Future of electronics

[Carrot44]

Todays modern electronics are based on silicon ic's before that we had discrete components and before that there was tubes. I have seen in the past 10 years a massive surge in miniaturization and increase of speed in electronics. Today we have 3 gig cpu's 10 years ago 66 mhz was blazing fast. Am sure there are 10 + gig cpu's in the testing lab. I don't for one think that todays silicon can keep up in either size reduction or speed so what is next?

Ken

 

[Mday]

Originally posted by: Carrot39
Todays modern electronics are based on silicon ic's before that we had discrete components and before that there was tubes. I have seen in the past 10 years a massive surge in miniaturization and increase of speed in electronics. Today we have 3 gig cpu's 10 years ago 66 mhz was blazing fast. Am sure there are 10 + gig cpu's in the testing lab. I don't for one think that todays silicon can keep up in either size reduction or speed so what is next?

Ken

you havent kept up with the news...

they are looking into diamonds.

 

[RadioactiveHamzter]

There's a few different ideas of where they should go for alternative technologies including:

Diamonds - potential for being very small and heat resistant
Carbon Nanotubes - extremely small pathways and can operate with very little heat being produced, also very fast
DNA Computing - not much use for most things, they're slow at doing single calculations, but are can do massive parallel calculations
Quantum Computers - not much use for most things again, but will be useful for very complex calculations

Can't remember of any other techs right now...

 

[User1001]

I read some where about modifying glass as a semi-conductor alternative.

 

[Carrot44]

Must be behind in the news. Will look into the other things.

Ken

 

[rimshaker]

If you think about it, technology as we know it (since the 1800's) is primarily based on the movement of electrons. Sure, there are applications in photonics, but not to such a broad extent.

Next generation of technology (not in our lifetimes) will advance beyond just basic electrons and 'electricity.' Maybe through the use of more photon-based things, or with more physics oriented matter like phonons, gluons, muons, gravitons, etc, etc.

 

[rjain]

SiGe!

 

[Cogman]

Just wondering. How could glass work out? I thought it was like a super liquid. I mean, after like 5-10 years (or less because of the size of the electronics) I think it would change and destroy the product.... Great Marketing I guess, I mean if people have to buy a new product ever few years.

 

[Carrot44]

I have not found any good new references to the ideas mentioned here. But as pm said Silicion is reaching its limits fast!

 

[Howard]

Originally posted by: User1001
I read some where about modifying glass as a semi-conductor alternative.

LOL

 

[Pudgygiant]

I could be WAY off on this, so just tell me off if I am, but from what I can gather...

Today's processors use copper interconnections and pathways, and fiber could greatly speed it up. (Is it accurate to use the term "fiber" in this sense?)

 

[rjain]

First they'd need a way to "etch" fiber optic channels onto chips and a way to convert from the electrical signals to light and back. It's a work in progress, AFAIK.