Friday, May 2, 2008

Dont Wait for that Computer to Start

Memsistor, the missing link in Basic Electronics. Based on a theory proposed by LEON CHUA (1970) this device can alter the way we use our Computers, Notebooks and similar devices. Chua proposed that, apart from the three basic elements of passive circuit-inductor, capacitor and resistor; there needs to be a fourth one, a MEMORY RESISTOR or MEMSISTOR.

With the help of Memsistor, a computer can boot up instantly, eliminating the need for users to wait at all. The best part is the computer will restart from the same state from where the user turned it off. In today’s computer, the DRAM, or Dynamic random access memory, performs the same task, but only when the system is powered on. Once the system is switched off, the DRAM, loses all the data, registry allocation and address of the programs stored in it. When the user switches on the computer, subsequently the DRAM has to fetch the details of the program from the hard disk. This process can be time consuming, depending on the computers configuration. Memsistor, now allows users to power off their computer any time allowing them to resume their work, without any delay. This is a very interesting application of Memsistor. This technology is still under research and development, and the scientists at HP have shown great interest at the potential it offers.

This technology has numerous practical applications and benefits. First and foremost, users don’t have to wait, for the system to boot up. This means that in third world countries where there is a possibility of power failure, users don’t have to worry about losing data, as everything resides in the Memsistor allowing users to continue where they left off once the power comes back on. For movie lovers who watch movies on their computer can resume watching the movie from the same location, from where they stopped the movie without having to start from the scratch. This mean he no longer has to restart the media player, search for the media file, play and drag the progress bar to the label where he was early. Gamers will benefit, as high system requirement, low virtual memory, or software bugs, can cause the system to automatically turn off as a preventive measure. With the new system the gamer will eliminate the need to have to start the game from the last checkpoint or last save, which otherwise can be very irritating.

On the downside, is the memory size requirement of a Memsistor. According to theory, the Memsistor will remember all the data address and the last location of the program, so that it can restart immediately. If this is the case, unless the user erases the earlier addresses using some command or by some method, the amount of data stored on the Memsistor will be huge.

In conventional computers, the DRAM only remembers those addresses, which are running at a time, so that the program can be accessed faster. However, once the program is closed or the system is turned off, all the addresses and location are erased from the DRAM. Today, the minimum requirement of a conventional computer is around 2 GB Ram to 4 GB of Ram. So what will be the size for a Memsistor? We have to wait three to four years for the answer. In concept it sounds really good and if it proves a success then, then the world of computing will change…again.

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