International Business Machines Corp. (IBM) Takes Another Step Toward a Post-Human World

Efficiency would be the key advancement here in terms of chip making. The reason why ARM Holdings plc (ADR) (NASDAQ:ARMH) has long dominated mobile processor architecture has to do with its early lead in terms of energy efficiency. Battery life has always been a limiting factor in mobile computing, and any chip design that can minimize battery drain without sacrificing performance is likely to be in high demand. Parkin followed up with VentureBeat after International Business Machines Corp. (NYSE:IBM) published the paper on this nanofluidic process in Science:

We are using tiny currents of ions of atoms generated by these electrical signals to change the state of matter of this oxide material. It is a means to build low-energy, highly efficient devices by turning on and off their conducting state. We turn this material into a metal and maintain it without any need to supply power.

Today’s chips operate at a constant voltage, although they may not be using all it at any given time. Reducing or otherwise routing around this demand would understandably be a big improvement, and would result in a big shake-up in the ranks of mobile chip makers. International Business Machines Corp. (NYSE:IBM) would be more likely to license this innovation than it would be to develop the hardware itself, but if ARM can build a multibillion-dollar market cap on licensed chip designs, it stands to reason that International Business Machines Corp. (NYSE:IBM) has ample opportunity here as well.

It’s also an exciting step forward for brain-like computing — or a scary step forward, if you fear the eventual obsolescence of our fantastic but flawed fleshy brains. Computers can’t mimic all the wild, unexpected, creative mysteries of the human brain, which has kept most of us gainfully employed so far. What will happen to us when that’s no longer the case?

The article IBM Takes Another Step Toward a Post-Human World originally appeared on Fool.com and is written by Alex Planes.

Fool contributor Alex Planes holds no financial position in any company mentioned here. Add him on Google+ or follow him on Twitter @TMFBiggles for more insight into markets, history, and technology.The Motley Fool recommends General Motors. The Motley Fool owns shares of International Business Machines (NYSE:IBM).

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