Computer Hardware Group E Discussion

There are clear advancements in the computer hardware industry, as presented by the Group E blog posts. The major observations of the group include:

• Designing chips with different processing capabilities that do not fit into the current computer model.
• Combining new technology with current technology to achieve new products. 
• Hardware is now being modeled out of our brain as opposed to objects. 

Our posts talk about processor chips which try to mimic the nervous synapse of the human brain, combining semiconductors with windmills to make a micro-windmills to power small battery powered objects, and hardware which can attach to the human skull and read brainwaves which can send commands to surrounding computers.

Week 2 - Computer Hardware Technology, Group E

Computer hardware is all of the physical components that connected together to build up the computer system. Hardware has different types that can be installed inside, or connected to the outside of a computer. Computer hardware technology has been developed throughout the years.  Nowadays, the dream of many users to control a computer by thinking at it came true, when Joel Murphy and Conor Russomanno, a designer and an engineer respectively, launched their open brain-computer interface (OpenBCI) project.

Basically, an openBCI is an affordable 8-channel EEG platform that gives anybody with a computer access to his brainwaves. The advantage of OpenBCI is giving users full access to brain raw data with low power consumption. This will allow users to control variety of applications such as the lights based on your brainwaves or mood using software algorithms and signal processing.
The openBCI controller uses the Texas Instruments ADS 1299, which is an 8-channel, low noise, 24 bit analog to digital converter that used to measuring the EEG signals. The device has many bells and whistles to make sure that electrodes are interacting better with the subject.
Throughout the deign process, considering different factors such as comfort, reading signal quality and cost, they came up with the first 3D-printable headset. Since one of their goals was to make BCI to be beneficial, they make their design applied the International 10-20 system into their design. The International 10-20 system internationally recognized method for placing electrodes on the human scalp in the context of EEG. The advantage of the 3D-printable headset is that it has a base for the openBCI board in addition to the rechargeable batteries.

The tools of reading the brainwaves has been around since 1912; however, the technology was ahead to be used since the first digital computer was created later on and the EEG recordings was hard to read. Now, technology has got cheaper and easier to use.

 What makes openBCI different is that it’s smaller and affordable. Although, there are many hardware that can read or translate the EEG raw signals into meaning data, the hardware and software behind the OpenBCI are transparent which make the users have the full access to approach any idea with different skill level. 


Resources:

1. Murphy, Joel, and Conor Russomanno. "OpenBCI: An Open Source Brain-Computer Interface For Makers." Kickstarter. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Jan. 2014. <http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/openbci/openbci-an-open-source-brain-computer-interface-fo>.
2. Yegulalp, Serdar. "Coming Soon: Control Your Computer with Your Brain via Open Source." InfoWorld. N.p., n.d. Web. 14 Jan. 2014. <http://www.infoworld.com/t/open-source-software/coming-soon-control-your-computer-your-brain-open-source-234025>.

The Future of Computer Hardware Technology: Reuse

Smaller, cheaper, faster, efficient: all things we expect from new hardware.  New hardware is often compared to the technologies used to get us, keep us, and capture/relay information from space.  Technology processing power and storage capabilities are hundreds of times better than what was used in the ‘60s, the software is already available for this level of hardware technology and manufacturing processes are familiar (keeping costs down and production speeds up of processors and storage devices, etc.).  I feel as though the hardware industry will make its future successful by implementing new ways to use existing technologies.

A research team from the University of Texas Arlington has recently developed a micro-windmill that is so small 10 can fit on a single grain of rice using “conventional wafer-scale semiconductors.”  They achieve this by folding these conductors using origami: common technology applied with an ancient technic to form a new product.  These tiny turbines are suggested to be used on phone cases to charge the phone when sources of air movement are present.  The team is also planning on attaching them to panels that can be placed on buildings and homes.  

They combine durable materials with simple mechanical designs to build a product that was successfully tested in September 2013. 

Turbines have been around the block and back, but are still expensive and obtrusive in most cases.  Microscopic technologies that are still capable of harvesting wind and providing clean energy for buildings and electronic devices shows that, while hardware makes leaps forward over a decade, it does not mean existing technologies should be cast aside - they should be revisited.


Resources:

1. http://www.winmemstech.com/en/page/custom68/
2. http://www.uta.edu/news/releases/2014/01/microwindmill-rao-chiao.php

Week 2 - Computer Hardware Technology

Computer hardware technology has always followed a simple trend of shrinking in size and growing in processing capacity. Just look at the technological progression of cell phones, which were once the size and weight of bricks and can now fit comfortably on the palm of anyone’s hand. The amount of memory and data modern smartphones are capable of processing would have been labeled as impossible 30 years ago. 10 to 20 years from now, we will undoubtedly see new forms of computer hardware emerge and influence various industries.

An article released a month ago talks about a new kind of computer chip, scheduled to be released in 2014, which will change the way computers process information. This neural chip is based on the biological nervous system, how neurons react to stimuli and connect with other neurons to share and interpret information. This is different from modern computing in that computers nowadays are programmed with all the information they need to function, like a recipe. The neural chip allows computers to function on new tasks beyond what they were initially programmed to do as well as other functions which normally would take painstakingly long hours of programming to achieve. This chip design is different than the typical design of computers which were heavily influenced by the ideas of John von Neumann, where microprocessors perform operation in binary code and store information in the processor or in higher storage chips or disk drives. The data are moved from in and out of the processors short term memory while the computer carries out a programmed action. The result is then moved to the main memory. This new processor has connections which mimic the biological synapses, the connections between circuits are organized according to correlations in the data that the processor has already learned. New information changes the network in the processor, programming the next actions of the computer similar to how new information impacts our decisions.

A new generation of artificial intelligence systems may be possible with this chip, as these systems will be able to perform various tasks with ease such as: speech, listen, navigate, see, and manipulate or control objects. Facial and speech recognition will be impacted by such a change, as now a computer system will be able to learn how we look and sound after a few meetings. Imagine that instead of unlocking the door to your house with your key, you could also unlock the door by simply walking up and saying anything (with a little help from biometric sensors and scanners, of course). While these visual or audio locks may already exist, their implementation is limited to certain phrases or functions and even cost.

Another angle to consider this development: we all had to learn how to walk. Sure, our leg muscles weren’t developed enough until we were around 1 year old but we still had to learn how to balance ourselves before we could walk with confidence. Computers with neural chips installed will be able to learn from trial and error on their own, not only to walk if they are a robot but to recognize people, cats, dogs, the habits of ordinary people or even a burglar.

Resource:

Markoff, John. "Brainlike Computers, Learning From Experience." New York Times 28 Dec 2013, n. pag. Web. 13 Jan. 2014. <http://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/29/science/brainlike-computers-learning-from-experience.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&_r=1&>.

Common Topic Labels for the Course

Below are topics that we'll address in the course.  This post creates them as labels.  Please use these labels when creating your own posts to help people find topics that interest them.  You can add your own as well when creating a post.
TOPIC

• AI
• BIM
• Building
• Civil
• Computer
• Database
• Design
• Electrical
• Environmental
• Future
• Hardware
• HVAC
• Manufacturing
• Network
• Robotics
• Sensor
• Software
• Structures
• System
• Term Project

Note:  In a separate post I’m creating a label that consists of each student’s last name.  Please apply the label for your last name