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rsaavedra · 11th July 2009, 08:07 PM

There was a recent article in New Scientist about Memristors, this "missing link" of electronics, a fourth fundamental unit of electronic circuits (the other three being resistors, capacitors, and inductors), whose existence was proposed in 1971, but was only proved last year at HP Labs.

Searched for the word "memristor" in the forums, and absolutely nothing showed up. Maybe there's nothing particularly interesting to say about them here yet, but wanted to create this thread to gather whatever initial thoughts people might have about them that they might want to share.

I include here the Wikipedia entry which has plenty of links to related articles and pages, for anyone who might be interested:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memristor

Any thoughts, comments? Please feel free to share.

drkitten · 12th July 2009, 12:35 PM

Originally Posted by rsaavedra

Any thoughts, comments? Please feel free to share.

Memristors? Wicked cool, but we don't yet know what we can do with them. A truly breakthrough technology that's too advanced for us to work with at the moment.

Which means that the first person to find a large-scale commercial use for the damn things will make a mint.

leafman91 · 12th July 2009, 12:49 PM

Originally Posted by rsaavedra

There was a recent article in New Scientist about Memristors, this "missing link" of electronics, a fourth fundamental unit of electronic circuits (the other three being resistors, capacitors, and inductors), whose existence was proposed in 1971, but was only proved last year at HP Labs.

Searched for the word "memristor" in the forums, and absolutely nothing showed up. Maybe there's nothing particularly interesting to say about them here yet, but wanted to create this thread to gather whatever initial thoughts people might have about them that they might want to share.

I include here the Wikipedia entry which has plenty of links to related articles and pages, for anyone who might be interested:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memristor

Any thoughts, comments? Please feel free to share.

Apparently, the memristor is going to have massive repercussions for the communications industry. Better broadband signal for everyone then...

Towlie · 12th July 2009, 01:52 PM

The New Scientist article is fascinating. Here's the link that loads the whole article on one page.

The Wikipedia article is less helpful if you're trying to achieve a basic understanding of the concept.

rsaavedra · 12th July 2009, 06:00 PM

Originally Posted by Towlie

The New Scientist article is fascinating. Here's the link that loads the whole article on one page.

The Wikipedia article is less helpful if you're trying to achieve a basic understanding of the concept.

Fully agree with your assessment.

INRM · 13th July 2009, 02:25 PM

So the human brain has memristors in it?

Towlie · 13th July 2009, 04:31 PM

Originally Posted by INRM

So the human brain has memristors in it?

If so, all brains have memristors in them.

INRM · 13th July 2009, 09:35 PM

So, all brains have memristors in them?

INRM · 23rd July 2009, 08:50 AM

Seriously, does the neurons in the brain have memristor like functions?

Gord_in_Toronto · 23rd July 2009, 09:26 AM

Very interesting on all sorts of levels.

drkitten · 23rd July 2009, 08:30 PM

Originally Posted by INRM

Seriously, does the neurons in the brain have memristor like functions?

No. The human brain is not particularly charge-sensitive (at the level described in the New Scientist article.)

My God, do you have any capacity for critical thought whatsoever? Is there any drivel you will not misunderstand and then categorically accept?

Any at all?

INRM · 24th July 2009, 02:05 PM

Dr Kitten

I simply asked since the article was about these memristors and was in context to artificial intelligence. I then simply wanted to know if the brain had stuff in them that acted like memristors.

I did not say I believed the brain had memrisors in them

rsaavedra · 15th September 2009, 12:11 PM

More recent news on Memristors:

http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn17783

zooterkin · 14th April 2010, 03:04 AM

* bump *

I just heard about memristors for the first time in the latest Material World podcast, where they had an interview with one of the guys from HP who is working on them. Apparently, people had been inadvertently making them for years, without realising what they were.

In terms of practical applications, it seems it would be possible to use memristors to build a laptop that you could turn on and off like a light, without having to save the current state of the CPU, etc. as at present. There were also suggestions that the memristors could be used in the actual execution of instructions as well as holding data, though that wasn't explained. As for when we might see these applications, 8 years from now was the estimate.

ETA: While memristors have been theoretically predicted for over 50 years, they work best at nano-scales, so it's only recently that it's been possible to create them reliably.

Be quick if you want to hear the podcast, it's only available for another day or so.

11th July 2009, 08:07 PM	#1
rsaavedra Muse Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Caracas, Venezuela Posts: 701	About "Memristors" There was a recent article in New Scientist about Memristors, this "missing link" of electronics, a fourth fundamental unit of electronic circuits (the other three being resistors, capacitors, and inductors), whose existence was proposed in 1971, but was only proved last year at HP Labs. Searched for the word "memristor" in the forums, and absolutely nothing showed up. Maybe there's nothing particularly interesting to say about them here yet, but wanted to create this thread to gather whatever initial thoughts people might have about them that they might want to share. I include here the Wikipedia entry which has plenty of links to related articles and pages, for anyone who might be interested: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memristor Any thoughts, comments? Please feel free to share.
	Last edited by rsaavedra; 11th July 2009 at 08:18 PM.

12th July 2009, 12:49 PM	#3
leafman91 Critical Thinker Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: England.Weather isn't great in England Posts: 371	Originally Posted by rsaavedra There was a recent article in New Scientist about Memristors, this "missing link" of electronics, a fourth fundamental unit of electronic circuits (the other three being resistors, capacitors, and inductors), whose existence was proposed in 1971, but was only proved last year at HP Labs. Searched for the word "memristor" in the forums, and absolutely nothing showed up. Maybe there's nothing particularly interesting to say about them here yet, but wanted to create this thread to gather whatever initial thoughts people might have about them that they might want to share. I include here the Wikipedia entry which has plenty of links to related articles and pages, for anyone who might be interested: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memristor Any thoughts, comments? Please feel free to share. Apparently, the memristor is going to have massive repercussions for the communications industry. Better broadband signal for everyone then...
	__________________ 'Fish pay attention to the moon?'- The Chemical Brothers

13th July 2009, 02:25 PM	#6
INRM Philosopher Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 5,490	So the human brain has memristors in it?
INRM Philosopher Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 5,490

13th July 2009, 09:35 PM	#8
INRM Philosopher Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 5,490	So, all brains have memristors in them?
INRM Philosopher Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 5,490

23rd July 2009, 08:50 AM	#9
INRM Philosopher Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 5,490	Seriously, does the neurons in the brain have memristor like functions?
INRM Philosopher Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 5,490

12th July 2009, 12:35 PM	#2
drkitten Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Wits' End Posts: 21,647	Originally Posted by rsaavedra Any thoughts, comments? Please feel free to share. Memristors? Wicked cool, but we don't yet know what we can do with them. A truly breakthrough technology that's too advanced for us to work with at the moment. Which means that the first person to find a large-scale commercial use for the damn things will make a mint.

12th July 2009, 01:52 PM	#4
Towlie ancillary character Join Date: May 2009 Location: Miami, Florida Posts: 1,476	The New Scientist article is fascinating. Here's the link that loads the whole article on one page. The Wikipedia article is less helpful if you're trying to achieve a basic understanding of the concept.

12th July 2009, 06:00 PM	#5
rsaavedra Muse Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Caracas, Venezuela Posts: 701	Originally Posted by Towlie The New Scientist article is fascinating. Here's the link that loads the whole article on one page. The Wikipedia article is less helpful if you're trying to achieve a basic understanding of the concept. Fully agree with your assessment.

13th July 2009, 04:31 PM	#7
Towlie ancillary character Join Date: May 2009 Location: Miami, Florida Posts: 1,476	Originally Posted by INRM So the human brain has memristors in it? If so, all brains have memristors in them.

23rd July 2009, 09:26 AM	#10
Gord_in_Toronto Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 13,424	Very interesting on all sorts of levels.
	__________________ "Reality is what's left when you cease to believe." Philip K. Dick

23rd July 2009, 08:30 PM	#11
drkitten Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Wits' End Posts: 21,647	Originally Posted by INRM Seriously, does the neurons in the brain have memristor like functions? No. The human brain is not particularly charge-sensitive (at the level described in the New Scientist article.) My God, do you have any capacity for critical thought whatsoever? Is there any drivel you will not misunderstand and then categorically accept? Any at all?

24th July 2009, 02:05 PM	#12
INRM Philosopher Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 5,490	Dr Kitten I simply asked since the article was about these memristors and was in context to artificial intelligence. I then simply wanted to know if the brain had stuff in them that acted like memristors. I did not say I believed the brain had memrisors in them
INRM Philosopher Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 5,490

15th September 2009, 12:11 PM	#13
rsaavedra Muse Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Caracas, Venezuela Posts: 701	More recent news on Memristors: http://www.newscientist.com/article/dn17783

14th April 2010, 03:04 AM	#14
zooterkin Nitpicking dilettante Moderator Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Berkshire, mostly Posts: 25,038	* bump * I just heard about memristors for the first time in the latest Material World podcast, where they had an interview with one of the guys from HP who is working on them. Apparently, people had been inadvertently making them for years, without realising what they were. In terms of practical applications, it seems it would be possible to use memristors to build a laptop that you could turn on and off like a light, without having to save the current state of the CPU, etc. as at present. There were also suggestions that the memristors could be used in the actual execution of instructions as well as holding data, though that wasn't explained. As for when we might see these applications, 8 years from now was the estimate. ETA: While memristors have been theoretically predicted for over 50 years, they work best at nano-scales, so it's only recently that it's been possible to create them reliably. Be quick if you want to hear the podcast, it's only available for another day or so.
	__________________ The whole problem with the world is that fools and fanatics are always so certain of themselves, and wiser people so full of doubts.Bertrand Russell Zooterkin is correct Darat Nerd! Hokulele Join the JREF Folders ! Team 13232 Last edited by zooterkin; 14th April 2010 at 03:09 AM.