Solution For Faster Computer: Sing To Your Data

Researchers have found a new, simple way for a faster computer by using sound. They found that certain types of sound waves can move data quickly while using minimal power, according to a recent study.

Dr. Tom Hayward, from the University of Sheffield, and Professor John Cunningham, from the University of Leeds, created this new technique for reviving slow computers by simply passing sound waves across the surface on which the wires are fixed, according to a news release.

The researchers found that the direction in which data flows depends on the pitch of the sound generated, they ultimately "sang" to move the data. The sound uses acoustic waves, similar to seismic waves in earthquakes.

This technique has been previously used in some electronics and in various engineering areas, however, this is the first time acoustic waves are being applied to a data storage system, according to the researchers.

"The key advantage of surface acoustic waves in this application is their ability to travel up to several centimetres without decaying, which at the nano-scale is a huge distance," said Hayward. "We think a single sound wave could be used to "sing" to large numbers of nanowires simultaneously, enabling us to move a lot of data using very little power."

This study was published in Applied Physics Letters.

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