The latest news from IBM (NYSE: IBM).
• IBM is working with researchers to develop semiconductors and computers that utlizie grapheme, “the thinnest and toughest material ever produced,” to speed up computers and processors to speed of light capability, Bloomberg reports.
“Physicists Konstantin Novoselov, 36, and Andre Geim, 52, at the University of Manchester in the U.K., have found a way to manipulate how graphene, the thinnest and toughest material ever produced, conducts electricity, a breakthrough that opens the door to its use in digital electronics,” Bloomberg says.
“Because graphene conducts electricity 30 times faster than silicon – approaching the speed of light, according to the researchers – the finding may be used by companies such as IBM to speed up computers.”
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• IBM’s new cognitive or “brain” chips, which Big Blue disclosed earlier this week, are being boosted by help from university researchers.
“This project represents interdisciplinary research at its finest,” said UC-Merced’s Chris Kello in a press release. Kello is a cognitive scientist in UC Merced’s School of Social Sciences, Humanities and Arts. “For decades, scientists and engineers have worked on theories of cognition and intelligent algorithms without taking seriously the basic fact that human intelligence is supported by brains that weigh about 3 pounds and consume about 20 watts of power. By contrast, today’s supercomputers weigh tons and consume megawatts of power.”
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• Not all the news was good for IBM this week. Credit Suisse has cut estimates for IBM, citing “macro headwinds are developing,” according to Barron’s.
“Following comments from rivals we believe that the federal (10% IBM sales) and financial verticals are going to be impacted (25% of sales) the most,” Barron’s quotes the report as saying.
Read more details here.
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