Researchers Building Computers That Run on Light

An anonymous reader writes "Researchers in England are attempting to build a desktop computer that runs on light rather than electronics. A $1.6 million research project starting in June at the University of Bath is focused on developing attosecond technology, which refers to continuously emitting light pulses that last just a billion-billionth of a second."

Attosecond pulses of light?

[Tackhead]

Nothing to see here... Brilliant!

Light bulb

[Atario]

I can give you all the attosecond pulses of light you want -- as long as they're all ones.

Re:Attosecond pulses of light?

[mypalmike]

(Just reminded me of that old commercial... )

Look fast! The hands on this watch are about to... disappear! That's because they aren't hands at all! They're Electronic!... Pulses!... of Light!

Perfect!

[DJCacophony]

now all those case modders will have their lights built in!

For you folks in the US

[wilsonthecat]

That is England, Europe.

They're All Wet

[moehoward]

They're all wet. The University of Shower has already disproven most of this. Even the lesser known School of Sponge Bath has taken a "dim" view.

I know, I know. "Light"en up...

Stop me now before my Karma takes a Bath.

Consumable resource

[Ikyaat]

So if it runs on light would it make light a consumable resource?

What happens when we run out of light and have to look for alternative sources of lightergy?

This is the first I've heard of this.

[Seumas]

I had not heard of this before. I guess I must have been in the dark.

Thanks, I'll be here all week.

Re:For you folks in the US

[fred fleenblat]

Land of Eng? WTF is an Eng?

Re:Oh fuck

[cyberbob2351]

My desktop computer runs on steam [steampowered.com], and has several valve products installed.

You insensitive clod!

Re:gghz

[mastershake_phd]

Wouldn't a billion-billionth of a second be one second? I would have said billionth of a billionth if I didn't want to use an uncommonly large prefix.

A billion-billionths of a second = 1 second.

No Electronics????

[dunc78]

I didn't RTFA, but hey, this is slashdot, it wouldn't be the same if I did. It is great to see that people can process light without the use of electronics.

Re:They're All Wet

[dsanfte]

His lucky is what, now?

Re:Light bulb

[omeomi]

I can give you all the attosecond pulses of light you want -- as long as they're all ones.

or all zeros...

Re:For you folks in the US

[Anonymous Coward]

Actually, it is a little known fact that England is actually recursive.

Therefore, the Eng in England actually means "England."

- Brinceton Chilchurch

Re:Yeah...

[ArcherB]

But does it run Linux?

Or Quake?

Re:Oh fuck

[Philotic]

Imagine a beowolf cluster of idiots! Actually, on second thought... don't...

The beginning of the end

[Monk Who Says Ni]

Light? In my IT dungeon?

Surely this is an act of war against pasty code monkeys.

Re:No more Van-Eck security risks

[Anonymous Coward]

That'd be easy to fix, just reverse the polarity!

Re:Oh fuck

[Sobrique]

Didn't you hear? They made one. Called it 'The Internet'.

Re:No Electronics????

[Anonymous Coward]

It is great to see that people can process light without the use of electronics.

The irony