A Thinking Computer

Dharmendra Modha, at IBM’s Almaden lab in Silicon Valey,   is building a simulated monkey brains using images projected on flat-screen TVs.

Mr. Modha has used nanotechnology, supercomputing, neuroscience etc. in the project. If he can achieved success then computers will think link human’s brain. But to taste the fruit, you have to be patient and it will take time. 

The projects at Almaden include an electric battery for automobiles which can run 500 miles on one charge and a program showing changes in geographical data. 

IBM has boosted its earnings by taking steps like quality control and buybacks. 

Earlier, in 1990s, Almaden developed a method of encryption for media content which is used in memory cards and Blu-ray discs. This technology earned million of dollars as licensing fees for IBM. 

Other innovations which earned million dollars for IBM are as follows: 

• In 1997, IBM introduced Giant magneto-resistive heads which helped to increase data storage capacity of hard drives 40 times.

• A query system developed in 1990s, which integrates data from different sources. The technology is names as Garlic.

Technology companies continue to fund such researches. Google allows its employees to spend 20% of their working time to work on their personal projects. It is learnt that people are more productive when they are working on projects which really excite them.

Mr Modha had quit IBM a decade ago, but came back as he realized that technical projects need more money.