Fluid Logic Chips

Doc Ruby writes "Colorado researchers 'have constructed microfluidic gates that use the relative flow resistance of liquid to carry out the basic logic operations NOT, AND, OR, XOR, NOR and NAND. The researchers have also combined a pair of gates into a half adder, which carries out half the operation of addition.' All CPUs processing binary logic are made of these types of gates, but usually execute as flows of electrons in wires, not fluids in tubes. Will this advance revolutionize chemistry and computing the way electric gates revolutionized electronics and computing? Will 'fluid programmers' give new meaning to "flowchart"?"

Redundant Systems and Fluid Dynamics

[mfh]

Will this advance revolutionize chemistry and computing the way electric gates revolutionized electronics and computing?

Not really, because it's basically a copy of the old way except utilizing fluid dynamics. The way electric gates revolutionized electronics was special because there was nothing like it before. What this will do, is enable better redundant designs for deep space probes. Also, a liquid computer likely doesn't get as hot or it won't be as much of a problem if it does.

Will 'fluid programmers' give new meaning to "flowchart"?"

No, we'll just fill all the systems with coffee and call ourselves The Happy Folk.

will...

[mr_burns]

will kevin costner star in a dramatization of the discovery as a bad actor with gills? "WaterLogicWorld".

So in the future

[Camel Pilot]

Will we have computers with a logo that says

"Guinness inside"

What about microscopic steam-based logic gates?

[MillionthMonkey]

That would be totally retro. And it would allow AMD to enter the business.

Frozen hack...

[sarcastro73]

Whoever thought that supercooling a processor would completely prevent ANDing two bits?

"Memory leak" will now have a double meaning

[Anonymous Coward]

and you'd probably have to heat up the processor to overclock it, at least if fluid viscosity is related to temperature.

Re:How fast?

[wass]

Practical uses? Well, for starters, it's microfluidics. So if we're lucky, we'll finally be able to get one of these babies [si.edu] into a package small enough to fit in a watch. You've always wanted a digital watch, right?

It's amusing, but in 1967 this Fluidic Amplifier was billed as "the simplest device known for setting up digital circuit applications."

There are still some bugs in the water gates...

[hpa]

Okay, this definitely calls for a link to... Crunchly! [catb.org]

Mandatory reading for the larval [catb.org] geek [catb.org]...

Re:How fast?

[Anonymous Coward]

You've got to admit, digital watches *are* a pretty neat idea.

Re:How fast?

[hunterx11]

You've always wanted a digital watch, right?

That and little green pieces of paper.

Zounds

[omarius]

Certinly puts a new spin on 'memory leak.'

We already know the future.

[jd]

Fluid links are extensively used by the Time Lords as an essential component in the TARDIS flight controls.

The only reason we have Fluid logic chips today is that The Doctor defected from UNIT after the BBC cancelled the series, selling his advanced knowledge on the subject to these researchers.

Re:How fast?

[spacecowboy420]

Best."Oh, no he di'n".evaar