Computers (as I understand them) operate based on an off/on behavior, aka base 2, as does most other "digital" equipment. The reason for this limitation is because a component (transistor) can be either on, or off. Same for fiber optics - there is either a pulse of light, or a lack of light.
Wouldn't things be faster and more advanced if you could operate things on a base 5, 10, 20, or higher?
For example, instead of fiber optics sending pulses of light, have a type of variable wavelength laser, which could produce 8-256 or more different colors based on the laser's wavelength. Of course they would have to develop the technology to both send and receive the beams... but it could be done. Imagine how much faster electronics with microprocessors would be!
The question is, why hasn't it been done yet (or has it?) What are the current drawbacks (besides the lack of hardware)?
2007-06-14
07:07:16
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11 answers
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asked by
stevepg82
2
in
Engineering