Sacrificing Accuracy For Speed and Efficiency In Processors 499
Skudd writes "Modern computing has always been reliant on accuracy and correct answers. Now, a professor at Rice University in Houston posits that some future applications could be revolutionized by 'probabilistic computing.' Quoting: 'This afternoon, Krishna Palem, speaking at a computer science meeting in San Francisco, will announce results of the first real-world test of his probabilistic computer chip: The chip, which thrives on random errors, ran seven times faster than today's best technology while using just 1/30th the electricity. ... The high density of transistors on existing chips also leads to a lot of background "noise." To compensate, engineers increase the voltage applied to computer circuits to overpower the noise and ensure precise calculations. Palem began wondering how much a slight reduction in the quality of calculations might improve speed and save energy. He soon realized that some information was more valuable than other information. For example, in calculating a bank balance of $13,000.81, getting the "13" correct is much more important than the "81." Producing an answer of $13,000.57 is much closer to being correct than $57,000.81. While Palem's technology may not have a future in calculating missions to Mars, it probably has one in such applications as streaming music and video on mobile devices, he said.'
Bank balance (Score:5, Funny)
Reminds me of... (Score:5, Funny)
A: Because they added 486 and 100 on the first Pentium and got 585.999983605.
Accuracy with financial calculations. (Score:5, Funny)
Accuracy with financial calculations is extremely important. Hasn't this guy ever watched Superman 3?
Use in MP3 Players (Score:2, Funny)
I guess the question is can Cher sue over this technology?
wll, (Score:5, Funny)
i scrfcd accrc 4 spd a lng tm ago
Top Ten Slogans (Score:5, Funny)
9.9999973251 - It's a FLAW, Dammit, not a Bug
8.9999163362 - It's the new math
7.9999414610 - Nearly 300 Correct Opcodes
6.9999831538 - "You Don't Need to Know What's Inside" (tm)
5.9999835137 - Redefining the PC -- and Mathematics As Well
4.9999999021 - We Fixed It, Really
3.9998245917 - Division Considered Harmful
2.9991523619 - Why Do You Think They Call It *Floating* Point?
1.9999103517 - We're Looking for a Few Good Flaws
0.9999999998 - "The Errata Inside" (tm)
Re:Hmmm (Score:5, Funny)
You get a one-way ticket to pound-me-in-the-ass prison.
Watch out for your cornhole, bud.
Suitable for streaming media??? (Score:2, Funny)
I'd like to see executives at CBS explain how nipples showed ON TOP of a superbowl performer's outfit.
Talk about a wardrobe malfunction.
I can see the defense now:
Your honor: We ran probabilistic tests with out processors, and while we couldn't really duplicate the problem, we were able to show a penis during one test run. We'd really like to show it to you, but Ms. Jackson has stated that she would quote "Sue us into the ground" unquote.
Re:Hmmm (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Top Ten Slogans (Score:5, Funny)
TOP TEN SLOGANS:
runs Excel just as well as always :-)
Obligatory NASA research (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Reminds me of... (Score:5, Funny)
My computer's not slow, it's just being careful.
Re:wll, (Score:5, Funny)
i scrfcd accrc 4 spd a lng tm ago
and it was going so well too... until you got thirsty and told your friend ..
"hy! I wnt sm ck!"
Re:Sacrifices are expected (Score:5, Funny)
That was a very confusing video. What I learned from it: you haven't done some stuff, Zoom Fish!, widgets, Zoom Fish!, behind schedule, zoom, Fish!, widget framework, Fish!
I guess it's a system that lets you zoom in on fish?
Re:Analog? (Score:3, Funny)
Transistors are naively analog
Oh those simple-minded transistors. When will they learn?
Proof at last... (Score:3, Funny)
... that the economy is now based on Monopoly money.
Now when you log on to your online banking account, you'll get a Chance card:
Bank errors are in your favor... at the moment.