http://news.163.com/11/0819/14/7BQUETLS00014AEE.html
技术帝IBM今天宣布它们正在研发一种具有革命性的新一代计算机芯片，在这种新芯片加持下，终结者T-800同学将不再只是电影人物，而很有可能成为现实。
IBM将这种芯片称之为neurosynaptic，不同于现有芯片，neurosynaptic通过先进算法和硅电路，模拟发生于大脑等生物系统中神经细胞和突触之间的现象，进行认知并积累学习。简单来说，就是这种芯片是模拟成一个大脑，并且完成大脑的各种功能。一旦成功，统治计算机结构至今冯·诺依曼体系将会彻底被颠覆。
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鉴于这种芯片的吸引力实在太大，所以美帝已经着力推进这件事。美国国防高级研究计划局已经投入2100万美元供IBM及其合作高校进行neurosynaptic第二期的研究工作。或许在不久将来，我们所熟悉那些的科幻电影情节将不再是科幻，嗯，貌似是好还是坏还真难给个定论。
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IBM unveils chips that mimic the human brain
Read more: http://www.computing.co.uk/ctg/news/2102735/ibm-unveils-chips-mimic-human-brain#ixzz1VS8PfJLO
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IBM has unveiled a new experimental computer chip that it says mimics the human brain in that it perceives, acts and even thinks.
It terms the machines built with these chips "cognitive computers", claiming that they are able to learn through experience, find patterns, generate ideas and understand the outcomes.
In building this new generation of chip, IBM combined principles of nanoscience, neuroscience and supercomputing.
It has been awarded $21m (£12.7m) of new funding by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) for the next phase of the project, which it terms "Systems of Neuromorphic Adaptive Plastic Scalable Electronics" (SyNAPSE).
"This is a major initiative to move beyond the von Neumann paradigm that has been ruling computer architecture for more than half a century," said Dharmendra Modha, project leader for IBM Research.
Modha added that the chip may see applications in business, science and government.
"Future applications of computing will increasingly demand functionality that is not efficiently delivered by the traditional architecture.
"These chips are another significant step in the evolution of computers from calculators to learning systems, signalling the beginning of a new generation of computers and their applications in business, science and government."
IBM states that the chips, while certainly not biological, are inspired by the architecture of the human brain in their design. Digital silicon circuits make up what it terms the "neurosynaptic core".
The scientists have built two working prototype designs. Both cores contain 256 neurons, one with 262,144 programmable synapses and the other with 65,536 learning synapses. The team has successfully demonstrated simple applications like navigation, machine vision, pattern recognition, associative memory and classification.
But what are the potential real-world applications of this technology? Tsunami warnings for one, claims IBM:
"A cognitive computing system monitoring the world's water supply could contain a network of sensors and actuators that constantly record and report metrics such as temperature, pressure, wave height, acoustics and ocean tide, and issue tsunami warnings based on its decision making," said IBM in a statement.
Going slightly more Minority Report, IBM goes on to suggest an instrumented glove that a grocer could use to flag bad or contaminated produce.
On a more practical note, IBM has said that this technology could result in computers that take up far less space and use less power than those in use today.
Read more: http://www.computing.co.uk/ctg/news/2102735/ibm-unveils-chips-mimic-human-brain#ixzz1VS8eRMQb
Computing - Insight for IT leaders Claim your free subscription today.
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