With the advancement in technology, the size of gadgets is reducing considerably. The nano-breakthroughs have revolutionized the entire world and this time it is an entire operational computer which has been miniaturized. This tiny computer is less than one cubic millimeter in size and is a brain child of a team from the University of Michigan. The most fascinating part is that it is the world’s smallest computer. It has been named as Michigan Micro Mote or M3 and can efficiently perform functions like data storage, wireless communication etc.
Presently, the tiny computer is being designed for performing simple sensory jobs like monitoring fluid pressure in skull etc. The technology used with the system requires low power and low range wireless standard. The tiny computer comes fitted with solar cell for power generation. But if the tiny computer is monitoring intracranial conditions, availability of sunlight seems bleak therefore, for such conditions MicroGen’s ambient vibration harvester technique is available. Body heat can serve another passive power generation source for such computers.
‘Smart dust’ as they call it, has the most practical uses in medical field. The small computers could be made to enter blood vessels to diagnose any obstructions. The tiny computers could be made to float very easily because of their small size and therefore could be put to various other non-medical uses like security system etc. Thus, this miniaturization of computer could prove extremely beneficial to the entire mankind.