THE FUTURE OF COMPUTING

Moore’s Law

A prediction by Gordon Moore that the number of transistors in an integrated circuit doubles every two years, making devices faster, more powerful, and cheaper over time.

Transistor

A tiny electronic switch inside computer chips that controls electrical signals; more transistors = higher performance.

Graphene

A one-atom-thick carbon material that is extremely conductive and can be rolled into nanotubes for faster, smaller, and more efficient transistors.

Graphene-Based Transistors

Transistors made of graphene or carbon nanotubes, designed to be smaller and faster than silicon-based ones.

Carbon Nanotube Microprocessor

A processor built using carbon nanotubes; e.g., the 2019 16-bit nanotube processor that successfully ran “Hello, World!”

Quantum Computing

A type of computing that uses qubits to process information based on probability, allowing computers to perform multiple calculations at once.

Qubit

A quantum version of a bit that can represent 0, 1, or both at the same time due to superposition.

Superposition

A quantum state where a particle can exist in multiple states simultaneously, enabling exponential computing power.

DNA Computing

A computing method that uses DNA molecules to store data and perform parallel processing, allowing evaluation of many solutions at once.

DNA Data Storage

The process of encoding digital information into DNA strands, known for extreme stability and capacity.

Neuromorphic Technology

A computing approach that imitates the structure and function of the human brain, enabling low-power, brain-like processing.

Neuromorphic Chips

Chips designed to simulate neurons and synapses, such as Intel’s neuromorphic system with small-mammal-level capacity.

Optical Computing

Computing that uses light (photons) instead of electricity, allowing ultra-fast and energy-efficient processing.

Photons

Light particles that can carry data in optical computing systems.

Distributed Computing

A model where multiple computers work together on a single problem by sharing computing power.

Folding@home

A distributed computing project with over 750,000 volunteers simulating protein molecules to research diseases like Alzheimer’s, cancer, and COVID-19

Collapse OS

An open-source operating system designed for use after a global societal collapse, allowing people to repurpose old electronics.

Z80 Microprocessor

An 8-bit processor commonly used in older computers, calculators, and cash registers; the main hardware target of Collapse OS.

Self-Replication (Collapse OS)

The ability of Collapse OS to recreate copies of itself using minimal hardware and storage.

8080 / 6502 CPUs

Older-generation microprocessors that Collapse OS aims to support in its roadmap.

E-ink Display

A low-power screen technology often used in e-readers; planned support for Collapse OS.

Floppy Disk / ROM / RAM Storage

Legacy storage devices that Collapse OS can read and write, ensuring functionality even without modern hardware.