Flexible Computer Processor is the Most Powerful Plastic Chip Yet (newscientist.com) 25
Could a flexible processor stuck on your produce track the freshness of your cantaloupe? That's the idea behind the latest processor from UK computer chip designer Arm, which says such a device could be manufactured for pennies by printing circuits directly onto paper, cardboard or cloth. From a report: The technology could give trillions of everyday items such as clothes and food containers the ability to collect, process and transmit data across the internet -- something that could be as convenient for retailers as it is concerning for privacy advocates.
In recent decades, processors have reduced in size and price to the point that they are now commonly used in everything from televisions to washing machines and watches. But almost all chips manufactured today are rigid devices created on silicon wafers in highly specialised and costly factories where dozens of complex chemical and mechanical processes take up to eight weeks from start to finish. Now, Arm has developed a 32-bit processor called PlasticARM with circuits and components that are printed onto a plastic substrate, just as a printer deposits ink on paper. James Myers at Arm says the processor can run a variety of programs, although it currently uses read-only memory so is only able to execute the code it was built with. Future versions will use fully programmable and flexible memory.
In recent decades, processors have reduced in size and price to the point that they are now commonly used in everything from televisions to washing machines and watches. But almost all chips manufactured today are rigid devices created on silicon wafers in highly specialised and costly factories where dozens of complex chemical and mechanical processes take up to eight weeks from start to finish. Now, Arm has developed a 32-bit processor called PlasticARM with circuits and components that are printed onto a plastic substrate, just as a printer deposits ink on paper. James Myers at Arm says the processor can run a variety of programs, although it currently uses read-only memory so is only able to execute the code it was built with. Future versions will use fully programmable and flexible memory.
Cheap ideas. (Score:2)
Interesting but RFID also didn't take off either and it was suppose to be cheap.
Re: Cheap ideas. (Score:2)
Hurray, Trillions more pieces of plastic waste! (Score:4, Insightful)
Re: (Score:2)
Don't worry, nature will find a way to use it eventually!
Re: (Score:2)
Because a tiny piece of paper with the price or code printed on it is just too low tech! Sure, it works, but you can't build a unicorn startup based off of tried and true technology that inconveniently happens to be superior!
Re: Hurray, Trillions more pieces of plastic waste (Score:2)
Is the general public really that ignorant? (Score:2)
[Insert "You don't say?" Nicolas Cage meme here]
Great (Score:4, Funny)
Great ... (Score:2)
Could a flexible processor stuck on your produce track the freshness of your cantaloupe?
Another way people can generate food waste by ignoring things when the sticker says it's just past peak freshness, even though it's most likely perfectly fine, healthy and tasty.
Nature article is open access (Score:4, Informative)
Unlikely (Score:2)
This seems highly unlikely. If you don't have a battery you just have an RFID tag, which is already flexible. And what exactly does your food container need to process anyway?
I can not only not peel off paper stickers (Score:2)
Well this sucks. (Score:2)
It's not like we don't have processors in everything already but now they are going to be part of the product casing. Forget repairs, it's all plastic bricks now.
It's green alright (Score:3)
Fruit processor (Score:2)
Now your raspberry pi may literally be on a raspberry.
Re: (Score:2)
Just what I need -- Canteloupes with GPS tracking (Score:2)
The 5G conspiracy people are right. (Score:2)
Re: The 5G conspiracy people are right. (Score:2)
How fresh is it? (Score:2)
"Could a flexible processor stuck on your produce track the freshness of your cantaloupe? "
How fresh is it?
Well, if you want one from today, you have to come back tomorrow.
Solution in search of a problem (Score:1)
ROM tags should be illegal (Score:2)
They should have to be reprogrammable and re-powerable (via contacts is ok) in order to be produced so at least someone can make some kind of use of them. Otherwise the waste is inexcusable.
And WHO is going to insure the patching and update (Score:2)
of firmware in those old t-shirts I have wadded up in my old clothes drawer?
Trillions of trackers ... but not for fruit (Score:2)
Cantaloupes are the least of our worries, no?
Now _anything_ can have "... the ability to collect, process and transmit data across the internet."
Seriously, how can anyone believe that this technology is for tracking the freshness of fruit. Really?!