's just like computers, you do not need a $5,000 computer to run Microsoft Word or use the internet. It was the need for more powerufl computers for the more powerful games. Just like you do not need that Terabyte external harddrive if you are using it to store 100 KB Microsoft Word documents.