Perspective processing techniques on IDF

Evgenie Rudometov

Rudometov@rudometov.com

On autumn IDF ‘ 2006 the new processing techniques, capable to change our representations about possibilities of computers have been shown.

Thanks to prompt growth of functionality of computer equipment it successfully uses practically in all areas of human activity. Despite it scientists and engineers continue to perfect as existing solutions, and and to develop the new processing techniques, allowing to expand a usage of computers. A number of advanced development have been shown at the specialised exhibition arranged for representatives of mass-media within the limits of autumn forum IDF ‘ 2006 in San Francisco (the USA, California).

The part of the shown developments concerns the concept of "the digital house», several years ago Intel offered by engineers and repeatedly sounded during numerous performances of heads of the company.

Development of the given concept long time was illustrated by exclusively multimedia possibilities, allowing to use computers as the general-purpose arrangement substituting traditional body - audio-and video equipment. As to other functions allowing for example to use the computer for handle by other arrangements, they long time had theoretical character in sort of absence of appropriate inexpensive sensor controls and executive mechanisms.

However as it has appeared, a part of contributors of corporation of Intel intensively worked in the given area. A number of the compact sensors, capable to provide wireless data transfer with and on the computer has been as a result created.

At a specialised exhibition within the limits of IDFFall ‘ 2006 one of experts of Intel has shown possibilities of similar system. It had a sensor control fulfilled in the form of a watch on the right hand. Before it on desktop the set of subjects has been spread out. Each of subjects has been supplied by the sensor of type RFID, that together with naruchnym a sensor control allowed to watch mutual position of components of system (the Photo 1).

Photo 1. Sensor controls and results of mapping of the information

Any change of positions of the given components was fixed on the computer. So, for example, when the demonstrator took a cup on the screen monitor screen there was a map last in a hand, and in appropriate tables there were marks about the user, a subject which it has taken in hands, time when it has occurred, etc. Similarly the bag of tea and a teapot have been fixed.

Further on the screen with a soundtrack reminders on necessary medicines have been made and the appropriate control is carried out. Besides, on the screen monitor pulse, localisation in a room, distance and speed of moving of the owner of a bracelet were output in the schedule and digits.

It is necessary to mark, that from other computer access has been provided to the fixed data.

The described development is taken up a position as one of components of the intellectual resources facilitating the control over small children and aged parents. However it can be used and in system «digital house» for rise of comfort of a life of its inhabitants. Considering that sensors can be made very miniature, similar solutions can be applied and in various security systems with data transfer on the remote computer.

The quantity of the sensors which have been hooked up to the stationary computer, can be rather big and reach several thousand as if necessary computers can be a little. Addition of the given development samoorganizujushchimisja the touch networks, repeatedly shown on previous IDF, outputs it on essentially new level. It is difficult to present consequences of such multiplexing even to their implementators.

The described system is capable to watch space layout of the big number of the components. However scientists of university Carnegie Mellon at Intel support were set by the effect task on the homogeneous object and its movings in system which can consist of the big number of similar units. In the long term such units can be millions, and their size to be calculated by microns (for matching: a thickness of human hair makes about 50 micron). Further, using fast evolving processing techniques MEMS, appearance of units is not eliminated, whose size will make a little nanometrov, and number — billions.

According to the implementators, the first practical results can already appear years through five. However already today implementators show computer handle of the several units which sizes make while some centimetres.

On demonstrating within the limits of IDF pilot signals moved on one of group units, and through it and on other units. According to the received commands units turned rather each other, being held by the built in magnets thanks to what integrity and compactness of system was saved. Mutual moving of units was provided at the expense of power supplies feed on them (the Photo 2). Varying the form and applying mechanical hooks, it is possible to minimise the energy level which consumption will be carried out only during the transformation moments. It is obvious, that with reduction of the sizes will be decreases and energopotreblenie as the weight of each of units decreases, and to advance all units at all and not without fail. For micromovings enough miniature sources. Their role microsecondary generators or even can fulfil the capacious capacitors created together with mechanical parts of units by resources of processing technique MEMS. To charge power supplies it is possible, for example, by means of the routed microwave emanation created by special aerials. On exhaustion of a resource units can be substituted on the new. Diagnostics and changeover of units can be automated, that will provide durability of a programmed matter.

Programmed transformation of subjects environing us which will change the form on one clique of the keyboard or a mouse will be result of the given development. Moreover, probably, that habitual interactive terminal facilities with the computer for the given purpose also be not required, as it is possible to give commands and a voice as such developments already are available.

Some applications of the described development have been shown by means of the demonstration video film devoted to operation of the designer of the future. On the shown fragments the designer for some seconds from shapeless weight has created the car working model, easily changing the form and colour.

Photo 2. makro and mikro units of a programmed matter

Certainly, between demonstrating and implantation big enough distance, but already today were the miniature units which sizes were already less than millimetre are shown some. Remains a little more: to reduce units several times and to release them some millions, to troubleshoot energopitanija, to learn to handle fast signals to a considerable quantity of units, to write transformation programs, etc.

Certainly, implementation of the similar schedules providing handle in many millions, and it is possible also in billions units will demand the powerful computers constructed on the basis of multinuclear structures. Quite probably, that years through ten number of kernels in each processor it will be already calculated by hundreds: a variation of the law of Moore where the role of units will be already fulfilled by kernels. The given supposition is quite correct, considering, that at the last forum the sample of the processor with 80 kernels has been shown.

For such difficult systems of one of problems there is a high-speed information transfer. Usage for this purpose of traditional solutions in which basis metal explorers lay, becomes ineffective. More and more contributors consider, that the transmission medium role in difficult high-powered systems will fulfil light. For this reason the last years a lot of attention is given to questions of development of effective optical systems, their consisting fiber lines, optical commutators, lasers.

On previous IDF employees of Intel showed effective, compact, inexpensive optical amplifiers and the commutators created on the basis of silicon processing techniques. However at all of them advantages they all the same demanded the external laser. On it IDF contributors of Intel have shown the completed construction created together with units of pump on a uniform chip.

Twenty five lasers, allocated on the uniform chip, added with appropriate modulators provided capacity 1 Tbit/with.

Working with optical systems, engineers of Intel have not forgotten and about the wireless processing techniques, capable to reduce on a desktop number of wires. Such processing techniques in application to stand-alone computers are capable to raise mobility level essentially. Developing processing techniques Wi-Fi, the branch step-by-step migrates in a direction of multi-channel systems of standard IEEE802.11n, capable to handle data with a speed in hundreds megabit a second. However similar solutions demand the whole complex of priemo-handling aerials that constrained implantation of perspective processing technique. Engineers of Intel managed to solve the given problem. Making use of the experience in solid-state technologies, they realised compact multiantenna system together with all semiconducting units on the uniform compact card providing adaptive customisation depending on conditions of an information transfer. All it promises break in implantation of high-speed wireless transmission media of data.

In conclusion of this short browse it is necessary to mark, that the enumerated processing techniques do not settle the list of the newest developments shown during IDF where leading experts have shown the advanced reachings. About some of them it will be told in following articles.