Technology Forecast Research Paper Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Technology Forecast - Research Paper Example In this prototype that was built by the scientists, the neurons are linked together in a way that makes them appear and operate like the brain cells. When data is then fed into the assembly, the neurons are able to work in a parallel manner in solving the problem. This is unlike the normal working in various devices which is usually non parallel. Due to the ability of the assembly to function in a parallel manner it can be used to solve complex computing problems (Schmuker, Pfeil &. Nawrot, 2014). According to Schmuker, Pfeil &. Nawrot (2014) the assembly that was made is able to classify data with different features and even recognizes data which is hand written. Moreover, it was able to distinguish plant species on the basis of flowering characteristics. This is facilitated by the parallel working of the neurons. Schmuker, Pfeil &. Nawrot (2014) indicates that the design of the network architecture was based and inspired by the nervous system of insects that processes odor. The system is highly optimized for processing complex chemicals in a parallel manner. The chip with neurons that was used in the study by the scientists was manufactured by the Kirchhoff Institute for Physics in Heidelberg University. In order to understand the working of the network architecture that was developed by these scientists, it is imperative to first understand the characteristics of silicon neurons as they are the building blocks that were used it the new architecture. According to Merolla et al. (2011) silicon neurons are made by combining the principles of silicon engineering with the neuron physiological principle. When this is done an analog integrated circuit is produced. The analog circuit that is produced possesses functional characteristics similar to those of the human nerve cells (Indiveri, Chicca & Douglas, 2009). The silicon neuron is therefore able to effectively control the discharge and dynamics of the ions in a similar way that