Comments on: Hewlett-Packard has technology to replace transistors

By: UBU

UBU — Fri, 04 Feb 2005 05:33:03 +0000

Has anyone noticed that the time this development is said to be “commercially viable” will be 2012 — the date both the Mayans and Terrence McKenna have named as the point at which history ends? Will this conjunction of metal and molecules somehow overwhelm human consciousness?

By: arthur

arthur — Thu, 03 Feb 2005 20:22:53 +0000

How about ‘transistor light’ or ‘TL’? No current carrying ability for power applications, but able to signal switch in boolean function when you hook ‘em together.

By: pradeepreddy

pradeepreddy — Thu, 03 Feb 2005 15:38:58 +0000

What is ‘Cross Bar Switch?’ What this hard ware consists of?

By: techy

techy — Thu, 03 Feb 2005 10:49:03 +0000

Sounds interesting. but i’ll need details on this “cross-bar latch” befor concluding anything.

By: Karlos

Karlos — Wed, 02 Feb 2005 20:19:46 +0000

Until a product is created with the new technology there will be no marketing, I am sure they do not fully understand what they can and can not do with it currently. When the transistor was developed they did not know instantly how far the technology would go and every use of it. The next few years if development will be interesting, can they make something reliable, useful and cheap enough for a consumer.

By: JÃƒÂ¶kull SÃƒÂ³lberg AuÃƒÂ°unsson

JÃƒÂ¶kull SÃƒÂ³lberg AuÃƒÂ°unsson — Wed, 02 Feb 2005 20:08:51 +0000

“A lot to learn about merketing”? At this point it is a post in a scientific journal. At this point that’s about all the marketing they need. As far as I’m concerned most of the worlds technological advances were not market-governed by a name suited to US marketing trends. The scientific community happen to be attracted applications of technologies as opposed to their catchy names and we’re not even talking about scientists here. 99% of all people do not give a shit whether the name of the processor technology in the computer they are buying is “Transistor”, “Crossbar latch” or “Jon Bon Jovi”.

By: Dave M

Dave M — Wed, 02 Feb 2005 19:52:53 +0000

Won’t be much use for power amps then.

By: ZenWarrior

ZenWarrior — Wed, 02 Feb 2005 18:48:17 +0000

It may well replace the transistor, but it will never impact the collective cultural memory as the transistor did. Why not? Who in the dickens will remember something called the “crossbar latch?” It sounds very old-fashioned, and many will likely assume it is nothing more than a carpenter’s tool, or some common hardware store part for their picket fence. Possibly worse, since it may replace the transistor, it will simply be called a transistor itself. In fact, I will call it that, “the new transistor,” for now. (”Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.”) Advice to HP: Find another name for your new technology, or you’ll change the world with no one remembering anything but the magnificent transistor. You may know electronics, but you’ve a lot to learn about marketing!