photonics chips from intel???

[Don't panic]

wow!

http://nytimes.com/2004/02/11/technology/11CND-CHIP.html?hp

Intel Says Chip Speed Breakthrough Will Alter Cyberworld


By JOHN MARKOFF

Published: February 11, 2004



AN FRANCISCO, Feb. 11 Ñ Intel scientists say that they have made silicon chips that can switch light like electricity, blurring the line between computing and communications and presenting a vision of the digital future that will allow computers themselves to span cities or even the entire globe.

The invention demonstrates for the first time, Intel researchers said, that ultrahigh-speed fiberoptic equipment can be produced at personal computer industry prices. As the costs of communicating between computers and chips falls, the barrier to building fundamentally new kinds of computers not limited by physical distance should become a reality, experts said. ...

i wonder how long will it take before it actually makes it into PCs

 

[x86isslow]

well, knowing intel, it'll run at 300 watts, and make it into PC laptops quickly, and then when people complain of burnt pants, they'll release an updated chip with an integrated wifi card and call it centrino 2

 

[Don't panic]

LOL
that's probably true,
but THIS would be cool:

One potential application, he said, would be an interactive digital television system allowing viewers to watch a sporting event from multiple angles, moving the point of view at will while the game is being played. With only a limited number of digital cameras, it might be possible to synthesize a virtual moveable seat any place in the stadium. Such a feature exists currently in video games, but it is far beyond the capacity of today's digital television transmission systems. (from same article)