The engineers at the University of Michigan have broken the record for building the world’s smallest computer. With a size of only 0.3 millimeters, it makes a grain of rice look enormous in comparison. This is part of an ongoing competition between the engineers at the University of Michigan and IBM to build the smallest computer in the world. The University of Michigan has taken the lead this time with their tiny computer, which is even smaller than their previous record holder from 2014. However, there is some debate as to whether these tiny chips can truly be considered full-fledged computers.
The Michigan Micro Mote, or M3, is a fully functional computer that retains its programming and data even when it loses power. In February 2018, IBM presented their own tiny computer, which was even smaller than the M3. To give an idea of its size, the engineers at IBM photographed their computer on a small pile of sea salt. Not to be outdone, the engineers at the University of Michigan built an even smaller computer with a size of only 0.3 millimeters. However, there is some debate as to whether these tiny chips can truly be considered full-fledged computers.
The engineers on both sides are unsure whether these tiny chips can be considered full-fledged computers, as many of them lose all data when they lose power. David Blaauw, a professor of electrical and computer engineering at the University of Michigan, admits that it is a matter of interpretation whether these devices meet the minimum requirements for computer functionality. Regardless of whether they are considered chips or computers, these tiny devices have a wide range of potential applications, particularly in medicine and other important areas of life.
