(CNN) Making computer memory work like the human brain

[rodsky]

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"(CNN) -- How do computers remember things?

It's something most of us never think about. But you may start to take notice if HP Labs is successful in commercializing a new version of computer memory, which would make our electronics dramatically faster and more energy efficient.



The technology is called memristor, and it is designed to work more like our brains and less like the electronic on and off switches that run computer memory now.

"The memristor has properties very similar to synapses in a brain," said Stan Williams, a senior fellow at HP Labs, which has been working on this technology since 1998."

Rest of article here:
Making computer memory work like the human brain - CNN.com

-RODION

[analog man]

does it have the property to forget?

[ethzneuron]

whats more amazing on this is that it was first discussed in 1971,

The idea behind the memristor was first broached in 1971 by Prof. Leon Chua at the University of California - Berkeley. HP researchers first showed the memristor's existence in practice.
- HP, Hynix to Collaborate on Memristor Memory Technology - Data Storage from eWeek

FAQs about memristor from HP Lab, Memristor FAQ

[analog man]

The technology is called memristor.

Memristor stands for what?
Is that the term used for the process or the name of the device?

[r0mm3L]

memristor?

is the name derive from transistor?

[tarpolano]

this is a big breakthrough now we need a good AI software

[analog man]

yes, an AI software. any AI software embedded on this memristor rods?

[rodsky]

I don't know how it works. I'm currently too busy to digest the article. Since you guys are the ones with free time on your hands, then you look it up.

-RODION

[ethzneuron]

this may or may not answer your questions but hope you read though..

What is an analogy for a memristor?
A common analogy for a resistor is a pipe that carries water. The water itself is analogous to electrical charge, the pressure at the input of the pipe is similar to voltage, and the rate of flow of the water through the pipe is like electrical current. Just as with an electrical resistor, the flow of water through the pipe is faster if the pipe is shorter and/or it has a larger diameter. An analogy for a memristor is an interesting kind of pipe that expands or shrinks when water flows through it. If water flows through the pipe in one direction, the diameter of the pipe increases, thus enabling the water to flow faster. If water flows through the pipe in the opposite direction, the diameter of the pipe decreases, thus slowing down the flow of water. If the water pressure is turned off, the pipe will retain it most recent diameter until the water is turned back on. Thus, the pipe does not store water like a bucket (or a capacitor) – it remembers how much water flowed through it.
- Memristor FAQ

[analog man]

memristor acts like a transistor. there is a transfer of resistance. this is how a digest it.

just my own opinion.