Analog computing may be coming back
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Analog computing may be coming back
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Re: Analog computing may be coming back
#2The mark of a maturing domain is the evolution from only general tools to general + specialized. We've gone from only CPUs to CPU + GPU to specialized AI chips (Neural Engine, Tensor chips etc.) and specialized computing is a big tent which can fit many different architectures together.
Analog computing is the closest thing to bioengineering in fundamental computer science that I know of, so I am confident that it will find a niche. I remember reading about Mythic AI here on HN, who were doing some cool work with analog computing chips for ML. My hunch is that matrix multiplication is the most expensive mathematical operation we do as a society (not unit expensive, but in overall absolute cost) - and our progress in AI is directly proportional to how easy / cheap it is to run.
Re: Analog computing may be coming back
#3One of the things that I fully not expect to be successful is optical computing. There are just a lot of academic groups that are doing optics and they like to invent new reasons why whatever they are up to is relevant. For physics reasons the integration density of optical compute elements is abysmal and will remain so forever. Other technologies like spintronics at least have the chance to work sometime in the future. There were projects on wafer scale optical computing already in the 80-90s at MIT Lincoln labs, so this isn't exactly a new idea either. We have a new group at our institute doing "Neuromorphic Quantum Photonics", they publish in high-impact glossy journals, doesn't change that it is in my opinion mostly hype and bullshit.
Re: Analog computing may be coming back
#4One of the things that I fully not expect to be successful is optical computing. There are just a lot of academic groups that are doing optics and they like to invent new reasons why whatever they are up to is relevant. For physics reasons the integration density of optical compute elements is abysmal and will remain so forever . Other technologies like spintronics at least have the chance to work sometime in the fut…
I friend I had researching in optical computing around 5 years ago always said "Nah, not even near". Not that ain't gonna happen, but only basic interfaces seemed feasible at the time. (But I'm not familiar with the field and I could be wrong or not remember exact details)
Re: Analog computing may be coming back
#5Probably the best 20 minutes you can spend if you haven't really heard of analog computers.
Re: Analog computing may be coming back
#6One of the things that I fully not expect to be successful is optical computing. There are just a lot of academic groups that are doing optics and they like to invent new reasons why whatever they are up to is relevant. For physics reasons the integration density of optical compute elements is abysmal and will remain so forever . Other technologies like spintronics at least have the chance to work sometime in the fut…
I friend I had researching in optical computing around 5 years ago always said "Nah, not even near". Not that ain't gonna happen, but only basic interfaces seemed feasible at the time. (But I'm not familiar with the field and I could be wrong or not remember exact details)
More power to them if it works, you can do cool things with it for sure. I am continuously amazed what you can do in quantum optics etc. but it isn't anywhere near to practical except for optical communication.
Re: Analog computing may be coming back
#7See also https://semiengineering.com/can-analog-make-a-comeback/
Discussion: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=32106546 (130 points | 6 months ago | 125 comments)
Re: Analog computing may be coming back
#8The absurdity of suggesting optical computing is a good pathway to efficiency is that our brains efficiently use electrons and are doing just fine.
Re: Analog computing may be coming back
#9[dead]
Re: Analog computing may be coming back
#10Another interpretation of the name "analog computers" is that they compute by analogy - by simulating the problem in a different medium. When analog computers were created, the there were no digital computers to make the distinction between analog (continuous) vs digital (discrete). There were mechanical computers that used gears and shafts, and angular speed as the main variable; electronic computers that used voltages, there is a famous hydraulic computer that used water levels and rates of flow to represent variables, etc.
You start by examining your problem in mathematical terms and write down the differential equations that describe it. For example, you have a model of a car suspension with parameters for spring stiffness, damping etc. You put the model into the computer, and play with the parameters to see how things work. Not that different from modern simulations. The one advantage over modern simulations is that you might get a better "feel" for the system - or so the proponents of the analog used to say, before digital computers replaced them.