Call me paranoid, but each passing week seems to offer another story from the plot of Terminator. Last week it was machines that run on blood, while this week it’s a super-computer that can ‘reconfigure itself’ on the fly.
FPGAs can be reconfigured using software to mimic computer processing equipment that is physically designed to take on specialised tasks. In contrast, conventional microprocessors are designed to act as fixed, general purpose processing devices. Each FPGA chip consists of a block of programmable logic gates that can be electronically organised into different types of circuit.
The FPGA supercomputer will be more powerful and efficient than a conventional system of similar physical size. If it can be made easy enough to program, the researchers behind the machine say it could usher in a new generation of compact and energy-saving supercomputers over the coming decade.
Sure, they’ll save energy because they run on blood! It’s the thin end of the wedge, man. Actually, I’m mostly kidding, but we do seem to be writing a lengthy, byzantine sci-fi novel, don’t we? Thanks to the fetching Andrea Congdon (caution: auto-playing video ahead) for this story.
DarrenBarefoot.com 