The Mind-Bending Future of Computer Science

By the year 2018, there will be 1.4 million computer specialist jobs available, but only enough college graduates to fill a fraction of them. The Mind-Bending Future of Computer Science Here are some amazing projects that may become a part of our future, thanks to computer scientists. Electroencephalography (EEG) or, How to Control Things with Your Mind. Up until now, the idea of controlling an object with the mind has existed purely in the realm of science fiction. Recently, a team from the Minnesota College of Science and Engineering managed to direct the movements of a remote controlled quadcopter with the power of thought. 5 subjects took part in the study. Each was able to control 3 women the helicopter quickly and accurately for a sustained period of time. 2 men How it was done: The entire process is completely noninvasive, requiring no wires, electrodes, or chips to be implanted in the brain. 1 The user wears an EEG cap fitted with electrodes The electrodes measure voltage fluctuations resulting from ionic current flows within the neurons of the brain, and then transmit these signals to a computer. This technology could be used to allow The computer interprets the signals. If they correspond with the recognized signals for movement (eg., denching the right hand, causing the copter to turn right), then the computer transmits the signal to the copter. people with missing limbs the ability to control a robotic arm or leg, or allow people with neurodegenerative diseases the ability to communicate for easily. The possibilities are endless. 4 The copter moves according to the corresponding signal. All of which takes place in fractions of a second. FACTOID In 2011 Stephen Hawking, who suffered from the neurodegenerative disease A.L.S, participated in a trial for a similar system, called the iBrain. He said, "I wish to assist in research, encourage investment in this area, and, most importantly, to offer some future hope to people diagnosed with A.L.S. and other neurodegenerative conditions." Carbon Nanotube Computers For decades, Silicon has been the core upon which the computing industry was based. Silicon however has its limitations. The smaller silicon transistors get, the less efficient they become, leaking more and more heat. Researchers have been searching for a replacement for silicon for years now. Enter Carbon Nanotubes. Carbon nanotubes (CNTS) are rolled-up, singlelayer sheets 0 graphene, a crystalline form of Tens of thousands of carbon nanotubes can fit into the width of a single carbon only one atom thick. 0 10 100 Within the last 18 months, large strides have been made in the field of carbon nanotubes. human hair. Advancing from building individual carbon nanotube transistors.... To simple electronic circuits made by interconnecting those transistors.... To creating (in September 2013) a complete computer made from carbon nanotubes. What it means: The prototype computer is relatively simplistic compared to today's standards, and though it is only capable of running two programs (Sorting and Counting) it is what's referred to as a "Turing complete" machine, meaning that it is capable of performing any computation given enough time. 123 These advances could herald the birth of a whole new generation of carbon- based computing devices. As we started with computers the size of a room, this also is just the beginning. At one micron, the transistors used in the Stanford Prototype are gigantic compared to today's standard of 22nm (nanometer) producfion. Comparatively, the original transistor constructed by Bell labs in 1947 was built by hand, while 100 million of Intel's new 22nm tri-gate transistors can fit onto the head of a pin. Phonebloks The life cycle of the average cellphone is around 18 months, 0 0 at which point they are generally traded in or simply thrown away. Most cellular contracts last 2 years, at the end of which the customer can upgrade to a new phone. While still just a concept, Phonebloks is an innovative alternative to the.... O Wait 'til the phone breaks and buy a new one, or O Wait for a contract renewal that includes an upgrade ..which is the standard business model. FACT Greenpeace estimates that global ewaste now amounts to between 20 and 50 million tons a year. When a phone breaks, more often than not, a single 0 component is at faulf. Typically, the entire phone is replaced. What it means: Phonebloks eliminates the need to replace an entire phone due to a single faulty element, and helps lessen the strain on the Phoneblok is a customizable phone system made up of a series of "bloks" consisting of the various components that form a cell phone. environment. Should a component break, that blok can simply be detached and replaced individually. This system allows consumers to tailor a phone to suit their needs, rather than settle for a stock phone composed of unwanted features. Phonebloks could be the beginning of a whole new generation of mobile communication devices. 00 Steam Controller video games have been separated by a harsh line: those played on consoles (generally in a living room), and those played on desktop and laptop computers. Steam is the premier, worldwide digital distribution platform for video games, and they have a new goal- For years Bringing the Steam experience, something previously available only on a computer, into the living room. With that goal in mind, computer scientists knew that a few things were necessary: Hardware – Combining the computing power of a PC and the functionality and size of a gaming console. GAME o An operating system - A Linux based OS known as SteamOS. A user interface – Reminiscent of Steam on a computer, yet versatile and usable without a mouse and keyboard. O A controller - Familiar to a console player and friendly to PC gamers more familiar with a mouse and keyboard. What it means: The Steam controller will feature– A dual trackpad design – Two circular trackpads with haptic feedback, used in lieu of thumbsticks. Being dickable, they serve a secondary purpose: to replace the more traditional button scheme. FACT Video game controllers haven't changed much since the invention of the now standard, dual thumbstick A dual trackpad design – Two circular trackpads with haptic feedback, used in lieu of thumbsticks. Being dickable, they serve a secondary purpose: to replace the more traditional button scheme. A touchscreen in the center - A secondary touch interface, allowing for a more versatile approach when compared to standard gamepads. Customizability – The Steam controller has been designed with the ability to present itself as a mouse and keyboard, presenting the player with a variety of options when deciding on a control scheme, including a configuration tool to customize keybindings. design. Steam is currently accepting applications for their Hardware Beta test. From those applicants they will choose 300, each of whom will receive access to the beta and the shiny new hardware that goes along with it. 00 Papertab PaperTab is the brainchild of Queen's University's Human Media Lab, Plastic Logic and Intel Labs. Combining the tangibility of paper, with the versatility and speed of digital, Papertab is being labeled as the world's first "Paper Tablet PC" Cool The Papertab has the ability to bend and flex, much like real paper! 10.7 inch touchscreen display processor Intel Core i5 0 10 Features: The ability to bend Application independence Unlike current tablets, which switch between apps on a single display, each Papertab acts as a window for separate applications, all designed to work together. Tabs can share or send files with a simple tap, or combine together to form a larger display. "Plastic Logic's flexible plastic displays are completely 0 1 transformational in terms of product interaction. They allow a natural human interaction with electronic paper, being lighter, thinner and more robust compared with today's standard glass-based displays," says Indro Mukerjee, CEO of Plastic Logic. What it means: The Papertab hasn't reached the point of being wireless. It is still connected to the Core i5 processor via a data cable leading from the bottom... But all designs have to start somewhere. 01 Brought To You By topcomputersciencedegrees.com SOURCES http://www.iop.org/news/13/jun/page_60302.html http://listverse.com/2013/07/12/10-recentscientificadvances-that-signal-thefuture/ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electroencephalography http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/03/science/ibrain-a-devicethat-can-read-thoughts.html http://www.dvice.com/2013-1-16/papertab-worlds-first-paper-tabletpc-rethinks-multitasking http://news.discovery.com/tech/gear-and-gadgets/papertab-130109.htm http://mashable.com/2013/01/07/papertab/ http://store.steampowered.com/livingroom/SteamController/ http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/09/27/ valve-announces-steam-controller http://www.enviroliteracy.org/article.php/1119.html http://www.phonebloks.com/ http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/19/tech/innovation/phonebloks-the-smartphoneforlife/index.html http://www.smh.com.au/technology/sci-tech/scientists-build-working-carbon-nanotube-computer- 20130927-2uhzh.html http://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/26/science/researchers-build-a-working-carbon-nanotube- computer.html?_r=0 http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-carbon-nanotube-computer- silicon-20130927,0,1277167.story http://emmaus.patch.com/groups/schools/p/fivethingstoknowaboutthefuture-ofcomputerscience http://www.austincc.edu/HongXiao/overview/history-semi/sld006.htm